| New
Perspectives
- Aug, 1992 Issue |
Turn-About Ranch
Diane Austin, Admissions Director
Escalante, Utah
(800) 842-1165
This is a working
cattle ranch for youth ages 12-17. It is a Christian-based
behavioral modification program lasting from 58 to 90 days.
Their brochure contains a delightful series of actual letters
from students to home.
Letter #1:
“Okay, I’m here at this stupid ranch. It’s in the middle of
no-where... You think I’m the problem. You’re the problem...
The sooner you stop trying to run my life the better...”
Letter #2:
“I’ve been here one week, it feels like a year. I’m in what
they call the “Impact” phase... I didn’t feel like it (chopping
wood), so you know what they did? They just let us stay cold
all night, then all the other kids got on my case... I can’t
believe you and Dad would do this to me. Get me out of here.
I promise I’ll be good.
Letter #3:
“Well, I finally earned my horse... I don’t know how to describe
it, but somehow, having this animal depend on me for everything
makes me feel better about myself. My counselors say I’m doing
real good. I‘m out of the “Impact” phase and into what they
call “Turn-About”... The funny part is that I really like
it... I’m starting to see of lot of things differently...
Letter #4:
I’ve been here 42 days... I want to tell you how sorry I am
for everything I’ve put you through in the last couple of
years. I know now that it didn’t have anything to do with
you... Tomorrow, I’m going into the final phase here, the
“Onward” phase... This is the time for my “Solo”.
Letter #5:
“Well, I’m on my Solo. I’m all by myself and it’s really teaching
me a lot. About myself mostly, and I guess that’s where the
problem has been all along... I can’t wait to see you and
Dad... Thanks for not giving up on me”..
Copyright
© 1992, Woodbury Reports, Inc. (This article may be reproduced
without prior approval if the copyright notice and proper
publication and author attribution accompanies the copy.)
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