The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod granted $1,000 to Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch to support the Garden Program on its Bismarck, ND campus.
The Garden Program teaches Ranch kids about the process of gardening (planting, weeding, watering, mulching, and harvesting). In addition, kids learn gardening skills they can take with them after they leave the Ranch. The Garden Program helps Ranch kids build relationships with their peers and staff as they learn about gardening and work side-by-side. It also instills confidence, creates a sense of accomplishment, and builds a good work ethic as children work together and witness the growth of the plants they’ve tended.
Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch is a Christ-centered residential treatment and educational center for children and their families. We help the most troubled, complicated, and amazing kids by providing best-in-class psychiatric therapy and trauma-informed care, where we look kids in the eye, walk with them, and help them become their best selves.
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, based in St. Louis, MO, was established in 1847. It is a Lutheran denomination with nearly 2 million baptized members in over 6,000 congregations throughout the world, with a strong focus on missions. The Ranch was started in 1952 by LCMS churches in North Dakota. As a standalone ministry, The Ranch is now a Recognized Service Organization of the LCMS.