No matter how difficult things are at home, driving away from the Ranch without your child is not easy. "It was scary taking that leap of faith. We didn't know what to expect, and as we drove away, my mom heart was just sad and apprehensive," said Meredith, mother of former Ranch resident, Blaise.…
Ranch Voice
Summer programming gives our kids a unique and positive summer experience. They experience activities they may not have been exposed to before—like gardening, fishing, hiking, art, music, and more. They learn new things in classes like Discover Dakota, Sports History, and Pop Culture. School has rarely been consistent for Ranch kids so it's important to challenge them to learn. Learning without the stress of tests and grades helps kids see that learning can be fun and that they can succeed.…
Cain came to the Ranch in 2016 after spending some time in a Minot psychiatric hospital. When he completed treatment and was able to go home, his parents enrolled him in the Day Program so he could continue his education at Dakota Memorial School. For an entire school year, Cain's parents, Dawn and Kevin, drove him 70 miles (one way) to school, because at DMS he experienced the only success he'd ever had in school.…
While Don and Arlene Schumacher don't know exactly how they learned about Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, they assume it was through their church, Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Hutchinson, MN.…
As she graduated from Dakota Memorial School in May 2022, Stacy used her graduation speech to address current and future Ranch residents. Her words speak for themselves.…
In the last quarter of the 20-21 school year, Principal Tina DeGree asked the teachers if they saw any gaps in the curriculum at Dakota Memorial School, Minot. And, if they did see gaps, to present ideas that would fill those gaps. Teachers Josh Hvidsten and Daniel Fagerlund presented a proposal for a new Leadership class, and it was added to this fall's curriculum. The Leadership class gives kids the chance to learn and practice real-life skills by finding projects that fill a need in the community.…
Small acts of kindness like showing customers fabric measurements or offering people carts when their hands are full, bring Bonnie Ackerman the most joy.…
Robert grew up with his dad. "My mom couldn't handle all of us at once, so she put me with my dad. I've lived with him since I was born," he said. Robert said his dad has always worked hard and has helped him through a lot of rough times. But no amount of hard work could equip his dad to help him deal with the challenges resulting from Robert's psychiatric issues and autism.…
Al and Johnne Bierdeman both come from humble beginnings in rural North Dakota. Johnne grew up in Dickey, ND, where her parents both worked at the bank. Al was born and raised on a family farm near Sykeston, ND, and was one of six kids.…
Dakota Memorial School (DMS), the on-campus school of Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, is specially designed for children with trauma histories. One of the unique elements of the school is that children transfer in and out of the school in the individualized ways that meet their needs.…
DMS's unique, therapeutic educational environment gives kids an opportunity to experience school in a new way. Our educators work with students to turn their fears into new academic and study skills, new social and emotional skills, new strategies to manage inappropriate behaviors, and new ways to feel and experience school success.…
Paytin was a 5th grader when he started attending Dakota Memorial School, the on-campus school of Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch. "It got to the point where essentially my [home] school couldn't deal with me anymore. So, I came here."…
Shanaye didn't experience much safety in her childhood—either at home or at school. "Until my dad moved out, home was a really hostile and scary place," Shanaye said. "I was abused by my father for a good portion of my life. It was just horrible."…
In practice, Case Managers at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch are connectors—the glue that holds everything together while a child is in treatment at the Ranch. They bring together the Ranch treatment team, the child and their family, and county or Department of Juvenile Justice caseworkers; to ensure everyone is moving in the same direction and that the children and their families have a voice in their treatment.…
People often ask what makes the Ranch special. What do we do differently at the Ranch that helps kids heal? The truth is that there is not one answer to that question. We focus on every child individually and find ways to meet their specific needs. Our goal is to help our children heal and grow so they can become successful members of their families and communities—and we do that by working with them one-by-one to determine their strengths and challenges, and to find strategies that will work for them.…
For several years, Dakota Memorial School has been creating a program that gives students opportunities to learn important social skills, build relationships with their teachers and peers, and obtain the knowledge and skills they need to transition back to public school or adulthood.…
"My horse, Teddy, taught me how to love him and love other people. Just like Teddy, people are going to be stubborn. You have to compromise with them. You gotta give in a little bit and take a little back. I've learned so much from Teddy." -Megan, former Ranch resident…
Meagan Gelinske comes from a generous family, and the importance of giving back was instilled in her at an early age. "I learned early on to share what I had. Several of my family members are very generous and I quickly realized that giving to help others is a good way to live," Meagan said. "My Christian faith plays a large part, too."…
Most of us remember school as Math, Science, Social Studies, PE, and other classes where we sat down, listened to a teacher give a lecture, and waited for the bell to ring so we could walk out the door for our next class period. School days were full of routine, had few disruptions, and most days were similar. We had teachers who inspired us, helped us determine our future path, and provided critical feedback as we navigated this world.…
One of the great challenges of the work we do at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch is helping our children be successful when they leave our care. During treatment, we wrap children and their families in many services and supports. When a child completes treatment and goes home, the family must find these services in the community—not an easy task when they may have their own challenges and/or live in a rural area with few available services.…
Rev. Keith and Denise Less were drawn to the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch ministry because of the similarity between Keith’s background and that of many of the Ranch kids.…
“The people there [at the Ranch] on the ground, the people investing their lives in the lives of the young people—they’re the ones doing the work. I can’t be one of those people, but I can plant some energy in the effort," Smith said.…
Jim's heart for the Ranch is very personal. "When I was the age of Ranch kids, I would probably have been one of them... One reason I support the Ranch is because no child should have to go through a situation like that."…
At Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, we spend a lot of time getting the kids outside and into nature. That is intentional—because spending time in nature is healing, leading to higher levels of happiness and well-being.…
With a lot of hard work and hearts full of love, our Facilities Teams make the Ranch a home-like environment for our kids.…