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.…
Blog
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.…
The Elmer & Kaya Berg Foundation granted $1,000 to Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch to update the security on its Fargo campus.…
Many of the office doors in Bremer Hall (the central building on our Minot campus) have small 8" x 10" white boards hanging on them. These boards serve a variety of purposes. Some are used to list office hours. Some give location info like, "I'm in the barn with the kids until 3 p.m." Some ask everyone who passes to vote on an important life question, "Would you rather be 10 feet tall or 10 inches tall?" (If you're curious, 10 feet tall won by a landslide.)…
The Kiwanis Club of Minot granted $744 to Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch to purchase furniture for Thatcher Cottage on the Minot, ND campus, which serves boys ages 14-18.…
One of our kids is going home today. Of course, I am thrilled. We are here to “help at-risk kids and their families succeed in the name of Christ.” Part of succeeding is being able to live with a family. No child should grow up at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch…
“How old are you? Like, when’s your birthday?” I had a chance to sit on the grass next to a circle of kids on one of our campuses. They were waiting for a tardy ice cream truck, and they were so patient. Their topic of conversation was age.…
The Kiwanis Club of Fargo granted $2,500 to Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch to furnish a Balanced Learning Environment (BLE) in its newly renovated library/media center in Dakota Memorial School, Fargo, the on-campus school of Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch.…
Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch will receive $4,000 from the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, Rocky Mountain District during the 2022-2024 biennium to support its Spiritual Life programming. Funds will be used to update lighting fixtures in the Kruse Memorial Chapel on its Minot, ND campus, part of an overall renovation of the chapel.…
One of the great challenges of being a trauma survivor is hypervigilance, which means being overly alert to danger. For children at the Ranch who have experienced abuse, neglect, or other traumatic events, nothing in life has been predictable and most surprises have caused pain. As a result, their senses and emotions are always on high alert.…
With all she has been through, Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch is a kind of home to her. It is a place where people think about her, pray for her, cheer for her, and believe in her. There may be no other place that has met that measure for her. My prayer is that she and her fiancé’ can create a home for and with each other.…
Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch will receive $500 from the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, North Dakota District during the 2022-2024 biennium to support its Spiritual Life programming. Funds will be used to update lighting fixtures in the Kruse Memorial Chapel on its Minot, ND campus, part of an overall renovation of the chapel.…
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) granted $10,000 to Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch to support the Spiritual Life Program on its Bismarck, ND campus. Spiritual Life services on the Bismarck campus are offered in partnership with Zion Lutheran Church.…
Every child experiences adversity. During a "typical childhood," a child will experience 3 or 4 ACES. When adversity is prolonged or extreme or consists of multiple types of adversity, those events begin to affect brain development and behavioral response.…
For the last several years, our Minot Wellness and Spiritual Life staff have partnered to create a week-long “Ranch Olympics” during the month of August. The entire campus, kids, and staff, find ways to participate and engage. Very few of the children at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch have participated in organized sports. The trauma and chaos they have faced have made it hard for them to be "joiners."…
Dr. Hannah Baczynski, Dakota Family Services Psychologist, showed this video in a staff training she did on understanding children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Her training centered around debunking myths about children with ADHD, one of the greatest ones being they could quit their behaviors if they just tried hard enough. With most of the children at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch having some level of ADHD or a related diagnosis, it is important we understand their reality.…
On Monday of this week, I was in the nutrition center with Sydney when one of our girls came up. She had been one of the first girls Sydney had interacted with and had seen Sydney learn, while she herself was healing. They have a special friendship.…
Yesterday at lunch I sat down next to a child I hadn’t met as he has only been with us for five days. He’s a handsome child—dark eyes, dark hair, those kinds of gangly limbs kids get in their teenage years. He looked at me through too-long bangs.…
Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch will receive $4,000 from the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, Oregon District during the 2022-2024 biennium to support its Spiritual Life programming. Funds will be used to update lighting fixtures in the Kruse Memorial Chapel on its Minot, ND campus, part of an overall renovation of the chapel.…
The Midco Foundation granted $1,000 to Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch to do safety upgrades on its Bismarck campus. Specifically, funds will be used to update the fire alarm system.…
When I first came to the Ranch and learned this, it surprised me. Here are kids with all different kinds of trauma-related behaviors. Some have attention deficit issues, others deal with anger or noise triggers, and others are uncomfortable in groups. They may be depressed or anxious or struggle with bipolar or schizophrenia diagnoses. They have seen much in their young lives. Yet, they like old, boring, low-tech Bingo.…
Anyone who has worked in any kind of workplace has been approached to purchase “stuff” from the children of co-workers. Boy Scout popcorn, Girl Scout cookies, wrapping paper, butter braids, and raffle tickets. You name it, I’ve bought it. Actually, one of my life rules is, “Buy what kids are selling.”…
Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch will receive $4,488.11 from the Minot Area Community Foundation. Funds for the grant were made possible through The Mike & Dorothy Dolan Fund. The granted funds will be used to purchase a financial literacy program for Dakota Memorial School, the on-campus school of Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch.…
Yes, some of the children at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch have “gotten into trouble.” One hundred percent of the kids at the Ranch have endured some sort of trauma.…
Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch will receive $5,000 from the Minot Community Endowment Fund, a component of the North Dakota Community Foundation. Funds will be used to upgrade the lighting fixtures in the riding arena on the Ranch’s Minot, ND campus.…