Teen Challenge Adventure Ranch Campus
Welcome to our 31-acre campus and ranch
surrounded by the beautiful Ozark Mountains.
There are five buildings on the campus, including our new main building.
Adventure-Based Therapy & Activities
Teen Challenge Adventure Ranch believes that teenagers should be actively engaged in life. Our outdoor adventure program, ropes course, physical strength training, and an active outdoor recreational program provide young teen boys with many challenging and enjoyable experiences. These experiences build confidence and help create positive momentum toward life success. Our boarding school troubled youth program is built around providing the boys with adventure and outdoor physical activities.
Outdoors, we go horseback riding, camping, backpacking, rappelling, canoeing, swimming, hiking, and spelunking (rock climbing and cave exploration). Boys can also work with horses on the ranch and benefit from Equine therapy. Indoors, students regularly play basketball in our gymnasium, use our weight-lifting equipment, and complete certified CrossFit training exercises.
Adventure Based Learning helps students learn through discovery and experience. Students are encouraged to conquer their fears and surpass their preconceived limitations. They are challenged to take new approaches to problem-solving, and they learn to work with others toward a common goal.
On the ropes, the boys learn the importance of teamwork, goals, and perseverance. They develop better communication skills and improve their ability to work cooperatively with others. Some therapeutic achievements they will experience while participating in our ropes course include positive risk-taking, improved self-confidence, expanding comfort zones, improved leadership skills, overcoming fears, and an overall increase in personal and team development.
We are the first Teen Challenge boarding school troubled youth program to install a certified ROPES COURSE and CLIMBING WALL on our property. Our staff are professionally trained and equipped to offer students this effective adventure-based intervention. The course is designed, built, maintained, and operated by our ropes course experts using state-of-the-art safety equipment. Everyone can participate in the ropes course, no matter how physically fit or athletic or not.
All of our activities help students to re-engage in life. They build character and provide amazing experiences they will remember for the rest of their lives.
Normal Day in the Life of a Student
Students start their day with breakfast at 7:00 a.m. Afterward, they have some personal time to prepare for the day. At 8:00 a.m., they have group devotions in the chapel. Academic and vocational classes start at 8:30 and continue through the morning until Lunchtime. Our cafeteria team prepares highly nutritious foods, including vegetables and a large fresh salad bar daily.
After lunch, students return to the classroom for more academic work or attend group sessions. Students then attend Life Skills (intervention) classes and PE classes. Dinner is served at 5:00 PM. Students stay busy through the evening. Students attend Character Studies (intervention) class after supper and have some free time before the evening chapel. After chapel, students return to their dorm rooms and prepare for bed. Then, it is lights out for the night.
Weekends
The schedule is much more relaxed on the weekends. On Saturday, students have breakfast at 8:00 AM and free time until Lunch. Afterward, students take part in a Saturday activity. When students return from the activity, they can enjoy more free time, play sports, watch a movie, or hang out with friends.
Breakfast is at 8:00 a.m. on Sundays. All students attend church off campus in the morning and then return to campus for lunch. Students have free time in the afternoon and can participate in various campus recreational activities before dinner. Phase 2 and higher will attend church off campus that evening, while Phase 1 will attend a chapel service on campus.
