Fornits

Fornits Home for Wayward Web Fora
An open discussion about the troubled parent industry

http://www.wisdomranch.org/Family.htm

meet the staff

Monte MacConnell
Founder & Director

Monte brings his experience as a leader in the Marine Corps during Desert Storm, a cattle ranch manager, a wilderness trip director, and a therapist for a residential treatment program together to lead our staff of highly skilled individuals. He has worked for several therapeutic outdoor adventure programs. Monte's proven management and leadership style, combined with his excellent interpersonal skills, ensure our continued success in combining ranching with personal development outcomes. Unfortunately, he refuses to wear a watch and is habitually late. Feel free to email him and demand he conform to the dictates of the clock.

John Tucker
Admissions & Academics
 
 As Co-Founder (he likes titles), John has over 20 years of experience working with young people in various contexts. He has taught philosophy, logic and English composition at the collegiate level and has developed curriculum for high school students. John has six years of experience working as a Field Supervisor and later Field Director for a well-known intervention program. He has a BA in Philosophy and Psychology from Denison University and has completed all course work and exams for a PhD in Philosophy. John teaches Latin, Economics, and Government. During college football season, John's mood is directly proportional to the win/loss record of the Ohio State Buckeyes. Email him if you are interested in his "3 Secrets to Better Golf".

 Tom Harvey
Director of Students
 
 Tom brings to Wisdom Ranch years of experience working with adolescents and young adults in several settings. Having worked as both a wilderness instructor and a wilderness field supervisor, Tom possesses a keen understanding of today's youth. He has traveled extensively overseas, including living and working in Thailand and Central America. Tom holds a degree in psychology from Williams College. Tom is, sadly, an avid Cleveland Browns fan.

 Hal Jardine
School Principal
 
 Our Academic Coordinator, Hal Jardine, earned his M.A. in Education from Utah State. He received his Administrative endorsement from Idaho State University in 1985. In addition to extensive teaching experience in Science, Math and English Hal has served as a High School principal and Director of Special Education.

Lawrence Levy
Academic Consultant
 
 Academic Director, Lawrence is currently the principal at Silver Creek Alternative School in Hailey, Idaho. He has a Master’s in Education from Harvard University that emphasizes interactive software to aid students with learning difficulties. He also has earned a Master’s degree from MIT in Individualized Learning Environments. Lawrence has over thirty-five years working in education.

  Bret Weber
English & Speech
 
 Bret is an Idaho native, born and raised in Salmon. He received his B.A. in English and Theater from Albertson College. Bret spent the last 10 years being damp and jittery in Seattle before returning to Idaho to dry out. Bret teaches all levels of English as well as Speech. He loves hot springing and his dog, Garcia (yes, that Garcia).
 
Daniel Meyer
Social Studies
 
 Daniel was born and raised in the Land of Lincoln, but felt it was time to gain some elevation in life by moving to Idaho. Daniel graduated from Illinois State University with a BA in Secondary Social Science Education. Before coming to Wisdom Ranch, Daniel worked as a climbing instructor, test administrator for No Child Left Behind, and shepherd for the family farm. (Don’t tell Monte that one of his staff worked with sheep in the past, its not "real" ranching.) Daniel works as a student mentor, teaches United States History, and Medieval Physics with David Nichols. He feels that it is necessary to state that he is 26 years old and is tired of being mistaken as a student. In the future, he will try to grow some form of facial hair.
 
Jeff Simpson
Shop Manager
 
 A lifelong Idahoan Jeff manages our shop. His duties include teaching carpentry, auto mechanics, welding, and heavy equipment operation. That's why he insisted on being photographed inside a tractor. In addition to being Mr. Fix-It and a life long Idahoan, Jeff is also a Sheriff's Deputy, a fact we gladly use at our discretion.


contact

WISDOM RANCH
SCHOOL
P.O. Box 166
Arco, ID 83213
FedEx/UPS Address:
4331 Champagne
Creek Rd
Ph: (208)-527-4750
Fx: (208)-527-4751

http://www.strugglingteens.com/artman/p ... 217_.shtml

Visit Reports
   
Posted: Feb 17, 2003 15:43

WISDOM RANCH SCHOOL


John W. Tucker
Co-Founder and Director of Admissions
208-527-4750
fax: 208-527-4751
Wisdom Ranch School

[Visit Report By Peter Sturtevant, M.A., The School Counseling Group, Inc.]

My visit to Wisdom Ranch School began with Thai food in the western town of Hailey, Idaho. There I enjoyed a meal with the program’s founders, John Tucker and Monte MacConnell, Monte’s wife Anne, and their brand new baby, Montana. Monte was running late. Time operates differently on the ranch. “Ranch Time” is determined by the position of the sun, the nature of the weather, and the tasks that need to be accomplished. Because the kids’ needs come first, they rarely operate on the clock.

For the students of Wisdom Ranch School, “ranch time” is the first lesson in exploring the truth of their experience. Ranch time provides both a context and a metaphor for their personal growth and development. Students are asked to discover for themselves in this context. Referred to as “the boys”, students are aged 14 and older, with most being in their mid to upper teens. At the ranch, they are challenged to fully explore context and then create their own in which to make meaning in a world which will make it for you if you are not clear in principles and disciplined in action and understanding. The boys at the ranch are at the center of their growth; it is not imposed upon them from above. Rather, they lead themselves with the careful guidance and input from a staff carefully selected for their temperament and experience.

Located in Arco, Idaho, just northeast of the Craters of the Moon National Monument, in a wide valley west and south of Sun Valley, Idaho, Wisdom Ranch rises quietly from the dusty homestead and horse paddock that informs its humble first impression to the lovely hills on which the yurts are located a few hundred yards above. The ranch is blessed with a number of freshwater springs that, when piped underground, provide water for the students and staff. Students live in Yurts, which are attractive, comfortable, wood floored structures. There is a separate kitchen and bathhouse. Students are responsible for drawing water and for building and maintaining fires that heat the Yurts. In addition they are responsible for cooking all of their meals and even plan what food will be bought. The context for developing group and personal responsibility is clear here.

Decision-making occurs as a result of a non-judgmental, active mentoring process. Students must be willing to participate in the program and are required to actively develop self-awareness, as well as the specifics of their academic and personal goals, and the process by which they will achieve and build upon them.

I do not know of a program that is more creative or flexible, yet more active and dynamic in helping students to define and meet their needs. This is a large part of the magic of the place.

When I arrived at the ranch on a gorgeous summer day in July with my three boys in tow, my trusty rental had succumbed to the caprices of the long unpaved road that leads up to the ranch from Craters of the Moon. Instantly, Monte had my boys learn to jack the car and change the tire. It was one of those moments where Monte’s belief in the power of experiential education revealed itself so plainly to me as if built from the core of his being. Afterwards, he took my boys up to tour an abandoned mine on the property and for a lesson on some of the school’s many horses.

Not all students are as easily engaged. One student, my client, arrived with a willingness to try the program but with virtually no interest or ability when it came to building a context for himself, this is to say he was stuck, and perhaps comfortably so. Kicked out of school, he earned his GED, worked for hourly wages at a job he tolerated but did not love, lived at home and ran the streets with impunity. This boy acted more like a high-spirited 16 year-old with a new license and few boundaries then what he in fact was: a 19 year-old young man preparing for college, the work force, a life of meaning and responsible relationships. The staff was able to develop a relationship with this young man, a feat in itself. After much discussion, a spark was struck. A customized program was created that would utilize the boy’s interest in automobile mechanics and the crying need to develop a context upon which to further build relationship with mentors. He would explore his strengths and in doing so would come face to face with his paralyzing pattern of high-sounding talk, with little consequent action. This is a pattern all too familiar for kids who present an aura of pride and invincibility in rising proportion to their level of school and social rejection.

A junked Land Rover was found and purchased by the boy for a modest sum. He would rebuild it. Meanwhile, he would be planning – in the company of a mentor who would eventually accompany him- a “safari” through Idaho as well as a guided journey into self and then outward. This is far from a typical ranch experience.

Most of the boys are in transition and clearly between one setting and another. They stay for at least 5 months, with an opportunity to extend their stay and work towards establishing and achieving specific academic and personal goals. Another client of mine, a high school drop out, was able to get a high school diploma at the ranch and made great strides in communicating more openly and effectively with his family, overcame his reliance on substances and is presently enrolled at University of Colorado at Boulder.

Boys come to Wisdom Ranch School who are talented and have been lost or hurt or misunderstood. Wisdom Ranch School is a nice step-down from a successful experience in more intensive and staff driven settings, such as wilderness programs or RTCs – or a failed experience at a day or boarding school where a boy has struggled with self-respect, clarity, or self-destructive patterns of thought or action.

John and Monte will listen to any story, but will be careful about whom they will take. A boy must have some motivation and some desire to better himself. He must be able to respond to a group, and to powerful relationships. In most cases, boys should have a desire to further their education. The ranch is able to work with high school students, college aspirants, those needing a diploma or GED, or simply those who need to find themselves out of their present paralyzing personal/social context. A consulting psychiatrist is available for those who need evaluations or medications.

Wisdom Ranch School is not for everybody. But for a student who responds to a flexible mentoring relationship with superb, non-judgmental people in a ranch setting, this is the place. There are many opportunities for epiphanies here, as there is a belief in creativity and energy – and these are boundless commodities on the ranch. The staff is worldly, idealistic, highly educated, experienced, involved and multi talented. I urge you to call John Tucker to explore in greater depth the nature and structure of the academic and living program, the informative backgrounds of individual staff members, as well as to explore how Wisdom Ranch School could meet the individual needs of your clients.

http://www.strugglingteens.com/artman/p ... 5097.shtml

Visit Reports
   
Posted: Feb 28, 2005 15:15

WISDOM RANCH SCHOOL


Arco, Idaho
Monte MacConnell, Founder/ Director
208-527-4750

Visit by: Cindy Barnett, of Portolano Educational Consulting, and Judi Bessette, of Compass Educational Consulting - February 1, 2005

(Cindy Barnett is based in Toronto, Canada and Judi Bessette in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Both have started practices focusing on troubled teens.)

The tone was set for our visit to Wisdom Ranch School the morning we met John Tucker, Admissions Director, and Tom Harvey, Director of Students, at Pickles Café in Arco. We were the city girls in dress jeans surrounded by ranchers wearing work jeans and cowboy hats, eating chicken fried steak and eggs while discussing high school athletics and local politics. We stopped to collect mail for the ranch and its neighbors before setting out under an endless blue sky and wide-open spaces. We knew immediately this is a place where neighbors look out for one another and the future holds promise for those willing to work.

Wisdom Ranch School provides young men and their families with the opportunity to discover (or rediscover) their inner excellence. Upon meeting the three rugged founders of the school, Monte MacConnell, Tom and John, and experiencing their calm, deliberate nature, one quickly understands why the philosophy at Wisdom Ranch - that relationships coupled with experiences help students identify their passions - is so successful.

Wisdom Ranch is a working ranch located in the foothills of the Pioneer Mountains in southern Idaho. Everyone at the ranch - adults and students alike - plays a role in the ranch operations, led by the three founders who all look more like ranchers than therapists or teachers.

In addition to developing horse sense and all that entails, students have almost unlimited opportunities to develop expertise in areas like carpentry, auto mechanics, welding and metal working. While the staff teaches many of these skills, the ranch taps into the skills of local residents as the need arises, helping to make Wisdom Ranch a real part of the community.

The school is housed in a large yurt where students attend traditional classes in English, math, science and history. The yurt is also the hub of individualized learning opportunities and special projects identified by students. Author Dan Hays is the English teacher and school director, whose passion for learning appeared contagious among the boys who were in session. One young man we observed was conducting an independent research project on the work of Joseph Campbell, which will culminate in either a paper or a seminar for other students. The school can grant a high school diploma and, in some cases, offers course work that qualifies for college credits.

Yurts also serve as dormitories for most of the students. There are two family groups and two yurt sites. Up to 10 students and three staff live together, along with at least one cat and one dog. Each site has a large yurt that serves as a dorm and another that houses the kitchen and bathroom facilities. The yurts have wooden floors and wood-burning stoves that keep them toasty warm even on cold winter nights. These self-sufficient homes (each is complete with solar power panels and spring-fed water) create a living environment that contributes to the development of relationships with others.

Boys 15 and over (yes, 18+ are welcome) who want to be at Wisdom Ranch and who have average to above average intelligence are good candidates for enrollment. Typically, the boys who enroll are struggling at home, at school, and their lives lack focus. To be successful at Wisdom Ranch, a young man must be able to engage in relationships, respond to positive peer culture and enjoy hands-on opportunities. By design, this is a small school with a current maximum of 22 students and no immediate plans to grow the student body.

To ensure that nothing is missed in the admissions process, each student starts his experience in an adventure interview with several staff and an older student or two. This camping trip (which may include fishing, rock climbing or riding) assists the student in getting acquainted with the program as well as helping him to establish some personal goals he can take with him into the yurt community.

Without the distractions of TV, computer games and instant messaging, students are challenged to learn to use their generous amounts of free time to create positive experiences for themselves, a skill that will serve them throughout their lives. Other, more concrete life skills such as meal planning, grocery shopping, cooking and money management help prepare the boys for independent living.

The highlight of our visit was meeting several students. Some of the boys were in town, doing their grocery shopping and a few were doing chores (including one boy who was working the newest horse), but the rest were in the school or doing independent work. The young men we talked to were charming in their own special ways. They were each excited about some aspect of the program - ranch life, working with horses, learning new skills like welding and school (yes - school!) Families share in this excitement by participating in experiential workshops and a special graduation program. There is a minimum six-month stay with an average stay of 10 - 12 months.

Developing ranch hands is not a goal of the program, although a couple of recent graduates discovered a passion for ranching and found work locally. Most grads go on to college or trade schools.

Wisdom Ranch left us with a very good feeling about the work that is taking place there. The founders should be pleased with the opportunities the ranch offers the young men and the families they serve.

http://www.strugglingteens.com/artman/p ... 0909.shtml

Breaking News Posted: Sep 9, 2009 14:57

Wisdom Ranch School
Arco, ID


Wisdom Ranch School
Receives Highest Accreditation

Contact:
John W. Tucker
Director of Admissions
208-527-4753
http://www.wisdomranch.org

September 14, 2009

After a comprehensive on site visit, The Northwest Association of Accredited School recently awarded Wisdom Ranch School its highest level of accreditation, granting a six year term. After touring the facility and meeting with students and staff, the team commended Wisdom Ranch School for the following:


    * For employing a unique academic - ranch life approach to learning.

    * For engaging the students in group learning and classroom activities as an important source of teaching and learning.

    * For having a staff of Highly Qualified teachers who offer curriculum applicable to students' unique learning style.

    * For having extremely proficient and knowledgeable staff.

    * For an innovative approach to working with students who have unique and unusual learning circumstances

    * For providing an intensive, personal and meaningful living and educational setting for students to achieve life success.

    * For providing a learning setting that is practical and useful and that should translate into human relationship skills, as well as better that average academic achievement.



"We are very proud of the results of the evaluation. It represents years of hard work and dedication," says John Tucker, the school's Academic Director. "Over the years we have shown an exceptional ability to work with students who have lost academic confidence, have become demoralized in school, or who need to reconnect with an interest in learning. It is heartening to have the accreditation committee recognize that."

Wisdom Ranch School is an alternative experiential boarding school serving students in need of academic and personal success. We are located on a 2000 acre working cattle ranch in central Idaho.

For more please visit us at http://www.wisdomranch.org.





~Comments~


September 17, 2009

I am not surprised at all. Our son, Justin, went to Wisdom Ranch School approx 4 years ago from a school in Georgia which has since closed down due to recent litigation. Justin was able to find himself and "clean up his act" with the help of Wisdom Ranch. Justin fell in love with ranching and he is a true "cowboy".

We owe our son's survival to all the staff at Wisdom Ranch and we will be eternally grateful to them.


Sincerely,

Leslie Farrell
Lpf0701@aol.com

http://wisdomranch.org/Family.htm

family

Visits

Each student's family visits the Ranch to spend time with their son and to participate in a workshop. The workshop is designed to identify relationship patterns and to provide families with effective communication tools. Our goal is to help participants use these tools in their day-to-day lives after leaving Wisdom Ranch School. Students also have opportunities to visit home while at Wisdom Ranch. Time and duration may vary. It is important to us that students spend time off the ranch so that they are able to test new strategies and beliefs. Away from the ranch, students are able to put to use the knowledge and experience they have gained in comprehensive, real world contexts.

After Graduating

Our commitment does not end when a student graduates from Wisdom Ranch School. We are committed to assisting our families and referring professionals in determining the most appropriate next step. Whether the student returns home or continues learning away from home, we remain available to support the student and his family.
As a springboard to future success, it is our hope that our students and their families leave Wisdom Ranch School knowing that they are always welcome back, as visitors, participants, and friends.

contact

WISDOM RANCH
SCHOOL
P.O. Box 166
Arco, ID 83213
FedEx/UPS Address:
4331 Champagne
Creek Rd
Ph: (208)-527-4750
Fx: (208)-527-4751

http://www.wisdomranch.org/Program.htm

program

Yurt Living (What is a Yurt?!)

Small family units of up to eight students and two staff live in yurts on the ranch. In this setting students learn to balance the achievement of academic and personal goals with the development and maintenance of important relationships. Each family group inhabits two yurts: one yurt provides sleeping and personal space and the other houses kitchen and bathroom facilities. The yurts are self-sufficient with solar electricity, spring-fed water, wood burning stoves, and home cooked meals that are purchased and prepared by the students. The rustic environment of the yurt is structured so that students become familiar with and learn to manage all of their personal and group needs. Daily living includes ranch work, academics, recreation, and free time.

Ranch Life

Wisdom Ranch School is located on a working ranch with horses, mules, and 200 head of cattle. Our students are intimately involved in the day to day operation of the ranch and have the unique opportunity to pursue and excel at any ranch skill they enjoy, including horseback riding, roping, fencing, branding, calving, and operating heavy equipment. The student's academic and living experience is woven into the daily workings of the ranch. Students are exposed to auto mechanics, welding, carpentry, and metal working. Intensive training in any of these areas is available as each student identifies his passions and interests.

contact

WISDOM RANCH
SCHOOL
P.O. Box 166
Arco, ID 83213
FedEx/UPS Address:
4331 Champagne
Creek Rd
Ph: (208)-527-4750
Fx: (208)-527-4751