Skip to main content

Discovery Ranch - Learning With A Purpose

By Jennifer C. Jones


There are no bells, no lockers, no football teams or cheerleaders. But that is not what makes school at Discovery Ranch different from other academic institutions.

            “One of the great strengths of the ranch is the ratio of adults to students,” says Clinton Dorny, Executive Director.  “In the classroom the ratio is five to one, or less.  There is a lot of one on one instruction and all of the programs are self-paced and individualized.”

            Dorny says a traditional classroom setting of 30 students is extremely difficult for what he calls “lost or troubled students.” “If they’re with that teacher for an hour, the most the teacher could spend is about a minute with each student.”

            “We have an opportunity for students to bond with a variety of adults who offer them encouragement, insight, and assistance,” Dorny explains.  “They’re not going to get that in a normal school setting.”



            Clinton says because Discovery Ranch focuses on therapeutic interventions, many parents are surprised at the quality and depth of academic offerings available to their students.  Eleven certified teachers, along with two testing proctors, 3-4 tutors and six mentors work one on one with students teaching math, social studies, English, and science. In addition to the core curriculum, students may take electives that include calculus, chemistry, foreign language, and music.



            The school day typically runs Monday through Friday from 2:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  Each course is taught by a licensed educator and study time is built into the class schedule.

            Friday’s are generally reserved for experiential activities. “That’s either an on-campus learning activity for all students or a special off-campus activity for students who have earned the right to leave,” Dorny notes.



            Past experiential activities have included trips to the planetarium, city council meetings, volunteer work in the community, theater or music performances, or athletic events.

            Guest speakers at the ranch covered topics such as running your own business, military life and careers, and a zoologist who enthralled students with a live python.

“We’re only limited to the imagination of the teaching staff,” Dorny says.

The Discovery Ranch academics are provided by Discovery Academy, a nationally accredited Clinical Boarding School.       

            In addition to therapeutic evaluations and treatment plans, every Discovery Ranch student has an academic evaluation. Students, teachers, parents, educators and therapists all give input and the education department creates an individual education plan for each student. 

Teachers at the ranch try to keep students as close to grade level as possible. That makes it easier for them to transition back to mainstream schools when their Discovery experience is over.

Certified special education teachers are also on staff to provide assistance to students with additional learning challenges.

            Clinton says the ranch helps students make new discoveries about their academic abilities as well as their behavioral issues. “A light goes on,” he explains. Students see their educational experience in a whole different way. “They go from saying, ‘I’m never going to graduate from high school or go beyond’ to saying, ‘I can do this. I can graduate and I can go on.’”

            “A lot of our students have been outstanding students but they just had difficulty with life,” he says. “We’re putting them back on track for them to maximize their full academic potential – not just get good grades.”

            “Ultimately, that’s the whole purpose of the ranch,” he says. “To give students the skill sets they may not have received in a more traditional setting.”


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Young Boy and the Rattlesnake

By Stephen C. Schultz (Editors note: This is a story used in a Wilderness Treatment Program for Young Adults . Many come to this program having struggled with substance abuse and interacting with unsavory friends.)   Many years ago there was a young Native American who lived in the very land you are residing in. He decided to seek wisdom by journeying to the top of Indian Peak. As he approached the base of the mountain he came across a rattlesnake that slithered beside him. The snake coiled as if to strike and the young boy moved back quickly in fear of being struck by the snake’s deadly venom. At that instant the snake spoke to the boy saying, “Don’t be afraid of me, I mean you no harm. I come to you to ask a favor. I see that you are about to traverse to the top of Indian Peak and was hoping that you may be willing to place me in your satchel so that I don’t have to make the long journey alone.” The young boy surprised by the snake’s request quickly responded b

Navigating the Highway of Healthy Communication

By Stephen C. Schultz “I was on the road in my car last week. It was a long stretch of highway where it is easy for your speed to creep up. I looked in the review mirror and saw blue and red flashing lights. I watched as the right hand of the officer extended to lift a microphone to his mouth. He was obviously running my plates. I glanced at my driver’s side mirror and observed as his door opened and he stepped around the edge of the door and closed it with a single, fluid motion. In a cautious and calculated manner, with his right hand resting about hip high on his revolver and his left hand carrying some paper, he was at my door in ten easy strides.” Ok…now that you have read that first paragraph, what are you feeling? Did reading that stir any emotions? Could you relate to my experience? How many of you are smiling? You’ve been there…right? You know the feeling. Often there is dread. Sometimes there is fear. Most times there is frustration because you were just goin

Video Games, Anxiety and ADHD - Free Family Resources

 By Stephen C. Schultz Video Games, Anxiety and ADHD - Is there a common theme? Aloft Transitions Home for Young Adults This is simply a complimentary resource guide for parents of teens and young adults who struggle with ADHD, Anxiety and Gaming. ADHD:   • Russell Barkley,  Taking Charge of ADHD • Hallowell & Ratey,  Delivered from Distraction • Harvey Parker,  The ADD Hyperactivity Workbook for Parents, Teachers, & Kids • Bradley & Giedd,  Yes, Your Teen Is Crazy!: Loving Your Kid Without Losing Your  Mind  • Gurian, Michael,  The Minds of Boys Saving Our Sons from Falling Behind in School and  Life, 2005. • Hanna, Mohab,  Making the Connection: A Parents’ Guide to Medication in AD/HD • www.CHADD.org  (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) • www.help4adhd.org • www.aap.org (American Academy of Pediatrics) • www.aacap.org (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) Young Adult caring for new baby calf Anxiety: The following websites