March 29, 2022
Meet Hiwot! A Turn-About Ranch Graduate.
Here at Turn-ABout Ranch, we use therapy, academics, and hard-to-help teens and instill powerful change in them. Over the years, we have helped hundreds of teens and their families by helping them become effective individuals. Below, you’ll hear Hiwot’s story and more about how Turn-About Ranch helped her and her family.
Hiwot’s Story: A Turn-About Ranch Graduate
What Was Your Roundy Experience LIke?
“It was pretty difficult. But the work was fun, the goals were fun, the activities were fun, and it was pretty enjoyable.”
At Turn-About Ranch, students start their ranch experience at Camp Roundy. Here, they’ll work through why they’re here, learn the basics of ranch life, and have lots of time for self-reflection. Once they’ve completed certain goals, teens will then be able to move on to the main part of the ranch (also known as The Barn).
On the ranch, students participate in a rotating schedule of activities before and after lunch. As a working cattle ranch, we have a variety of different projects that students need to complete weekly that contribute to the ranch. By participating in these projects teens learn valuable lessons —including teamwork, leadership, coping with frustration, and the value of hard work.
How Challenging Was Your Level 1 Impact Experience?
“I don’t think my Level One experience was very challenging, because I pretty much enjoyed being in the circle by myself. Just having some peace and quiet to myself was very helpful and impacted my program too.”
During their first few days at Camp Roundy, they’ll spend some time outdoors in a circular space where they are given the time and space to think about why they are here, the help they need, and what they want to get out of their ranch experience.
From the second your teen is in our care to their graduation day, they will be given the professional guidance they need to help them process their struggles. Our mission is simple: To help develop our students into effective individuals and positively impact their lives and the lives of their families.
How Do You Feel About the Staff?
“I honestly don’t know what I would do without the staff. They were always there to check in if I was okay and always making sure that I had everything I needed.”
The staff at Turn-About Ranch are a crucial part of this impactful therapeutic ranch experience. Our employees include onsite therapists, teachers, mentors, and on-site nurses. Together, we come to work every day with the goal of guiding young people along a path toward a healthy and productive future. Our staff is guided by the following principles: Family, growth, teamwork, and service.
“No matter what happened, I could always go to the Roundy staff or the Barn staff. I absolutely loved the staff here!”
How Was Your Equine Therapy Experience?
“Tex [Horse] just gave me someone to talk to. I talk to him pretty much about everything. I loved having a horse!”
In our horsemanship program, students learn the values of patience, focus, connection, and commitment. With their horses, they learn more about relationships as they start to connect with their horses. We feel as if our program goes above and beyond traditional equine therapy as our horsemanship experts use practical application to teach students essential life skills.
How Has Turn-About Ranch Impacted Your Family?
Hiwot’s Mom: “Turn-About Ranch has had a huge impact on our family. Not only because they’ve helped her hands-on, but they supported myself and my husband throughout this process.”
We understand how difficult it can be to bring your teen to Turn-About Ranch. That is why we always do our best to include the family through therapy sessions and regular updates as well as ideas to help make home life easier after graduation. Research shows that one of the biggest predictors of a teen’s success after completing a program is the extent to which their families are involved, and we want to give families the resources they need to be successful.
What Was It Like to Leave Your Daughter Here?
Hiwot’s Mom: “Leaving her here for the first time was terrible and exciting. I also felt a great sense of relief and hope when I left her here.”
Sending your teen to us isn’t easy. Oftentimes, parents are worried about how their relationship will be after sending them to us. They fear their teens will hold it against them and their relationship will be ruined. However, this is rarely the case. Once teens start to utilize what they’re learning in our environment, their perspective changes, and they often end up thanking their parents later on for getting them the help they needed, making the relationship even stronger.
Hiwot’s Mom: “At midterm, we started to see just these little glimmers of spirit that we hadn’t seen from her in a while and we started to have hope for her future and our future for our family.”
What Surprised You About Your Experience Here?
“I would say how enjoyable it was just to be here with the staff and here with the horses and animals. It all really surprised me, because I thought it was going to be something where I spend the whole time by myself thinking and having therapy.”
At Turn-About Ranch, we take traditional treatment models used to help troubled youth develop into effective individuals and combine them with something more unique – a real, working cattle ranch. Because of this unique experience, we can positively impact the lives of each of our students and their families, setting us apart from other adolescent programs.
Hiwot’s Mom: “I was surprised too by how real-world it was. By how much she had actually had to work and how much she has come to enjoy the work.”
If You Could Go Back to Day 1, What Advice Would You Give Yourself?
“I would say open up. I didn’t want anyone to help me, so I just told myself to open up. Use the staff and the resources you have.”
Hiwot’s Mom: “You’re not a failure. These people are truly here to help, they truly care about your child. Even though this may be the toughest thing you have to do, it will be worth it.”
Here at Turn-About Ranch, we are committed to helping you and your teen. We have created a facility where our students can grow and work on their issues in a safe environment. If you believe that we are a good fit for your troubled teen, contact us and we’ll be in touch with you shortly.