WE ARE EXCITED TO BEGIN OUR 11th SUMMER OF OPERATIONS IN JUNE THIS YEAR.
Only one session this year.
2013 dates are:
Boys Session 1 (JUN 16– JUL 8) 12-15 year old boys $1,500
There are some need-based scholarships available. Please contact us with questions about scholarships.
OVERVIEW
Many young people today lack work ethic and the self-sufficiency to be out on their own and it is creating problems in their lives. As the challenges young teens face increase, caring parents are becoming over-protective of their children and are shielding them from the normal bumps and turns in life that teach kids resiliency to even greater challenges they may face in high school or in years to come. The focus at BCSR is to teach 12-15 year old boys and girls the value of hard work, the ability to face challenges, and the importance of being engaged members of a community.
BENNION RANCH and LOWELL BENNION
Birch Creek Ranch is the successor to Bennion Teton Boys Ranch. Bennion Ranch was located in Victor, ID and was founded by Lowell Bennion. When Bennion Ranch closed, as a gesture of support, the board of directors at Bennion Ranch transferred all of Bennion Ranch assets to Birch Creek. Since then, we have been carrying on that tradition. Our program is the same as the program run at Bennion Ranch. Most of our staff and the directors of our program were staff members at Bennion, some for more than a decade. We follow the principles taught by Lowell Bennion of community service, community mindedness, hard work, and simple living. Lowell Bennion founded Bennion Teton Boys Ranch, the Utah Food Bank, and the Lowell Bennion Community Service Center at the University of Utah. He was always an example of serving his neighbors and we try to emulate that example.
CAMPERS
The participants are 12-15 year old boys and girls. This is not a reform camp or treatment program. It is a camp for good kids who have not had serious behavioral problems in the past who wish to have a positive experience in Rural Utah learning to appreciate the outdoors, being engaged in the community, and learning the value of hard work.
SCHEDULE
Sessions run for about 3 1/2 weeks each starting in early June through mid- August.
MORNINGS: |
The campers engage in farm work and community service. They work to maintain the ranch facilities and help our neighbors. Our staff and campers contribute about 4000 hours of service to the local community each summer. |
AFTERNOONS |
Campers participate in a variety of outdoors activities and arts and crafts. These activities include: soccer, basketball, rock climbing, hiking, wood-work, ceramics, and many other activities. |
EVENINGS: |
Guests come to hold concerts and discussions and group activities with the campers. These discussions are designed to culturally broaden the campers’ experience and help them learn to think critically and form their own opinions. Group activities also reinforce community mindedness. |
WEEKENDS: |
Campers go on backpacking trips in Utah mountains and desert. These include one and two night excursions. |
SUNDAYS: |
Campers have lots of time for interacting with one another, writing letters, or reading. Each Sunday afternoon we have a discussion where the campers are encouraged to discuss themes of general spirituality such as ways they can participate in community, what things matter most in life, and whom they admire and why. |
OUTCOMES
Character building
Principled living
Appreciation of hard work
Increased sense of civic-engagement
Community minded
Increased resiliency to life´s challenges
Appreciation of nature
Better attention span and study habits
