Simply put, Whetstone Boys Ranch mission is to “Sharpen the Character of Young Men.” We accomplish this by doing 4 things:
We serve families with boys between the ages of 12-16 who struggle with anger, apathy, depression, relationship, trauma, truancy, self-esteem, and other issues that plague teenage boys today. Many of the boys we serve have also been diagnosed with attention deficit, hyperactivity, oppositional defiance, and attachment struggles.
Whetstone Boys Ranch intentionally and proactively focuses on character development in each struggling boy. Just as a whetstone sharpens a knife, our purpose is to take every opportunity to sharpen him and prepare him for service in his family and community back home.
We incorporate Whetstone’s unique 3-Level/6-Trait system into each aspect of our program. Beginning with the end in mind, we work through the 3/6 system in a detailed manner, applying Scripture and building relationships all along the way.
On Level One, we focus on Honesty and Self-Control and look for compliance. This stage generally lasts about one to two months.
On Level Two, we raise the bar – continuing to hold him accountable for the first two traits, while adding Responsibility and Kindness.
On Level Three, we do some finishing work, adding layers of Loyalty and Perseverance to the other 4 character traits, and challenging boys to embrace and apply all 6 as they prepare to return home. These traits guide our decisions in many aspects of the program, including chapel topics, film discussions, reading assignments, field trips, outdoor experiences, and work opportunities.
