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Whetstone Boys Ranch for Troubled Youth

Whetstone Boys Ranch is a therapeutic Christian school that serves struggling boys and their families through an outdoor atmosphere on a ranch for troubled youth. Here boys ages 12-16 live, learn, work and grow as they experience essential individual, group and family therapy, excellent academics, exciting outdoor adventures, and useful hands-on tasks. We believe in sharpening young men to become true servant-leaders in their families and communities.

Since 2011, Whetstone’s purpose centers on the reconciliation of boys and their families. We treat struggles such as anger, depression, low self-esteem and trauma with a loving, systems-based approach. And this comprehensive method of treatment and restoration sets us apart. We focus on issues young boys struggle with, including introductory misbehavior (vaping, negative video game-technology/pornography), anger, depression, low self-esteem, and trauma related issues. Whetstone is an opportunity to intervene now, before these issues grow deeper.


Life on the Boys Ranch

Boys are put to work for a minimum of six hours of service each week. These experiences include:

Building fences · Putting up hay · Sorting, branding, and doctoring cattle · Processing chickens and pigs · Laying tile · Installing hardwood flooring · Painting · Demolition · Serving food to needy families · Taking soil samples · Extracting Honey · Gardening · Landscaping · Tree planting · River clean-up · Highway clean up · Cooking · Animal Care

Boys receive therapy based on their needs, after going through a screening process. Therapy and counseling includes individual 1 hour sessions, once a week, led by a LPC therapist. Individual treatment includes EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) – originally designed to alleviate distress associated with traumatic memories. It is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences…and helps activate their natural healing processes. (EMDR.com)


Behavioral Needs

Whetstone Boys Ranch for troubled youth serves troubled boys ages 12-16 with these behavioral issues:

  • Boys who suffer from not being able to form healthy emotional relationships, including RAD (Reactive Attachment Disorder)

  • Boys who are unable to remain focused, ADHD, (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

  • Boys who display signs of early rebellion, refuses to obey, shows argumentative behavior, ODD (Oppositional Defiance Disorder)

  • Boys who simply need a change of environment, separated from the negative impact of internet obsessions, and harmful relationships with us in guiding struggling boys back to the path that God has laid out for them.

Whetstone Boys Ranch also serves families with boys struggling with anger, apathy, depression, relationship, trauma, truancy and/or self-esteem, among a variety of other things. Many of the boys we serve have also been diagnosed with attention deficit, hyperactivity, oppositional defiance and attachment struggles.

At a minimum, it takes six months to complete Whetstone’s program, so we recommend planning for 6-12 months. In this time, boys will work through a level system and earn the equivalent of at least one semester of academic credit in our boarding school. Parents must also make arrangement for two separate week-long family visitations. We feel that these times are necessary to facilitate a successful return home upon graduation, and for our staff to conduct training and campus improvements.

Call us today to help your son at our boys ranch for troubled youth.

I would HIGHLY recommend Whetstone to anyone who has a son who’s struggling. We sent a 15-year-old boy to the ranch and he came back a confident young man! The staff is wonderful – so full of grace & love for these boys. It was worth every penny we spent and I am so thankful for them!!

Michelle

I’ll keep this short and sweet. My son went to Whetstone because he was out of control at home. Details aren’t necessary, but suffice it is to say the home life situation was untenable. Through the love, patience, and wisdom of the Whetstone staff, my son was basically transformed over nine months. All the exact factors that drove that change can’t be reduced to a formula, but his time there being surrounded by godly men had an absolutely profound impact on him. I cannot endorse this program more highly.

Michael

A great and life-changing experience. I miss the place.

Former Resident

I highly recommend Whetstone Boys Ranch. The staff is individuals of high character, very loving and very good at what they do. The ranch provided a positive and supportive environment for my son to heal and grow.

Ken

Overall we had a positive experience. There were many difficult days but in the end, it was what our family and son needed – a break, an opportunity to change a negative pattern. Our son is thriving now and I’m not sure we would be where we are without Whetstone’s help. I can see how it might not be the right setting for everyone but it was for us. Our son was known, held accountable, challenged, and rewarded.

Carrie

Whetstone was definitely the right place at the right time for our son. It may not be right for everyone but it was the perfect fit for our family. It wasn’t easy but Whetstone made a huge positive difference in our son’s personal growth. The men and women who work at Whetstone are amazing individuals who guide the boys to the very best of their ability.

Dale

As the mother of a young man who graduated the program (and returned two years later as an intern), I cannot sing the praises of Whetstone enough. Thank you for transforming lives and infusing hope.

Elise

I am so proud of these young men who have dedicated their lives to helping boys become men. God bless you Axle and Jeremy as you serve Him.

Carol

Whetstone Boys Ranch offers an exceptional, caring, and expertly executed program to help young men who struggle with ADHD, family, or other issues. The staff members and counselors are absolutely top-notch and put the needs of each resident first as if they were their own children. They are all in and do everything they can to help each boy and their parents. Their program is the real deal. You will not find another boarding school with a finer team or program.

Roger
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