| One of the most important parts of the therapeutic | | | | on each side of the valley. Water arrives by canal |
| process at Sorensons Ranch School has been the | | | | down to our farm, which then goes into our sprinkling |
| incorporation of animals in the treatment of troubled | | | | system. The students help in the preparation of the |
| youth and troubled teens. | | | | fields for planting by scouring the freshly tilled portions |
| Some of the animals have many purposes in our | | | | for rocks, which show up with each new plowing of |
| program. Some are used for our 4-H program. They | | | | the fields. The youth remove the rocks by hand or in a |
| can also be individually assigned to students to care | | | | wheelbarrow and deposit them in the lower fields. |
| for, groom, and show at the local county fairs. Horses, | | | | Once the fields are planted the sprinklers are the way |
| sheep, pigs, and cattle are the main stock that our | | | | our crops are irrigated. The youth then must move the |
| youth learn to care for and show. The 4-H program | | | | sprinklers on average every twelve hours for crops of |
| nationally has been a proven vehicle in helping youth | | | | oat hay or barley. With alfalfa or alfalfa-grass mixes |
| build self-esteem, knowledge, and individual | | | | for horses the sprinklers are moved once daily. |
| responsibility. This individual responsibility can help teens | | | | Endorphins are produced in the human body by the |
| overcome problems associated with ADD, ADHD, | | | | pituitary gland during strenuous activity. Endorphins give |
| Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD), anger, | | | | us all a sense of wellbeing. Some have likened |
| depression, lack of discipline, and many other common | | | | endorphins to the body’s natural pain relievers. |
| issues with troubled teens. Sorenson’s Ranch | | | | With this knowledge, we capitalize on the healing |
| focuses on helping troubled youth return to a time of | | | | soothing effects in our youths’ lives by keeping |
| tending to their chores and taking care of the work | | | | our youth busy in the many activities. There is a simple |
| that is involved in running a ranch. Another element that | | | | pleasure to riding a horse through one of our mountain |
| animals provide is unconditional love to their caregivers, | | | | valleys or hauling hay. Often when troubled teens |
| and they present non-judgmental companionship, which | | | | arrive they are reluctant or outright against participating |
| is especially valuable with troubled youth with reactive | | | | in many of the activities we offer. Some of this stems |
| attachment issues. Shoveling horse manure, feeding | | | | from basic rebelliousness while often times we find |
| horses, herding cattle, assisting in the birthing process | | | | fear to be a factor. Standing by a horse, ready to |
| of the animals, fixing fences, watering, grooming, | | | | throw a saddle on it is an intimidating feat for most |
| breaking horses, growing crops, hauling hay — all | | | | people. Often as students watch their peers |
| these activities prepare the youth at Sorenson’s | | | | performing these kinds of tasks, it helps them realize |
| Ranch School to learn responsibility and respect. There | | | | that there are many things they can accomplish that |
| is never a dull moment and the youth have plenty of | | | | were previously considered foolish or impossible. |
| things to do! It could be argued that life in a simpler | | | | Sorenson’s Ranch School is an excellent |
| form (ranch life) has a way of soothing the soul. The | | | | program that helps struggling teens find the answers |
| high mountain valley that provides the backdrop for | | | | to the problems that they are facing and helps them |
| helping children here at Sorenson’s Ranch | | | | learn to find solutions on their own. |
| School is a beautiful region with high elevation peaks | | | | |