The Journey – Our Signature Program

Six days living, working, praying, and learning. Participants enjoy great food, fun and fellowship as they engage in life-changing conversations about biblical manhood and experience the pride of completing various work projects on The Ranch.

Typical days include guided times of silence and reflection; cooking and clean-up after each meal; building and other physical work on site; and lessons on responsibility, perseverance, boundaries and respect provided by young professional leaders. (View a list of current young professional leaders here.)

To maximize the benefits of their Journey experience, participants are encouraged to increase their understanding of biblical manhood via MEN-toring. Coach Brandon Smeltzer has extensively studied mentoring and is passionate about serving young men in this area. He oversees the MEN-toring program and personally mentors young men who demonstrate a desire to continue The Journey.

Dads are strongly encouraged to get involved in their son’s Journey, too, by committing to read “Boundaries” by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend and “7 Men and the Secret of Their Greatness” by Eric Metaxas, and visit Impact Ranch with their son for an honest and open discussion about their son’s Journey, goals, challenges and progress. These transparent father/son interactions encourage deeper emotional, spiritual and physical connection and helps young men continue The Journey’s transformation toward greater biblical manhood.

“Knucklehead” Academy (Launching soon!)

After twenty-five years of counseling families facing the difficult and emotional decision to remove their sons from Christian school, Impact Ranch founder, Ed Smith, truly believes there is an option – a place of refuge for “good kids” on the wrong path – a place of hope for Christian parents who recognize and accept the reality of their son’s current condition and who desire to partner with Impact Ranch to assist in redirecting their son before it’s too late.

This six week early intervention program requires teen boys to leave the luxuries of home for the wilderness of Impact Ranch. Program curriculum includes three essential dimensions:
 

• Renewing the Mind
  This is essential for both the “knucklehead” and his parents! While their son is at Impact Ranch, parents will develop an Individualized Parenting Plan (I.P.P.) specifically designed for their son. Core class work will be maintained in partnership with the boy’s sponsoring school. Understanding of learning styles, personality types, spiritual gifts and personal strengths will aid in the process of creating strategies to best facilitate renewal of the mind for each boy and their parents. 
   

• Restoring Right Relationships
  Biblical counseling, discipleship, mentoring, and accountability are vital components to restoring broken relationships. Knucklehead Academy curriculum will encourage the cultivation of right (healthy) relationships with God, self, family, and others.
   

• Redirecting Behavior
  Students will participate in creating their own Individualized Behavior Modification Plan designed to work in tandem with the Individualized Parenting Plan.

Our primary desire at Impact Ranch is to prepare teenage boys to live honest productive lives of biblical integrity and purpose. If you are interested in forming a focus group, serving on the LAUNCH team, or assisting in funding Knucklehead Academy, please contact us here.