What's New

One of the fun activities over the holidays is the Gingerbread House Competition.  Each Lodge creates it own designed Gingerbread House which are voted on in three different categories.  Winners get bragging rights for their Lodge and special treats as well. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shumaker Lodge tied for Best Teamwork and Most Unique

Not even a global pandemic can stop Santa from visiting the children at Yellowstone Academy!

The Downtown Exchange Club brought their Santa-In-The-Schools Program to the Ranch again this year.  In order to keep everyone safe, Santa used his savvy technology skills to ZOOM video-call into YA classrooms.  Santa read Christmas stories to the kindergarten through eighth grade students while the teachers handed out presents.

This is a Christmas tradition to bring joy to the hearts of YBGR youth year after year. 

The response to our recent Wrangler newsletter request for blankets and quilts to give youth when they arrive at YBGR has been overwhelming.  Boys and girls are thrilled to get a soft new blanket, fleece, or quilt just for them.  It really helps a child feel more at home those first few nights in the lodge or when they are feeling homesick. 

These become treasured items and YBGR is blessed to have so many talented donor friends who make beautiful handmade blankets and quilts for YBGR boys and girls.

The YBGR staff have been busy coming up with fun and creative ideas for youth activities during campus lockdown and with the recent snow, sledding is the number one campus activity.  Bonfires and movie nights are also planned.  Lodge game nights are always fun, along with baking holiday themed gingerbread houses and decorating Christmas cookies. 

The goal is to keep kids active and engaged.  A much anticipated event is the staff barrel racing exposition in the riding arena, which will demonstrate horseman skills to many kids who have never seen a western rodeo.

 

 

Art is a fun part of Christmas at Yellowstone.

In addition to classroom projects at the Art Barn and Vocational Shops, boys and girls submit original artwork and poetry for the annual Christmas card contest.

We thank all our young artists for sharing their inspiring art with all of us.

 

Just in time for family gatherings and tree decorating, the annual Yellowstone Christmas ornament is here! 

This year’s ornament celebrates the Ranch’s Honey Bee Program.  

YBGR kids tend the campus beehives, wearing their protective beekeeper suits and headgear – just like our ornament! 

While our student beekeepers learn about the social systems of bees, they are also practicing responsibility and team work.

Which pays off when they can harvest, process, and eat their own homegrown honey! 

Thanks to our generous donors, this sweet program offers many rewarding experiences for our boys and girls.

This is the 29th season the Yellowstone Foundation has created a limited edition handmade Christmas ornament.

The Fall Wrangler Newsletter is available online now!

In this edition you will meet Li, whose life began in a Chinese orphanage and followed a miserable path until coming to Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch.

You will also read about what Back-To-School looks like during the pandemic. While some classes are now online, there is plenty of hands-on learning we want to tell you about.

The Wrangler publication reports on the direct working relationship of the Ranch with children and the Foundation’s activities in fundraising for the benefit of at-risk youth.

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Like what we do?  Share the Wrangler’s inspiring stories with family and friends. And remember, your tax-deductible gifts make it all possible!

McVay Lodge requires installation of a new fire suppression system in order to safely house children again.  Leuthold Lodge requires a upgrade to its existing fire suppression system in order to bring it up to code.

Once these upgrades to both lodges are completed, YBGR will be able to increase its capacity by 10 additional youth in residential treatment at any given time.  This translates to about 22 more children completing treatment in any given year.

Please take a moment to read about our Lodge Expansion Project.

We have raised half the funds needed to complete these necessary upgrades.  We need your help to get the rest of the way in time. 

Help us help more kids! Thank-you.