Our Partners
The staff at Charis understands how to help, how to love, and how to inspire youth. The programs they offer allow for flexibility to meet a range of needs facing youth today. The format for the ranch encourages youth to take responsibility for themselves and affords them the opportunity to experience victories that they can always look back on. I highly recommend Charis Youth Ranch for anyone needing a victory or a breakthrough.
– Josh Emery, M.A., L.P.C.
No words could describe the smile in the kids faces during the visit at Charis Ranch. They always are excited the day before the visit and after the visit they only have thoughts about when are going to come back. The parents feel so glad to see their children smiling again.
All the clients have expressed their gratitude, they love going to the Charis Ranch, they enjoy interacting with the horses, and the atmosphere always is warm, and everyone are always welcome. Thanks to your attention and excellent service provided.
I will continue to visit The Charis Ranch with more clients in the future, as well as recommend it to others.
Muchas Gracias Charis Ranch!
– Jessica Cardone
I am writing to let you know how important your programs have become to our agency at Turning Point Center for Youth and Family Development. Now on our 2nd year with you, the impact your programming has on our at-risk adolescent youth has been tremendous. Once again we are going to include Charis Youth Ranch services in our summer education credit recovery residential program. This provides our youth the opportunity to get a high quality service learning educational component, and also an enlightening outdoors, recreational, and healing equestrian experience.
Your programs have proven results with our youth. Lives are positively impacted, and your staff has a solid understanding of how to work with our at-risk youth. The process is professional and your staff accommodating. We look forward to another successful year ahead in 2014!
Kindest regards,
– Scott Von Bargen
The staff at Charis Ranch has done a fantastic job with the TP clients. They are such caring individuals who give so much to our clients. Whenever our kids are there they spend the time getting to know each and every one to give them the care and attention they need. The clients have expressed such interest in Charis Ranch and enjoy interacting with the horses and staff and find reward in helping the ranch be the best it can be. Thanks Charis Ranch for all you do!
Kindest regards,
– Julia Ramsdell
I have seen this as being nothing less than a positive experience for the kids. Going to go see and help take care of the horses is truly a highlight for most of the clients and frankly seeing the clients being able to just have the moment of serenity and peace reminds me of why I chose this line of work to begin with.
– Kevin Page
From what I have seen, Charis Ranch has been the clients favorite community service location that they volunteer at. The staff are so kind and always greet our clients with a hug and ask them how they are doing. The staff at Charis Ranch know every client by name and make sure that they are involved and have a good time and work hard on whatever project has been assigned to them. I always enjoy accompanying the clients to Charis Ranch and the staff always make sure the clients get rewarded with a horse ride after their hard work. I know the clients appreciate knowing that their work means something to the ranch as well
– Susanna Huffman
The Charis Ranch and their staff are amazing people. They are patient and understanding with our clients. Our clients love going to the ranch, spending time with the horses and helping out with the chores around the ranch.
– Denyse Seymour
Charis Ranch provides a warm atmosphere for our clients. They look forward to their time there and have express appreciation of what the ranch and staff provide for them. Last week a client told me that he does not mind helping out and doing chores at the ranch because staff is grateful for his work and then they reward him with being able to ride the horses. I have heard numerous clients speak about their connection to the horses. They tend to pick their favorite horse and talk about them like they are friends that hang out 🙂 Time with the horses helps our clients emotionally, I have heard them talk about their similarities to rescued horses and how they feel understood at Charis Ranch. Thank you Charis Ranch for all the love that you have provided for our kiddos. Your acceptance, patience and kindness goes a long way for them and staff!!
– Renee Clay, B.S.W.
Charis Ranch has provided an amazing experience for our clients. The staff shows a genuine care for our clients and a willingness to teach them and allow them to experience something new. Our clients have been able to grow and benefit immensely from the amazing opportunities that Charis Ranch has been able to offer them.
– Rachel Poore
The letters the kids have written speak volumes about what the ranch means to them. When asked how their morning went after returning from the the ranch, the kids NEVER have a negative comment; their affect is always happy and often excited over something they have accomplished. I wish their response to everything was as consistently positive as it is when they go to the ranch. Many heartfelt thanks to the Charis Ranch staff for sharing the special gifts that horses offer our clients.
– Patti Roseberry
The following are actual letters submitted by the children who participated in the program:
I have had an amazing experience at the Charis Ranch. I have learned a lot of things from that place. Not only about horses and ranch work, but I have learned a lot of stuff about myself as well. They have taught me how to enjoy life; even when it’s not so great. They told me that it is always possible to find something good when everything seems terrible. It took me time to comprehend what that meant and completely understand the entire saying. Once I understood it; it all clicked for me. That life isn’t always that bad. You make it out to be that way. They also taught that it’s possible to do anything you set your mind to. At first I thought this was a load of garbage. However, its very true; it may seem like someone is just trying to heighten your self esteem but that’s a lie. You see, horses are very much like humans, they feel emotions too. They learn to deal with it by communicating with another species, in this specific case, a human. This is where I felt the greatest connection, I was just like a horse; all I really wanted was attention, compassion, and appreciation. I felt like I could find those feelings in substances but I couldn’t. Eventually, I did find those feelings by sharing them with another species that wanted and felt the same exact feelings I was. It was impeccably astonishing knowing I could feel better by helping out someone else. I loved to be around the horses they made me feel a sense of nirvana that calmed me and made me a happier person. A person I hadn’t seen in a long while, it felt amazing. I’m happy I got to experience the Charis Ranch. They changed my life and I have no doubt about that.
~ Turning Point Youth
I have had an amazing experience at the Charis Ranch. I have learned a lot of things from that place. Not only about horses and ranch work, but I have learned a lot of stuff about myself as well. They have taught me how to enjoy life; even when it’s not so great. They told me that it is always possible to find something good when everything seems terrible. It took me time to comprehend what that meant and completely understand the entire saying. Once I understood it; it all clicked for me. That life isn’t always that bad. You make it out to be that way. They also taught that it’s possible to do anything you set your mind to. At first I thought this was a load of garbage. However, its very true; it may seem like someone is just trying to heighten your self esteem but that’s a lie. You see, horses are very much like humans, they feel emotions too. They learn to deal with it by communicating with another species, in this specific case, a human. This is where I felt the greatest connection, I was just like a horse; all I really wanted was attention, compassion, and appreciation. I felt like I could find those feelings in substances but I couldn’t. Eventually, I did find those feelings by sharing them with another species that wanted and felt the same exact feelings I was. It was impeccably astonishing knowing I could feel better by helping out someone else. I loved to be around the horses they made me feel a sense of nirvana that calmed me and made me a happier person. A person I hadn’t seen in a long while, it felt amazing. I’m happy I got to experience the Charis Ranch. They changed my life and I have no doubt about that.
~ Turning Point Youth
Hi Charis Ranch, I am writing this letter just to let you know that I am very grateful for you guys letting us come to the ranch at the times that we did. I would have to say my favorite part of going to the ranch was not riding the horse that I did but just seeing them all together and happy. Although when I rode that horse, it was really exciting. I believe I rode Queen. There was one time when Queen almost like tripped, and that got me going. It was also really exciting when the fighters cane and taught us how to “really” fight. I remember that night very much cause we all went back to the house and were pretend fighting with each other. That brought up some conversation..good conversation though.
~ Turning Point Youth
Charis Ranch was an amazing experience. Riding the horses was really therapeutic and helped me get over my fear of getting back up on a horse again. The people, horses, environment and ways of teaching has made this one of my greatest experiences.
~ Turning Point Youth
I feel that I earned a little bit of character for helping them around the ranch. At first I thought all we were going to be doing was helping them around the ranch with cleaning things. Then after a bit, we started to ride the horses and after that it was fun to go around and help them with the ranch and live a different way of life for the day. So over all I feell that the charis ranch and the people there really like to help people out and care enough to have us come and join their way of life.
~ Turning Point Youth
Charis Youth Ranch
PO Box 1074
Laporte CO 80535
970-988-2828
501(c)(3) Non-Profit Org