When I came back to real life I had forgotten how to smile and had to train myself to make facial expressions that corresponded to the emotions I should have felt in various circumstances. They want the parents to say only what they tell them to say. Please reach out to me for questions, I will do my best to educate you on what is happening and get you current information. Sanoy (Yelp), August 2020: (SURVIVOR) Kinda like a prison that just focuses on external behavior. You and your son will work to rebuild your relationship with weekly family therapy, family visits, and Parent Day Seminars. In fact, the administration at discovery ranch intentionally delayed my high school graduation by refuting me the right to do my classes in order to keep me there longer. please if you are thinking of sending anyone or know anyone who is considering to send someone here, keep the kid far away from them. No one deserves what they really do to people. Kids are constantly getting restrained and put on drugs to keep them under control. We all cope in our own ways, but if we can help by sharing our experiences and what we learned, theres not a single one of us that would turn down a younger DR peer that is currently battling our same battles. departments all work together. Discovery Ranch is reported by many survivors to be an extremely abusive program. We were victims of abuse. Amy Golden. . They dont give the children any hope of getting out whatsoever. He also is the Executive Director of, . Your son will experience the value of hard work through daily chores and responsibilities. I literally cant live with these memories. This type of environment makes reporting abuse and neglect impossible for teenagers. And the scariest part was that it was fantastic during the day; we would do ropes courses and go skiing and horseback riding and talk to a truly kind therapist every day who genuinely though I was insane or a pathological liar and convinced me I was hallucinating or having nightmares. We maintain professional memberships in research organizations, such as The Joint Commission and NATSAP. The pain doesnt just stop, they dont forget what you did to them, regardless of your intentions. It does not represent any obligation. In this, experiential, safe, and supportive environment. Your child will be put in with kids that are older than their age group, that were in gangs, that are addicted to drugs, etc. It is run like a prison. Your PRECIOUS child is NOT safe here! May their souls rest in peace. They left me more broken than they found me. , Please do not send your child to this horrific and abusive program. You get used to the screaming and pleading for help, it becomes background noise. TENA CAMPBELL U.S. District Court Judge. However, your teen is still troubled and your family is still in crisis. Although there are no support groups for people like us and since the program is so small & were from all over the country, it feels and looks very real that you may be alone, YOU ARE NOT. Those goals are helping your son learn, grow, and heal so that your family can be a family again. (Blood sprayed on me). You will also be able to observe your sons progress through our secure, password-protected parent portal. Im scared to mention my real name because Discovery Ranchs aftercare program still controls my life. Brent Hall is reported by survivors to have run the facility. Although you move on and mature, its a wound that never fully heals and cuts deep. Please reach out to me for questions, I will do my best to educate you on what is happening and get you current information. . In May 2018, the family that owns Blind Frog Ranch in Moab, Utah, filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of Land Management (BLM . The decision you make for your child will stay with them forever. Staff parents "were expected to replicate a. They are left up to their own with limited to no help from the teachers. However, it is also only 10 minutes from the urban hub of Cedar City, Utah. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. 9/17/2020: (SURVIVOR) Please do not send your child to this horrific and abusive program. We will not share your information. , family visits, and Parent Day Seminars. Dave Blackwell worked as a Therapist at Discovery Ranch. I had to raise a baby cow for the slaughter to learn to deal with loss, exercise until I threw up blood, pick up cow shit every day, I could go on and on. Feel free to ask anything about my stay I'm an open book. We were treated like we were in prison, and if we stepped out of line, we had our privileges taken away. Education was packets and computer testing only poor. A court has maintained a number of claims the Granby Ranch Metropolitan District has made in a lawsuit against the owners of Granby Ranch. Privileges to some might sound like being able to talk to friends, or having free time. Case No. Please do not send your child to this horrific and abusive program. Until now I had remembered my experience there as a happy one- I literally only remembered what went on during the day. A kid was put in isolation for about 4 weeks before being moved to a different treatment center. Duane and his son, Chad Ollinger, are trying to finish a goal set by Duane's own father. It got heated on the ranch and Duane kept referring to this person as a "freeloader." The ranch hasn't been short of intruders, in many forms including surveillance cameras and spy drones. Im in therapy, on medication, have been to three AA meetings in the past three days, and just feel like I am out of options and suicide or getting constantly fucked up is my only option at this point. You will also be able to observe your sons progress through our secure, password-protected parent portal. He began his career working in Admissions at Provo Canyon School, which is widely regarded as the birthplace of the WWASP organization. I had to raise a baby cow for the slaughter to learn to deal with loss, exercise until I threw up blood, pick up cow shit every day, I could go on and on. I was there almost ten years ago, and it feels like yesterday because of my PTSD. Also MAY I NOTE THAT THEY ARE SO DESPERATE THAT THEY NEED THEIR OWN STAFF MEMEBERS TO WRITE REVIEWS. First, let me begin by stating that sending your kid anywhere is a traumatic experience they will have for the rest of their life. I was told Control-freak parents often produce children who feel guilty and disloyal , fearing theyll disappoint their over-bearing parents. I couldnt believe he was blaming me for thisafter we could no longer afford to send her there she was abruptly released and told good luck. 0. The program is located at 1308 South 1600 West, Mapleton, Utah 84664. If you are at all struggling and/or would like to talk to someone who can relate, please do not hesitate to contact me through this post and Id be happy to exchange information so we can talk. The decision you make for your child will stay with them forever. I still maintain close relationships with both girls and boys who are around my age (23-27) that have gone through exactly what you are going through now; so whether its easier to talk to a guy or girl or someone with a similar case to yours, I can put you in contact with them if youd like (Free of charge too! He also worked for a time as the Director of, Teenagers at Discovery Ranch have extremely limited contact with the outside world. I dont know why but when i was there I never wanted to leave. (Check glassdoor reviews) In return, we have lots of untrained, unequipped young adults who arent prepared to deal with seriously mentally ill children. Even though I have left the program, if I dont follow their horribly rigorous and reclusive aftercare rules I go back. 25 votes, 28 comments. I was forced to do the most humiliating and degrading things possibly conceivable; I was forced to eat a girls used tampon, lick cow shit off a girls boots, unclog a toilet with my bare hands adult male staff would masturbate to me showering, changing, and using the toilet while masturbating (keep in mind I was 15. Even when I started feeling feelings again I realized on Wednesday that I had been experiencing emotions with maybe 50-75% of the intensity that I normally should, which was put into perspective when I finally accepted that these things truly happened to me and felt for the first time in my life the appropriate pain and humiliation that corresponds to being treated in such a way for such an extended period of time. The trauma Ive witnessed, and seen other kids witness was unbearable. Also MAY I NOTE THAT THEY ARE SO DESPERATE THAT THEY NEED THEIR OWN STAFF MEMEBERS TO WRITE REVIEWS. I will never forgive Discovery Ranch for the damage they did to me, and the damage they continue to do to future generations. When I came back to real life I had forgotten how to smile and had to train myself to make facial expressions that corresponded to the emotions I should have felt in various circumstances. This creates a streamlined experience for your son. It makes me fucking sick that this place, along with HUNDREDS of others, still exists, quietly protected under the umbrella of the state government of Utah, and that parents are paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for their children to be tortured and driven insane or into obedient, soulless sociopaths. , DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO DISCOVERY RANCH IF YOU CARE ABOUT THEM! He will have opportunities for growth through our experiential campus, by developing new skills and interests. You have been warned and I still have ptsd and Ive been going to therapy for 2 and a half years and more to come. When the program opened, it housed both boys and girls on the same campus, but kept them completely seperate in different parts of the campus. I am not the only victim. They later sued the show, saying . Discovery Ranch only wants to know and talk about their truth which is nothing close to reality. Although there are no support groups for people like us and since the program is so small & were from all over the country, it feels and looks very real that you may be alone, YOU ARE NOT. My brother was at the Ranch over a decade ago. John (Yelp), 10/28/2019: (SURVIVOR) There are plenty of articles that prove why Discovery Ranch is dangerous for the mental development of children. Yes, we have an amazing ranch!! It brought everything back because I lived that experience, except for ten months and it was real. Stay in touch with the other people you shared your time with during DR, reach out to them when things are tough, talk about your struggles. I ended up running away from this program and deciding on a much better program that actually wanted to help people. I understand that people need to help themselves and I cannot blame Discovery Ranch for my decisions but this environment definitely did not promote positive change in my life. The average stay is OVER a year not under like they love to say. Your job as parents is to help your child, you guys are the problem not your kids. Discovery Ranch is an Ascent Company behavior-modification program founded on August 21st, 2005. A kid was put in isolation for about 4 weeks before being moved to a different treatment center. It is NOT your fault and youre NOT a lesser being despite what DR drilled into you. There are over 600 people in 2 different groups put together, and we are all in contact with many kids that just left. His step-father (my Dad) told me not to discuss it around him. Its sick and I hope in the future these places will be illegal and I will NEVER send my kids to one of these places. (and have it be removed weeks later). You have tried outpatient therapy. I had never done drugs, drank, or even smoked a cigarette at this point in my life. I literally couldnt make this shit up. Before you would consider sending your son away, you need to know that he is going to a place you can trust. I will never forgive Discovery Ranch for the damage they did to me, and the damage they continue to do to future generations. I had repressed memories of the physical, sexual, and psychological torture i endured for five years until I watched a documentary on the stanford prison experiment in my psychology class. Parents have no clue what they are getting themselves into by sending their children there. We were victims of abuse. I was there almost ten years ago, and it feels like yesterday because of my PTSD. It is marketed as a Residential Treatment Center for teenage boys aged 13-18 with emotional and behavioral issues. DR does not accept transgender males. Its heart wrenching to see how many families were deeply financially destroyed as well as personal connections being permanently damaged. After discovery ranch I couldnt even talk to my parents for months because of the trauma it caused me. If you want to send your kid to either wilderness or discovery ranch why dont you do us all a favor parents and send your child to Disney Land so theyll be happy rather then send them to whats pretty much a mental institution for parents that have no idea what the fuck there doing. Both boys have turned out well however, my brother has trauma from the experience. Discovery ranchs idea of privileges is being able to sit on something other than hard wood chairs. However, the abuse overshadowed it. ), I witnessed a 15 year old boy be sodomized by a broom handle and have the living shit beat out of him because he tried to run away and watched a girl punch a window and slit her wrists in front of me because she couldnt take it anymore. discovery ranch lawsuit. Our academic program meets your son at his level. They lied and were mainpulative, and power tripped all the time. My brother noted some of the staff was wonderful and he used their tips to get through challenges after his father died (my Moms 1st husband). The Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch, which airs on Discovery Channel, is currently in its fifth season. Staff members are chosen at random, as the turnover rate is insanely high. $1,000 in 1990 worth today . He will be expected to maintain a healthy lifestyle which includes daily exercise and well-balanced meals. Therapy was more like brainwashing than therapy. how to walk a human a dogs guide. In addition to taking part in the equine therapy and horsemanship programs, he will have access to the fully-equipped music studio. You can find much better treatment for a better price. They want the parents to say only what they tell them to say. The amounts of times I screamed out loud in physical/mental exhaustion from being undermined and unheard is uncountable. As per Discovery, intruders have appeared on the land at Blind Frog Ranch in many forms. The teenagers at Discovery Ranch as forced to adhere to a strict set of rules at all time. My personal experience here was horrible. I had an IEP at my old school because I cant learn that easily but the program directors convinced my parents I was too lazy to do work that I had trouble doing. They love tossing kids emotional and mental state around for worse, or they will lie about problems that a kid doesnt have just to keep kids there longer.They will try to keep kids from telling you from what is really going on, the use their security measures as a punishment Instead of safety and they can, have, and will threaten kids. ages 13-18. First, let me begin by stating that sending your kid anywhere is a traumatic experience they will have for the rest of their life. DIAMOND RANCH ACADEMY, INC., Plaintiff and Counterclaim Defendant, v. CHELSEA FILER, Defendant and Counterclaim Plaintiff. When she was given her home visit, her mom took her to the doctor and was diagnosed, although we have tried to find the outcome of the lawsuit, none of us have been able to track her family down to share our sympathy). In this experiential, safe, and supportive environment, your son will confront his personal challenges with the goal of healing and increasing his capacity which builds his self-confidence and self-esteem. We earned academic accreditation through Discovery Academy. Research shows this is the best approach to help your son and family heal mentally, physically, and emotionally. If you absolutely need mental support for your child, I suggest something that is close to home, and something that does not limit their ability to see and interact with the outside world. able to inform their parents of abuse, their parents are manipulated by DR into believing that their child is lying and being manipulative in an attempt to be pulled from the program. Not a single one of us agree that this program helped us or our relationships with our families. If anything, kids got worse from being here. The last few years of my life have felt unreal, Ive had migraines with frustration wondering how places like this exist, and how theyve gotten away with so much deceit. I suggest seeking different options for your child. This is not just a couple of resentful people. Listen to your child, and dont fall into the traps that programs make which lead parents to think their child is untrustworthy, a liar, manipulator, etc. The reason for posting this is that this is cathartic for me and nice to have a group of people who have at least a basic Individual, family, and group therapy all take place within a residential treatment setting. Im scared to mention my real name because Discovery Ranchs aftercare program still controls my life. Renewed Hope Ranch seeks "to provide unsurpassed residential care to troubled teenage girls who significantly struggle to overcome their mental, emotional, behavioral and educational challenges," according to its website. You can find much better treatment for a better price. Listen to your child, what do they think they need? In comparison, most of the other residents had serious drug problems, were in gangs, were extremely violent, etc. Discovery ranch was hell on earth for me. My parents spent over $200,000 here before they realized I was not getting the help I needed. If you are like most parents of Discovery Ranch students, you have been looking for help for a long time. There is not enough research of the negative effects places like DR have on a young person, people dont like to talk or hear about places like DR, the system is extremely flawed, its a corporation that works very hard to keep you there as long as possible for obvious financial reasons while hiring unqualified staff. Its another long, tough, painful battle after you leave DR and I havent known one other person who didnt suffer after getting out. We can help your family. discovery ranch lawsuit. The reviews on their website are COMPLETELY weeded before theyre posted. This will provide him with the. Caring, experienced professionals are ready to help your son. He will have the support of well-trained and experienced clinical, academic, residential, and experiential staff members. I have constant dreams where bugs are crawling all over my skin and I wake up screaming from anxiety. When we have the opportunity to get together, its a very special and meaningful time for all of us, we reminisce about the little funny stories that helped us get through the day during our time, we think about about all the suffering we endeared and how we survived, and we always take the time to honor our close friends that didnt and have passed. Parents have no clue what they are getting themselves into by sending their children there. They gave all the kids the same level of trust, none. We were indirectly expected to manipulate visiting parents of troubled kids who have not yet been sent to treatment. Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch is a show on the Discovery Network about a rancher and his son who operate a 160-acre ranch in Utah. They dont want to discuss whats actually wrong. There is a culture of caring and respect, but also of excellence and high expectation both for staff and students. They have the same goals in mind. Proof is attached as an image. The ranch horse manager Jerry put a phone in my face showing horses having sex. We respect your privacy. The boat bought with funds by Discovery Ranch was not once used for the kids, the owners just use it for personal use. If Im in the car with someone and they make a wrong turn or something I will flip out and start having a panic attack because all I can think about it oh my god where are they taking me theyre locking me up again. I highly suggest people look it up, one of the most disgusting things Ive ever read in my life: Link. I had no contact with the outside world except letters to my parents which were censored, and observed phone calls once a month. The parents believe discovery ranch and most kids have no hope of anyone listening to them because they think no one believes them and they wont talk and they lie about it. This is not just a couple of resentful people. On top of that I was forced to study 7 hours straight on the weekends if I didnt meet academic requirements. We were victims of abuse. ), I witnessed a 15 year old boy be sodomized by a broom handle and have the living shit beat out of him because he tried to run away and watched a girl punch a window and slit her wrists in front of me because she couldnt take it anymore. Before you would consider sending your son away, you need to know that he is going to a place you can trust. Listen to your child, what do they think they need? They only allow astonishing ones to pass. As I walked away in shock he was tackled by staff.This was after I had already seen two separate suicide attempts. You and your son will work to rebuild your relationship with weekly. Throughout your sons experience at Discovery Ranch he will have the support of caring, educated, experienced professionals. When Jack Stuef found a chest of gold and jewels in a Wyoming forest last year, he felt giddy. And before you tell me that was a long time ago, I am a part of multiple survivor groups online for former students from DR and other abusive programs in Utah. the villa pacific palisades, ca. The program has a maxmimum enrollment of 60 boys, and the average length of stay is reported to be around 10 months, but this can be substantially longer if the boy is deemed resistant. Now, other past guests on the show are coming forward with similar stories, including . There are over 600 people in 2 different groups put together, and we are all in contact with many kids that just left. He will take part in equine therapy and horsemanship programs and will have the responsibility of caring for a rescued baby calf. Happened several times to my friends. The lawsuit was filed in Eaton County Circuit Court more than four months after Hultberg initially "asked the district to provide mask exemptions that had been approved," in a Sept. 7, 2021, FOIA . I was there almost ten years ago, and it feels like yesterday because of my PTSD. The school uses research to help create an individualized treatment plan for each teen. Leslie Glies worked as the Residential Director of Discovery Ranch. Id go on to say I have PTSD. Your child will be put in with kids that are older than their age group, that were in gangs, that are addicted to drugs, etc. He also is the Executive Director of Discovery Academy. Discovery Ranch strives to heal your family as a whole. They only allow astonishing ones to pass. I dont believe that the people who tortured me were innately evil; i think it was a situation similar to Abu Ghraib. Allegations of abuse that have been reported by survivors include malnutrition/food deprivation, verbal abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and solitary confinement used as punishment. Even when I started feeling feelings again I realized on Wednesday that I had been experiencing emotions with maybe 50-75% of the intensity that I normally should, which was put into perspective when I finally accepted that these things truly happened to me and felt for the first time in my life the appropriate pain and humiliation that corresponds to being treated in such a way for such an extended period of time. They are there only to try and give the staff (who by the way have no training in psychology at all) an easier time. (Blood sprayed on me). I didnt ask to see that.. They are very abusive and they will lie to you. Get Confidential Help Today, Call Us Anytime, Internationally-recognized Residential Treatment Center for Teen Boys Ages 13-18 Located in Utah, Top Residential Treatment Center For Teens, Discovery Ranch combines the power of traditional and experiential therapies to create a clinically sophisticated, relationship-based. They made me feel disgusting and quite hideous. I was forced to do the most humiliating and degrading things possibly conceivable; I was forced to eat a girls used tampon, lick cow shit off a girls boots, unclog a toilet with my bare hands adult male staff would masturbate to me showering, changing, and using the toilet while masturbating (keep in mind I was 15. Youre parents will love that, Ha!). Paris Hilton just came out with a documentary on her experience at another abusive program just down the street from DR. They often cause way more harm than good. If any of you also went there shoot me a pm id like to hear about it. Regardless of what they were there for, NO ONE SHOULD EVER BE TREATED AS INHUMANELY AS CHILDREN SUCH AS MYSELF WERE. Overpriced, over rateddo not send your child there if you care about them. We focus on healing the entire family. They would arbitrarily lock me in a tiny pitch black closet devoid of food, water, a bathroom, or human contact for days, usually because I made an inappropriate facial expression like crying or raising my eyebrows when they screamed at me that I was worthless and no one could ever love me. They are left up to their own with limited to no help from the teachers. Im happy to say that she is leading a normal life and leaving DR was the best thing that happened. Josephine (Yelp), 11/26/2013: (SURVIVOR) I try to think positively about it but honestly this shithole gave me PTSD. My first treatment center was Redcliffe ascent, and I did really well there. This is not just a couple of resentful people. I am at a loss for what to do at this point. It is marketed as a Residential Treatment Center for teenage boys aged 13-18 with emotional and behavioral issues. DR does not accept transgender males. I cannot even put into words the pain I feel even today when my experience gets brought up or when I read about other kids that are STILL suffering from having to go through this program. "Defendant White took the minor child on a hunting trip where he gave him alcohol . I am a victim of emotional and physical abuse by Discovery Ranch. I didnt ask to see that.. He said that he was abused by a staff member while there. It is run like a prison. Discovery Ranch South offers the perfect healing environment for troubled teens with mental health or behavioral issues. With the help of a REAL rehab and AA, I had achieved 14 months sober. If anything, kids got worse from being here. DISCOVERY RANCH FOR GIRLS Ripoff Reports, Complaints, Reviews, Scams, Lawsuits and Frauds Reported Your Search: Discovery Ranch for girls. Until now I had remembered my experience there as a happy one- I literally only remembered what went on during the day. dont do this to your child We are all begging you. Research shows this is the best approach to help your son and family heal mentally, physically, and emotionally. The kids come out shell shocked, traumatized and fearful. , As a father I was treated poorly. 1308 South 1600 West, Mapleton, Utah 84664, . His step-father (my Dad) told me not to discuss it around him. DO NOT RECOMMEND AT ALL! Jeff (Google Reviews), HEAL Program Information Discovery Ranch, Family Alleges Bestiality at Alternative School, The Troubled Teen Industry: Commodifying Disability and Capitalizing on Fear by Catherine Kushan (mentions Discovery Ranch), Strength in the Struggle A Marketing Video uploaded by the school to YouTube, Discovery Ranch Secret Prisons for Teens. My parents sent me there because I was depressed, doing poorly in school instead of getting straight As, got caught shoplifting a pack of gum from 7-11, spent too much time on the computer, and was too angry and defiant. However, our neighbor whose son went there the following year had all good experiences. There are over 600 people in 2 different groups put together, and we are all in contact with many kids that just left. Please reach out to me for questions, I will do my best to educate you on what is happening and get you current information. Sanoy (Google Reviews). Abuse at its finest.. we were totally and utterly underfed, one morning we were fed one mini bagel and one cream cheese. If you have a child with attention deficit disorder do not send your son here BECAUSE it is like water boarding to have a kid sit in a room for 7 hours straight and have them study all day even though they are trying.