We’ve arrived at the Ranch! Here are some photos from our journey.

Our drive into the Rocky Mountains and our new home at the ranch.

Our first explorers of the morning snow!

Students playing in the snow! Some for their first time! Smiles everywhere!

Coming out and enjoying a fresh white winter our first morning.

Tossing snow on 3! One…two…three! Yaaah!

Spending some time up here without technology, so we made our own “Facebook” pages. We will be doing a whole new style of social media out here.

Intense concentration and focus for victory in these team games.

Team challenges always bring out the thinking caps and the smiles for our students.

More to come!

It’s been a busy, exciting time at the ranch. We are now officially half way through our trip! Our days have been packed with work projects, hikes, barn animals and activities.

Below is a glimpse of the fun we’ve shared the past few days!

 

Hello!

Today has been a very eventful day filled with fun work projects, team building, and barn activities. Students were able to continue their work in the barn and continue to actively participate in running the ranch, including learning how to split wood. We’ll let the pictures speak for themselves. Enjoy!

Until next time!

Hello from Colorado!

After a busy day full of travel, students are now happily settling into the ranch life. We were greeted by the amazing ranch staff and are quickly making ourselves at home.

Day 1 has been packed with many fun activities and games which have allowed students to not only familiarize themselves with the different jobs and teamwork required to run a ranch, but also actively engage in these. We are also having a lot of fun exploring the different parts of the ranch, including the barn, forest area, dormitories, and the kitchen, all while getting to know each other. Amidst the busy schedule, students are still making sure they are taking care of schoolwork.

We look forward to sharing more of our experiences in the coming days.

Until next time!

So we’ve finally reached our final time here at the beautiful Rocky Mountain Ranch!

What a life changing experience about the importance of Character Development and connecting with others.

Day ten started out with a morning sunrise hike for those who could make it up early.

Early but rewarding!

The day continued with activities including the final groups of students getting to go horseback riding.

Truly one of the many highlights for those willing to make the commitment and embark on this amazing adventure.

The day continued with activities that kept them continuing to reach new limits

and contemplate how to be happier and more successful while connecting with those around them.

They also had one final chance to enjoy the snow and think about their lives and goals.

 

As this experience comes to an end, the students want to express their appreciate and love for the amazing RA’s and Facilitators here at the ranch.

We’re hoping to get a photo of them all together, but day 11 is an early departure and full of sad but hopeful goodbyes. Thank you everyone at OFL and Pathways for this great “opportunity”.

We invite all to come and partake of this wonderful privilege and the amazing surprises that we couldn’t even mention.

So here is our final sendoff, but not a real goodbye, but a “see you later” and “keep on trucking down the road”!

LONG BEACH RMPR 2016

Hello from Colorado for one of the last times,

We started the day off by going on an amazing college tour to UC Boulder.

Students had a wonderful time getting in the college mindset and seeing what college has to offer them in the near future. The students got to walk through the different buildings, recreation center, visit the football stadium and even got to take a picture with the school mascot.

After a magical college tour, students participated in an activity about living with intention and purpose.

Students had to come up with different ways of accomplishing the same task.

This helped students be intentional in the way they completed the task. The night ended with another inspiring activity, with Mr. Tony and Paul getting into the spirit of it!

It ended up being a rewarding night for students and staff.

Until next time,

LONG BEACH RMPR 2016

Well hello again from beautiful Rocky Mountain Ranch!

Today started out with a fun activity with the students having to find similar groups with their eyes closed and learned the importance of being resourceful.

Much fun was had by the students.

Erica, the camp facilitator worked with the students on how the strength of commitment can lead to success in life.

The students had to dig deep in order to find this resource.

Even the RA’s had to reflect on higher goals.

The day went great and end in amazement

and reflection.

The students finally seemed to have settled in. However, they are are starting to see that the end is in sight and are saddened.

Still…they are missing their friends, loved ones and especially…”mommies” and “daddies”! They all send their love!

LONG BEACH RMPR 2016

Greetings from Colorado,

The trip so far has been a positive learning experience for students and staff alike. Students have been learning six character development traits; Compassion, Gratitude, Grit, Integrity, Optimism and Responsibility. With these traits in mind, students come up with skits to show what each trait meant to them.

The day was full of activities including debates about current events,

as well as finishing their academics from the week,

With the academics portion of the day completed, staff informed students about the three fun filled activities for the night; Karaoke/ dance party,

bonfire and stargazing,

and lastly art projects.

After all these fun activities, it was upstairs and off to bed.

Until next time,

LONG BEACH RMPR 2016

Hello from Colorado,

After a night of surprises students woke up refreshed and ready to go for the day. After breakfast staff wanted to loosen students up, so they had all students on the dance floor. This helped open up students and let them have fun!

The day was full of surprises for the students, which they can tell you when they get home =) As squads (teams), students worked together to complete takes and come together as a group.

It is shaping up to be a wonderful and teambuilding trip.

Until next time,

LONG BEACH RMPR 2016

Greetings once again from beautiful Allenspark, Colorado!

The students have been building upon the whole experience each day and are digging deeper into self understanding and the building of their character development.

From an assigned poetry project,

to a beautiful snow hike (learning how powerful they are even in the cold),

to becoming more introspective (which for young adults, time with out “technology” and others can be more difficult than enduring the cold),

and enjoying an example of nature’s “scratch and sniff”, seeing what a Ponderosa Pine really smells like. “FRESH”!

The chaperones, Ms. Kim and Mr. Tony send their greetings! (Though Mr. Tony doesn’t understand how Ms. Kim suddenly seems taller than him)

Everyone is remaining in high expectation for further surprises that the trip will bring.

To all the OFL Scholars send their greetings!

LONG BEACH RMPR 2016