COURTESY OF JOY RANCH
The Debertins had spent 18 years—from counselors to directors—at Metigoshe Lutheran Bible Camp, Bottineau, N.D., when they were presented the possibility to develop and direct Joy Ranch—though they have limited experi- ence with horses.
While Nelson made her decision on a “picture perfect
day,” they made theirs during the “coldest, windiest, worst blizzard” in recent history, Debertin said. Still, their vision from Decision Rock Hill was of “kids and grandparents laughing and lives changing,” he said. “Not many people get to build a new camp. ... It’s an honor to be asked. And this summer we’ve never said, ‘This is how we did it last year.’ Every day is brand new.” Like other ELCA outdoor ministry sites, Joy Ranch appeals to a broader range of users than youth summer campers. “Kids on Horseback” and “Servant Quest for Teens” weeks were held this summer, but there was also Grandparent (grandkid) Camp and “We Get It” Family Camp. “We’re booked for family reunions into 2015,” Nelson
said. And “the town,” as she calls it, is designed exactly for that sort of versatility. Throughout the year, it wel- comes retreats, birthday parties, weddings, corporate business meetings and family reunions. Three or four of those functions can happen at the same time because of the facilities, which include modern geothermal heating and cooling, a state-of-the art horse arena, and a vegetable
and herb garden producing food for the kitchen. Midsummer, Nelson was already looking toward win-
ter. When the prairie is covered with snow, there will be snow shoeing, cross country skiing, sleighs hooked up to the horses, and plenty of time at the 10 Joy Ranch fire- places, she said. Time is exactly what Debertin hopes Joy Ranch offers to kids, adults and families. “What finally matters is time together,” he said, which is why camp weeks are shorter (four days) and intergenerational programming is crucial. “People need time together now more than ever,” he said. On a hot July day, Margie Neugebauer had baked bread with her grandsons and was watching the clock because she was scheduled to make homemade butter with them. She and her husband, Duane, from Chamberlain, S.D., considered Grandparent Camp not only a chance to be with Aaron, 9, from Waubay, S.D., and Cayden, 6, from Mitchell, S.D., but also a chance for the cousins to spend time together.
The family was also making plans for Family Camp. The Neugebauers cherished the chance to be with grand- children in this setting, but also recognized it as an oppor- tunity for passing on the faith. Their children (their grand- childrens’ parents) are in their 20s and 30s and don’t send their children to Sunday school, Neugebauer said. But at Joy Ranch “they get a taste of what God’s love is like,” she added. “And there’s nothing better than that.”
September 2012 31
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52