The Residential Life Cornerstone

"36 Teenage Girls Living Together"

The Hope Ranch community is a family into which each student is accepted with respect and unconditional love.  Not only does it mean food, clothing, shelter, and a safe environment – it means being part of a community where everyone has responsibilities – to themselves and to the community-at-large.

Students live, work, play and go to school together. 

·         They are housed in new 2400 sq. ft. residential cabins – 18 girls per cabin, 6 per room – with a large common room, a ‘quiet’ room, and laundry facilities – always under the supervision of staff.

·         They are responsible for household chores – everything from washing dishes, clothes & windows to sweeping, mopping & vacuuming floors; cleaning bathrooms, dusting, and caring for the animals (inside and outside).  Each student has a specific task for which she is responsible and accountable to the entire community to complete.

·         Whether it’s hiking, mountain biking, soccer, volleyball, kickball, softball, skiing, snow shoeing – or, competing in board games, inter-cabin spirit contests – or whatever else they can think of – outdoor fun and recreation are a major part of student activity.  Usually focused on ‘teamwork’ – these activities are not only experiential, they help develop deep understandings of relationships, respect, well-being, and maturity.

·           Service to the Hope Ranch community is certainly part of each student’s responsibility – but there is also a program of ‘community service’ where the girls, after having attained appropriate progress in their “Journey,” come off-the-Ranch to serve in the Flathead Valley community.  This can be working in Glacier National Park, or with the Forest Service, or with a number of public service organizations.

·         And there’s time just to be “teenage girls.”