Our schools for troubled teens include an academic curriculum, Vocational - Technical training (Vo-tech), and equine therapy targeted at changing the negative behaviors of troubled teens. At MTC, the key to success is a combination of ranch environment, personal relationships developed between each young man and staff, and professional counseling. Our programs result in behavior modification of the troubled youth that partake in them. The lessons gathered from these realities foster a change of direction in the troubled teens from a culture of death (drugs and/or devious and problematic behavior) to a Christian - cowboy influenced culture of truth, honesty and determination. Furthermore, each young man is a loved and respected member of the family. His needs, heartaches and desires are items of daily prayer and concern. Time is taken to discuss not only the boys’ struggles and problems, but also their triumphs. In this way, an individualized plan of treatment for the boy is formed, helping him relate his present struggles with the specific struggles in life back home.

Many young people today suffer from a lack of responsibility. The Wilderness Programs offered teach the troubled teen a sense of autonomy, responsibility, and in turn builds a solid life foundation. On the ranch, chores are assigned according to each boy’s capabilities, and each finds a specific type of work to spark his interest. Some of these chores include horse care, feeding baby calves, participating in cattle drives, building fences, and repairing and maintaining ranch vehicles and farm equipment. By accepting these responsibilities, the boys learn self-discipline and they quickly grasp that the work is necessary for the survival of the ranch, not simply to occupy their time. The end result of our camp for troubled teens is that they become part of something bigger than themselves. They learn cooperation, which promotes self-esteem. Developing this personal responsibility, combined with our 10-step level system and behavior modification, often motivates the boys to complete their schoolwork. We call this Reality Therapy.
Camp for Troubled Teens teaches care and respect of animals.

Schools for Troubled Teens
The academic services of our program is truly our strong point. Each at risk youth is enrolled in the nationally accredited Seton Home Study Program or the Nationally Accepted Our Lady of the Rosary home study program. A separate curriculum is developed for each individual student, taking into consideration past credits earned and focusing on basic requirements for a high school diploma. Older and academically advanced students engage in philosophy, advanced math and science. Our schools for troubled teens provide students with the opportunity to learn at their own pace and receive individual attention. It is also an effective way of helping those with learning disabilities and motivational challenges. Often, struggling students will catch up to their age group within a year’s time. The goal of Mt. Carmel is to encourage them to take possession of their own education. Many go on to college and are academic achievers. Several learned so much from our teen boot camp, that they are serving our country in the U.S. military; they are making the country a safer place for us all. Mt. Carmel is currently developing a community based abstinence education program with community outreach into the surrounding area.

Vocational Training/ Trade School
This training is not academic as such, but high school credits are earned in vocational and experiential projects. When possible, specific activities are matched with students' interests. It is through the camp for troubled teens that Mt. Carmel can provide as many first time experiences as possible to help each of the young men discover his own God given talents, worth and potential. In addition, this natural setting exposes the at risk youth to new physical challenges. For example, they are involved in wildlife and range management, equipment maintenance and repair, welding, carpentry, horticulture, animal husbandry, veterinary assistance (calf vaccination and delivery at birth), horsemanship, and horseshoeing. Some boys are even involved in logging, operating farm equipment such as tractors, a backhoe and bulldozer, irrigating crop land, training stock dogs, and caring for baby calves.

Equine Therapy
Mt. Carmel realized early on that animals have a healing effect on troubled teens. For this reason, the boys take responsibility for bum calves, chicks and puppies. However, interaction with horses has proven to be the most effective in our behavior modification therapy. He cares and works with that horse, learning its temperament and disposition. The boys form an intimate bond with the horses through “cowboy-ing."

Healing begins when the at risk youth obtain a sense of respect and dignity in caring and working the horses. They bond with the horse and, through this relationship, gain a respect for all life.

Why Wyoming?
About 90% of the troubled youth who come to Mount Carmel are from large metropolitan areas. Our camp for troubled teens allows them to experience a totally new environment steeped with beauty, challenges, and excitement. Getting away from the rush and pressures of modern society allows each boy time to discover himself in the quietness of God’s creation in the northwest corner of wonderful Wyoming, the mountainous country near Yellowstone Park and the last real wilderness in the lower continental United States. Society recognizes the growing need to serve at risk youth outside of brick and mortar institutions. Ranches are of inestimable value in this endeavor. Conventional school systems tend to keep the boys in a "box" and they become bored and act out. At Mt. Carmel they are let out of the "box" to explore and follow their natural instincts and talents.
Mountain View at Camp for Troubled Teens

Wilderness Program incorporates horses.

Do you know an at risk teen? Call Mount Carmel Youth Ranch for more information on our Wilderness Program and School for Troubled Teens, we can help.

Business/ Admissions Office (307)-645-3322 or reach us by email at admissions@mtcarmelyouthranch.com.