Briar Patch Ranch For Kids
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Briar Patch Ranch For Kids functions as a specialized program for children experiencing significant social, emotional, or behavioral challenges, often serving as an alternative educational or therapeutic placement. It integrates animal interaction to promote responsibility, care, and positive behavioral development.
Key Highlights
- ✓Effective program for children with diagnosed behavior issues, leading to positive changes.
- ✓Provides a supportive environment for children with social anxiety or past experiences with bullying and racial discrimination in traditional school settings.
- ✓Some parents report teachers are compassionate and helpful.
- ✓Incorporates animals as a tool to teach responsibility and care.
- ✓Has a structured environment designed to address and improve behavior over a long term (one reviewer attended for 'like a decade').
Standout Features
- ⭐Therapeutic approach that leverages animals for teaching responsibility and fostering emotional development.
- ⭐Structured environment focused on improving challenging behaviors and social skills.
- ⭐Reported by some to have compassionate staff dedicated to the children's well-being.
- ⭐Offers an alternative for children struggling in traditional school settings due to social or behavioral issues.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Parents considering this program should explicitly inquire about all disciplinary policies and methods, including the nature and extent of any physical intervention by staff.
- →It is advisable to ask about staff training in de-escalation techniques and behavioral management strategies to ensure they align with your child's needs and your parenting philosophy.
- →Seek detailed information on student-to-staff ratios and staff qualifications for children with specific behavioral or social challenges.
- →Understand the process for addressing child complaints regarding staff conduct or perceived unfairness.
Things to Consider
- ⚠One reviewer describes it as a 'horrible environment' and claims the 'school is not equipped to handle the kids that they claim to be helping.'
- ⚠An 8-year-old reviewer reported harsh disciplinary measures, including being made to push a wheelbarrow for 3 hours without a break, and a teacher throwing a large snowball back at them.
- ⚠Allegations of punishment for unproven actions, based on 'kids lies'.
- ⚠Physical intervention by teachers is acknowledged as a disciplinary measure for students 'misbehaving or not working'.
Price & Value
Not mentioned in reviews.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •Addresses issues of bullying and racial discrimination, suggesting an inclusive focus on supportive environments for vulnerable children.
- •Specifically designed to accommodate children with 'behavior issues'.
- •No specific details on physical accessibility for mobility impairments mentioned.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Operates with a structured disciplinary system to manage student misbehavior and non-compliance.
- •Physical intervention by teachers is acknowledged as a policy for students 'misbehaving or not working'.
- •No explicit details on emergency procedures, first aid facilities, or secure entry/exit protocols mentioned.
⏰When to Avoid
- • Parents expecting a typical recreational 'farm for kids' or light entertainment venue.
- • Families who are uncomfortable with strict disciplinary actions, potentially including physical intervention or what children might perceive as punitive measures (e.g., forced labor, physical retaliation).
- • Children who may not thrive in a highly structured environment where accountability and compliance are enforced with clear, and sometimes firm, consequences.
Pricing/Package/Events
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
End of School Year Celebration (Family and Friends)
Wednesday, May 9th, 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Not specified (implied free for invited family/friends)
Family and Friends of Briar Patch are welcome to join for food, homemade ice-cream, and plenty of fun to celebrate the ending of another school year. Guests are encouraged to bring fishing poles. Parents are welcome to take their students with them after the cookout, provided they notify their transportation provider ahead of time.
🍎Food Policy
- • Food and homemade ice-cream provided at the annual End of School Year Celebration on May 9th.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • The program is dedicated to the emotional and educational health of children, providing a positive and meaningful academic alternative for at-risk students.
- • Animal/Pet therapy, specifically dog-assisted therapy, is utilized to improve student behaviors by reducing boredom, producing a calming state, increasing movement and activity, providing companionship, decreasing loneliness, and improving mood and general well-being.
📅Booking Policy
- • Inquiries regarding enrollment must be referred back to the student's home school district to begin the process.
- • A representative from the student's school district refers a student based on their needs and Briar Patch Ranch's capacity.
- • An Introductory Tour is conducted for the student and selected representatives (parents, guardians, school officials), which includes a meeting to discuss student needs, transportation, and to complete enrollment forms.
- • Briar Patch Ranch does not discriminate against race, color, creed, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or any other traits in considering students for enrollment.
Photos
Recent Reviews
Peggy Hunter
a year agoMy daughter has had a hard time attending Teays valley East because of the bullying and her race. She has social anxiety she hasn’t gone to school in person for this school year except a few days. She really feels she will like this placement. The teachers and other workers are very helpful the kids seem very happy and eager to to their tasks.
A Q
11 months agoGenuinely horrible environment for kids. School is not equipped to handle the kids that they claim to be helping. Only use as a last resort.
A Kay
a year agoThey are so mean I go there and I hate it its stooped i throw a snowball at a teacher and they throw a snowball back at me in the face and it was a big snowball and I'm just 8 and I got in a little trouble and they made me push a wellbarel for 3 hours and they wouldn't leat me take a brake so u runaway and they cot me and I got in more trouble and I got back in class and I got in trouble for something I didn't do and they had no proof the only hade the kids lies si mean right
Pearl Wagner
4 years agoWhat an amazing program they have for children with behavior issues. The teachers that i have met are so compassionate and really love the children. So positive and the animals help them learn responsibility and to care. Love it!!
Mikey Robey
2 years agoI have been going there for like a decade now, and it has changed my behavior for the better. The only reason why a teacher is putting her/him hands on a student is because the student is misbehaving or not working, all you have to do is to do your work and be good, is that so hard to do?