- Home
- Help
- About
- Our Mission
- Future Plans
- The Ranch Staff
Meet The Wildwood Hills Ranch Staff
- The Horses
- Character Counts
- Board Members
- FAQ
Who Is Wildwood Hills Ranch? Wildwood Hills Ranch is a 400-acre non-profit facility, set in the scenic hills of Madison County, just south of Des Moines. Founded in 2001, the ranch exists to transform lives and strengthen communities by providing healing, hope, and God’s unconditional love to children and youth at-risk. Free summer camp and year-round retreats are offered to at-risk children ages 8 -18. Kids are immersed in a fun, safe environment where character, leadership, and teamwork are modeled and taught. The ranch is an ideal setting for children to learn new life skills and gain the confidence necessary to transcend current impoverished, abused, or neglected environments. Campers enjoy first-class facilities and recreational activities including horseback riding, water sports, team building, arts and crafts and much more. Most importantly, children are offered hope and love while being challenged to grow into people of integrity who contribute to the communities they live in. Who Does WWHR Serve? The children who participate in Ranch programs are currently suffering or are at-risk of physical and/or sexual abuse; neglect; parental drug and alcohol abuse; gang violence; instability in family relationships; absence of one or both parents; repeated or permanent out of home…
- Videos From the Ranch
[hdvideo playlistid=1 width=640] [videohome].
- Programs & Events
- Events Calendar
- Faith and Family Night
- Cedar Valley – Wild About the Child
- Wild About the Child Events
- Summer Program
- Bounceback Retreats
In addition to our summer camp programming, Bounceback Retreats are held throughout the school year. Youth are invited back to the Ranch to continue practicing their newly learned skills during these 1 to 2 day retreats. They provide the youth opportunities to build upon the positive summer experiences they have had at Wildwood Hills Ranch. Bouncebacks are also a time to reconnect with and encourage the children. They are another building block in our efforts to help children lay a better foundation to grow upon.
- Contact
It's better to build strong children than repair broken men.
- Frederick Douglass
About Wildwood Hills Ranch
Who We Are:
There is nothing like Wildwood Hills Ranch anywhere in the Midwest. Our 400 acre facility is set in the scenic hills of Madison County, just south of Des Moines. Our organization was founded in 2001 with the mission of providing life-changing opportunities and camp programs for at-risk and disadvantaged children. Kids from across the state are offered hope and love while being challenged to grow into leaders and people of integrity who contribute to the communities in which they live.
Who We Serve:
During the first three years, Wildwood Hills Ranch served more than 800 at-risk children, ages 8 – 16 from all over Iowa. We collaborate with organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Clubs and Hope Ministries, as well as the Department of Human Services and local schools to identify and assist the hundreds of at-risk children that we serve. Financial supporters include individuals, businesses, and foundations such as Variety the Children’s Charity, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation, Roy J. Carver Foundation, among others. Our goal is to implant and nurture Iowa identity, Iowa dreams, and Iowa opportunities for thousands of Iowa youth.
How We Serve:
During week-long summer camps, individual impact is accomplished through character mentoring by mature and carefully selected counselor role models, activities that are woven together with purpose, daily reflection times and evening campfire experiences. Programs include leadership, character building and team building components. Devoted and trained camp counselors help teach these children the meaning of honest, integrity, and respect – the core values that many of these youngsters are unaware of simply because of the situations life has dealt them. All spiritual aspects of Wildwood Hills’ summer camps are non-threatening, respectful and based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
Of course, Wildwood Hills Ranch is a place for children to have fun. Campers enjoy a week full of exciting activities including hiking, swimming, horseback riding, fishing and arts and crafts. The impact of Wildwood Hills Ranch’s program doesn’t stop on the last day of camp. Our campers are invited to “Bounceback” weekend events in the fall, winter and spring, where the children can continue to build on their positive summer camp experiences.
Why It Matters:
Last year, Iowa’s Department of Human Services reported more than 23,000 cases of child abuse. With increasing trends in childhood poverty, abuse and neglect, it is imperitive that we continue to reach out and touch the lives of these children. We recognize the need to offer them hope and we can make a difference. Wildwood Hills Ranch is focused on building strong and principled youth who, in the future, will have a positive impact on Iowa’s communities.
Find Us Online