Past, Present and Future Staff

This summer will be Teen Ranch‘s 45th year of operation. Throughout the years, we have had the privilege of serving literally thousands upon thousands of guests and staff. We hope that you are or will soon be one of them!

A sign on the left side of the lane greets you as you drive in and it reads, ―Drive Slowly—Future World Leaders Being Trained Here.‖ What do we mean by that? We‘d love you to know!

To help develop ―Future World Leaders‖ our goal is to aid in an individual‘s growth in four ways—

physically, mentally, socially and spiritually—and we are very intentional in doing this. This goal

directs everything we do, from running excellent programs to the process whereby people come

to volunteer on weekends summer staff or serve on full-time staff. Serving God by serving our guests, campers and fellow staff the absolute best that we can is priority....and we have an amazing, dedicated, full-time staff who exemplify and work hard to achieve this.

Frequently, we are encouraged that God is changing lives when people write and tell us how God has used Teen Ranch to impact their lives. Not only does the personal growth they experience affect them, but all in the bundle of life with them – and that‘s exciting!

This work couldn‘t be accomplished without people who are committed to give of their time, expertise or finances. A hearty thank you is due to all of you who have helped out in these ways.

Are you interested in investing some time here at the Ranch to help aid in people‘s growth? For those who want to help on week- ends, please write Sharon at TRhostess@hotmail.com. If you believe God may be pleased to have you here this summer, there is no time to lose. Email me at ann@teenranch.on.ca to find out about applying for a summer position.

May God richly bless each and everyone of you!

-Ann Stevens

Merry Christmas

In the Christmas story, we hear about travelers; wise men from the East, who traveled a great distance to see the new King who was born in Israel. This was not an easy trip for these wise men as it probably took many weeks and covered a great distance, riding on camels through some very harsh country. They did it because they believed what the Scriptures foretold about God‘s plan for the world, and about the gift (the birth of Jesus) that He would give, that would be the Saviour of the world.

Their story and efforts should be an example to us. They didn‘t just believe; they acted on their belief; and because they did, they got to see the baby Jesus; the King of kings and Saviour of the world with their very own eyes. Just imagine that for the rest of their lives, they could say ―we saw the King, we met the Saviour‖. It changed them.

It‘s nice and comforting and gives us warm feelings to know about Jesus and to celebrate His birth at Christmas, but if we don‘t act on our beliefs, if it doesn‘t affect us. If it doesn‘t make us search Jesus out, it doesn‘t do us much good. If we truly meet Jesus, it will affect everything in our lives and everything we do.

This year at the Ranch, we have visitors that have traveled a great distance to spend Christmas and New Year‘s with us. We have four visiting Russian hockey teams who will stay at the Ranch and attend tourna- ments while they are here. Hopefully, some will be able to return and attend a hockey academy here at the Ranch. They are coming from a country where for almost a century they have been told by their leaders that there is no God. It is our pleasure and privilege to share Christmas and the love of Jesus with them. Our hope and prayer is that they too will see the King and meet the Saviour.

This is also our prayer for you. That as you celebrate Christmas with family and friends, you will see the birth of Jesus in a new and fresh way and you will experience the awesome love of God demonstrated to us in His gift, the giving of His Son, the birth of Jesus. Blessings to you all from Teen Ranch and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 - Tim Stevens

The COST of Christmas

We arrived back home in Australia to the business that is Christmas...choosing gifts, wrapping gifts, finding car parks, grocery shopping and preparing food.

Through it all we heard com- ments on how much everything costs these days, the great expense that is Christmas.

But, we wondered....do we ever stop, in this crazy time, to con- sider what it cost God to send His Son to earth? Do we stop and wonder at the mystery and God's sacrifice for us?

Does it move us, this cost?

John 3:16 (The Message) says: ―This is how MUCH God loved the World. He gave us His Son, his one and only Son. And this is why, so that no one need be destroyed by believing in Him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.‖

So as we prepare for Christmas day, may we all take time to set our hearts on how much God loves us and sacrificed for us.

JESUS is still the sacrifice. JESUS is still the restoration for a broken world. JESUS is still the answer.

Darryl and Kirsten Schenk, along with their lovely daughters, Adele and Milly hail from Australia. We are thrilled that they will continue to make the Ranch their home, returning after Christmas :)

Christmas Day Camp

Christmas day camps have been a blast this week!

In crafts we made paper snowflakes, gingerbread houses and garland.
We played hockey and went horseback riding.
We have also played games, had snacks and gone on walks and even hay rides!

Day Camp goes on tomorrow and next week, December 29 - 30.

Also, keep your eyes open for announcements for March Break day camps!

The Russians are Coming!

Most of the baby boomer generation will remember exactly where they were for the Canada – Russia series of ’72. But where will you be for the Ontario – Russia series of 2010? Teen Ranch is the answer!

Next week, starting December 21^st the Russians are coming to Teen Ranch. Four teams of 85 players total, ages 10 through 16 will be staying and playing in Southern Ontario until early in the New Year. Though their home base will be at the Ranch, each team will be travelling around to various holiday tournaments throughout the GTA.

The teams are equivalent to Ontario AAA standards and are said to be the best of the best in their age groups. In between tournaments the Russian teams will be playing exhibition games in Caledon at Teen Ranch. These games will be free admission and open to the public, so come out and see some international competition! Doors open half an hour before each game, refreshments are available at the Ice Corral.

On December 22 at 12:30 Team Kazakhstan plays the Toronto Red Wings. December 24^th at 9 AM is game two when Magnitogorsk Metallurg (Russia) faces off with our own Orangeville Flyers. The same day, at 10:30 AM Team Kazakhstan plays the North York Rangers. Teams take a break for a few days over Christmas, travelling to other tournaments as far away as Sudbury but are back at the Ranch on New Years Day for Team Kazakhstan to play the Owen Sound Greys at 4:30 PM. The last exhibition game to take place at Teen Ranch is January 3^rd at 3 PM when Team Kazakhstan plays their last game against the Central Ontario Wolves

Teams Kazakhstan, Magnitogorsk Metallurg and the Moscow Wings from all around the former Soviet Union found Teen Ranch through their General Manager, John McIntosh. McIntosh has been working in Russia for 17 years with these hockey teams through an organization called Athletes in Action. Athletes in Action works with young sports fanatics all over the globe training them in their sport of choice as well as mentoring them emotionally and spiritually. McIntosh hopes that this tournament will spark an interest in the Russia teams to build a hockey school at Teen Ranch, which will start in the Fall of 2011.

For more information check out the Teen Ranch website at www.teenranch.on.ca or call 519 941 4501. 

Xbox 360 for Christmas

Teen Ranch is doing a website blitz until January and we want to hear from you!

What keeps you coming back to Teen Ranch?
What are you favourite programs?
How did you hear about us?
Are you connected to us through social media?

Fill out our questionnaire on the Teen Ranch website for a chance to win a brand new Xbox 360!

Enter to Win HERE!

We Appreciate You

Friday evening at Teen Ranch was bustling with friends new and old as we concluded another year with our annual Appreciation Dinner.
This is an opportunity for us as a staff to say a big thank you to everyone who has donated of their time, prayers and money to make possible what happens every day on the property.
Two of our new staff, Joshua Menzies (Summer Programs Coordinator) and Britt Stevens (Events) filled the night with fun as donors and friends heard the stories about past and present campers and how Teen Ranch has touched their lives.
Attendees sat and conversed with staff and also heard about many of our new ventures this year including a marksmanship range, new water slide, building renovations and the brand new Carriage House. Though the carriage house isn't finished yet, it's well on its way to housing guests, hockey teams and many campers (hopefully) in the next year.

So thanks to all who attended, we wish you a wonderfully Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!