Cooking Class

On one of the last days of summer, residents from Waxahachie gathered together in the kitchen for one more cooking lesson. This time, the lesson was in peeling potatoes for potato salad and making cheese biscuits. One of the goals of our residential programs is to help our youth become strong and independent as they move into adulthood. Cooking lessons, like the lessons taught at Waxahachie, and also on the Waco campus and Boys Ranch, help youth move one step closer to healthy independence.

Glen Lake Camp

In honor of the first week of school, here is a look back at summer camp at Glen Lake Camp in Glen Rose, Texas. Our youth had the opportunity to attend camp this summer with other kids from across the region. Last week, as a celebration of the end of summer, the Religious Education department put on a mini-camp for all of the kids from the Waco campus, Waxahachie campus and Boys Ranch. The youth were able to use the zip line, fish, bask in the sunlight, swim and play games for the day. Thank you to the Glen Lake Camp staff members for all that you do for our youth!

First Day of School

Thursday was the first day of school for the more than 150 MCH residents attending the MCH University of Texas Charter school on the Waco campus. And it was also the first day that the Boys Ranch attended our Waco campus school.

Like most teenagers, the students may have been more excited see their friends and catch up with their favorite teachers and staff than they were to start receiving homework!







Waco campus youth who attend public schools in Waco will begin school on Monday, August 24. Waxahachie residents will also begin school on Monday. Good luck to all our youth as they look forward to a great school year!

GAPP Night Out

For many of the grandparents connected with our Grandparents as Parents Program, having a night to themselves is not a regular occurrence. For these grandparents, their time is filled with raising busy grandchildren and staying on top of all of their activities. And many times these grandparents are still juggling other responsibilities to their work, church and community.

Seeing the need for a night of freedom for grandparents, Rehan McNeil, coordinator of the Grandparents as Parents Program organized a Grandparents Night Out event. The kids were whisked off to the Waco campus where they took part in an exciting evening of relaxation and fun. The grandchildren went swimming in the pool, held relay races, bounced on inflatables, ate snow cones, cotton candy and pizza, and even had face-painting and karaoke!

Meanwhile, the grandparents enjoyed a night of relaxation knowing their grandchildren were in good hands. Youth from the Waco campus volunteered to help with the children during the festivities, and staff from the Transition Services department were on hand to make sure everyone had plenty of food and fun. Here are some photos from the event.





Thank you to everyone who made this event possible!

Tribune features our own

If you subscribe to the Waco Tribune Herald you may have noticed a familiar face on the front of the Sports page yesterday. Adam, one of our Waco campus residents, was pictured working on tackle drills during football practice at Waco High. The Waco High Lions will kick off the football season with a game against the Belton Tigers at the Waco ISD stadium on August 27th. For a link to the full story and to see the picture click here.

Way to go, Adam!

Field Trip on the Wild Side

Youth from our Waxahachie campus enjoyed the air conditioning at Watkins Wildlife Museum in Corsicana during one of their summer field trips. The staff at our Waxahachie campus have done a great job investigating fun, educational opportunities in their area. After a tour of the Wildlife Museum, our kids ate a picnic lunch at a local water spray park.

Do you have pictures from an MCH summer event? Click the blue button below and share your fun summer story with the MCH community!

Boys Ranch Ribbon Cutting

This past Saturday marked a special celebration in the lives of our Boys Ranch youth and staff. The brand new Boys Ranch Recreation and Activities Center was dedicated along with a special ribbon cutting. Representatives from the Boys Ranch, MCH administration and special donors, alumni and friends were in attendance. Here are some pictures from the memorable celebration.

Boys Ranch Youth, staff and friends at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.

After the Ribbon Cutting, the Ranch held it's first free-throw contest. Five boys competed in the contest against their challenger, Dick Kenyon, a member of the MCH Board of Directors.

While at the Ranch for the Groundbreaking in the fall of 2008, Kenyon had challenged the boys to a free-throw contest once the gym was complete. Kenyon made good on his challenge during the Ribbon Cutting and even managed to win! The boys were excited to compete against Kenyon.

Saber lines up his shot at the free-throw line.

Dick Kenyon showed the boys he had been practicing!

Over the course of the past week the boys have wholeheartedly embraced the new facility with even more boys participating in recreation than usual. Thank you to all the individuals, families, churches and foundations who made this building project a success.