Our speaker at last week's meeting was Cortney Ferris, Development Director of Down Home Ranch in Elgin. Down Home Ranch provides residential and day programs for clients ("Ranchers") who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. Ranchers live in a communal village that features micro-homes for independent living Ranchers, several shared homes housing six people in each, plus a live-in staff member, along with two-person homes for independent living Ranchers.
Ranchers may take advantage of job opportunities or opportunities to volunteer in the community, enjoy companionship and learning activities, recreation, companionship, developing life skills, participating in sports, enterprise activities such as creating items for sale to the public, managing 11 greenhouses, tending egg-producing chickens, and more.
Cortney says this summer Down Home Ranch will once again host "Ranch Camp," featuring three sessions of 30 campers each. Aside from the adventure of camping, participants will enjoy crafts, swimming, sports, nature hikes and hayrides, along with other activities.
Cortney says this summer Down Home Ranch will once again host "Ranch Camp," featuring three sessions of 30 campers each. Aside from the adventure of camping, participants will enjoy crafts, swimming, sports, nature hikes and hayrides, along with other activities.
To learn more about Down Home Ranch, visit the Web site -- www.downhomeranch.org.
