Darren Patterson

  Disconnect.

Imagine a place where prayer time isn’t interrupted by text messages, where Facebook and Twitter don’t demand attention in the middle of paper writing, and where the latest episode of the Office isn’t the top priority on your to-do list.
 
Imagine a place without information clutter. Imagine a place where you can hear your thoughts and listen, a place where true community becomes more important than today’s status and prayer is more central than btw’s and lol’s. Imagine a place where the glory of chalky white cliffs, varied wildlife, colorful sunsets, and golden aspen leaves erase the need for updates, IMs, and reality TV.
 
That place is called Silver Cliff Ranch.
 
A few more things to imagine...
 
...Each cabin is split into two separate sides, with each side sleeping seven people. You will mostly likely share a room with four to five other students. An adult staff member will be in each cabin, although not necessarily on each side. Each side will have its own bathroom.
...You will eat and prepare all of your meals in the main dining room. Although the Silver Cliff staff will occasionally prepare meals for you, most responsibility of cooking and doing dishes will fall to you and your fellow students, as you are assigned to a rotation for the preparation and clean-up of meals.
...As a resident of Silver Cliff, you will enjoy a hot springs swimming pool, large gym, game room, meeting hall and ropes course.
 
 (Note to parents: you will be able to contact your child through Silver Cliff’s phone    
 line, and students will be able to make calls home during their time in Buena Vista and 
 at other times. Although students will not have access to as many portals of
 communication, we value your parent-child relationship; your student will be
 encouraged to share his or her growth and experiences with you on a regular basis).