Kids Ranch...Building caring, capable, and confident kids
Serving the South Central Wisconsin
school districts of Baraboo, Reedsburg,
Sauk Prairie, and Wisconsin Dells
Our History & Mission
Anne Rakos
Kids Ranch was founded in 1998 by Anne Rakos, a child and family therapist who recognized the connection between literacy challenges and the impact of trauma on children’s emotional well-being. Rakos was intent on Kids Ranch providing early intervention and prevention programs in an effort to reach children before patterns of failure and trauma became deeply ingrained. Through her clinical work, she observed that many children struggled with low self-esteem related to difficulties learning to read.
Her vision was to create a program that combined literacy support, caring relationships, and enriching activities to help children build skills and confidence.
HOW WE BEGAN
Mary Bowers
In 1999, Rakos partnered with Mary Bowers, a first-grade teacher, to establish literacy tutoring programs within local Wisconsin school districts. Literacy programming has remained a core part of the Kids Ranch mission ever since.
Kids Ranch has always been a grassroots organization, built with the support of community volunteers. The Kids Ranch facility in Rock Springs, where Summer Day Camp takes place, was constructed over the course of three years by volunteers using donated materials. Kids Ranch truly belongs to the community, they built it, and they continue to care for it.
OUR MISSION
Our mission at Kids Ranch is to
build caring, capable, and confident kids.
Kids Ranch carries out its mission by providing coordinated literacy programming, mental health support, and Summer Day Camp for children ages 7 to 12 and their families. Programs are offered free or at low cost and are designed to support children through individualized instruction, caring relationships, and enriching experiences.
Literacy Tutoring (Year-round)
Kids Ranch provides individualized literacy tutoring year round for children ages 7 to 12 through the School Year Literacy Program and as part of Summer Day Camp. During the school year, children are paired with trained volunteer tutors when available, with support and oversight from Kids Ranch staff.
Mental Health (Year-round)
Kids Ranch provides year-round mental health and social-emotional support for children and families. Support is individualized and responsive, guided by the needs of each child and family, and may include assessment, skill-building support, short-term counseling, and referrals to community resources.
Summer Day Camp (June-August)
Kids Ranch Summer Day Camp offers a structured, supportive summer program that brings literacy programming and mental health support together in a safe, enriching setting for children.