On a cold fall afternoon, the Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch community gathered at the Dippel Activity Center for an afternoon of fun, food and games at the annual Fall Festival, hosted by Boys Ranch Recreation Department. While the weather outside brought a chill to our serene campus, the festival was definitely vibrant and warm!
At the beginning of the afternoon, youth quickly moved from activity to activity with laughter having their faces painted, posing at the photo booth, helping Frankenstein by tossing a toy brain into his head, enjoying the thrill of revealing their “spin art” — and much, much more!
In the fall spirit, our boys and girls — as well as some of our staff — also joined the fun by sporting creative costumes from pineapples to proud marines. Among the creative get-ups were the girls and house parents at Finch House, who beamed with enthusiasm at their version of Mother Goose’s, “There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe.” Careful observers might have seen a contagious grin form on the faces of anyone who passed them.
As the afternoon gave way to evening, small groups of residents and staff sat to chat and laugh. On the surface, the festival illuminated the joy of childhood each of our young people deserves to experience. Looking deeper, though, the gathering also was an inspiring picture of the important relationships being built every day at Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch.