.bodytext {float: left; } .floatimg-left-hort { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right: 10px; width:300px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 10px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} Wildwood Hills Ranch is at capacity, and for MaryLou Garcia, the camp’s executive director, that is a tragedy.

“There is a long waiting list,” Garcia said. “A lot of kids who need us can’t get in.”

And the children that utilize the camp aren’t there just for the fun of it.

Wildwood Hills Ranch serves only at-risk youths in Iowa, offering free summer camp, as well as transportation to and from camp, to kids who qualify.

“Many people don’t realize that there are at-risk youths here in Iowa,” Garcia said. “We have them here, and for every child where we can break that cycle of abuse, poverty, whatever, there is a huge benefit to society at large.”

Ranch experiences are more than just a summer activity. Children come to Wildwood Hills with hearts that need healing, Garcia said. The ranch’s 400 acres provides a change of environment. Surrounded by hills, trees, lakes, wildlife and horses, children experience the joy of nature firsthand while also soaking up the acceptance and affirmation of the staff and volunteers. This combination works to create an environment that encourages the campers to open up to the possibilities before them and to change.

“It is so amazing to see these children change right in front of you,” Garcia said. “Society has lowered the bar for these kids so much, it is fun for them to catch a glimpse of what they are capable of.”

Lisa Fry, the camp’s director of development, said there has yet to be a child leave the ranch who didn’t want to come back the next year, which the camp encourages.

When the campers turn 13, they can enter leadership training, leading up to counselor training, where they are put in charge of a team of younger children. The camp serves about 700 youths every year.

“We watch them grow right before our eyes,” Fry said.

However, because the organization is so young, having only been around since 2001, funding has become an issue. “We’re the new kids on the block,” Garcia said. “We are in desperate need of a facilities upgrade, as well as expanding our capacity to serve more kids.”

The organization’s goal is to raise $2 million in its upcoming fund-raising drive to revamp its dining hall and build an indoor equine center. That’s a lot for an organization whose total annual budget is around $700,000. There first event will be a barn dance and barbecue at the Stonehaven Cownie Family Farm near Winterset.