EMH Instructor Lindy Reese Completes Wilderness First Aid

by Erik Ritschard, Administrator

Miss Reese teaches EMH courses and English

Over the weekend of October 3-4, Ekklesia Mountain High instructor and DPCA teacher Lindy Reese completed her Wilderness First Aid certification, raising her first aid skills from general first aid with AED and CPR to more advanced abilities suitable to EMH wilderness courses and instruction.  Here's what Lindy had to say about her experience taking the class:

This past weekend I had the opportunity to take a class through the National Outdoor Leadership School on Wilderness First Aid. The course was taught by instructors from the Wilderness Medical Institute and included twenty hours of fast paced, hands-on training. Classroom lectures and demonstrations were combined with realistic scenarios in order to practice knowledge and skills.  In two short days, we studied patient assessment techniques along with a wide range of treatments options geared towards wilderness settings. In addition, we learned how to make critical medical and evacuation decisions for remote locations. I found this course to be expressly applicable to working with EMH students as well as to my own lifestyle and outdoor pursuits.

The most challenging and helpful aspect of this course were the scenarios integrated throughout. These situations required quick analysis and creative critical thinking. Instructors would pull aside people from the class and give them incredibly realistic wounds using stage make-up. They would assign each “patient” a personal medical history, symptoms, levels of responsiveness, and a detailed rendering of the situation involving their injury. The patients would go outside and position themselves accordingly - sometimes crumpled on the ground moaning from a fall or hyperventilating from shock - each patient really committed to acting out the scene in order to make it as realistic as possible. Then, the instructors would prepare the rest of the class separately by describing the scenario in which we would come across the patient. The rescuers would go outside, sometimes to find fairly gory scenes, and begin to figure out how to connect with and care for the patients.

These situations felt very realistic and challenged me to immediately implement the things I was hearing, seeing, and writing down in class. They also tested each participant’s ability to remain calm, communicate clearly, act efficiently, and administer care accordingly. The variety and frequency of these scenarios continually reinforced skills taught in the classroom. This unique format was effective in solidifying skills and in building confidence.  I found that I loved learning about the detailed medical aspects of patient care and, perhaps just as importantly, I discovered that my personality was very well suited to performing in high-pressure situations...

Kate on winter mountaineering course winter 2015

Ekklesia Mountain High provides high adventure for students - and we want to be sure our instructors are well-equipped for the task of leading students in meaningful, adventurous wilderness courses.  On-going training for our instructors is part of our program and helps ensure that EMH courses are run well and carefully to provide great experiences for the students.  Both Lindy and Jordan Euler, our lead instructor, will be completing additional avalanche training in early December, and Mr. Euler holds and keeps current a Wilderness First Responder certificate, yet another level of training above Wilderness First Aid, and the eventual next step in Lindy's first aid training as well.   I am really proud of our wilderness instructors' conscientious and careful efforts to provide such great care for our kids when they are on course, and appreciate Lindy's diligence this last weekend in completing her Wilderness First Aid. 

For more information (and great pictures!) about DPCA' EMH program, please visit www.emhweb.org.

Teen Mental Health and Social Media

It's pretty phenomenal - around 90% of teens around the world are using social media sites like Facebook or Twitter or Instagram.  According to researchers referenced in the article link, below, the resulting effects on teenager's well-being is mixed:

Using smart phones to look up Bible commentaries in chapel

Scott Campbell, an associate professor of communication studies at the University of Michigan, made the point that teenage engagement with social media "is not all bad." "There is another side to this story, and that is that kids are getting a lot of social support through social media," said Campbell, who was not involved with the study. Still, "research has also shown that there is definitely a causal path between social media use and lower well-being in general," he added.

The "study" mentioned above is one carried out by British researchers who found that generally,

 "The more teens engaged with social media and the more they were emotionally invested in site participation, the greater the risk for impaired sleep, poor self-esteem, depression and/or anxiety."

Of particular interest to parents, perhaps, is that student's risk factors rose considerably when they were using social media sites at night - no real surprise, since social media activity after bedtime would obviously compromise healthy sleep patterns.

Readers wanting to learn more can find the whole article here:
Constant Social Media Presence May Jeopardize Teens' Mental Health

As you might imagine, the use of media devices among students has produced a great deal of thinking and talking in education circles. Some schools, public and private, have tried to severely restrict or prohibit the use of such devices during the school day. Other schools, DPCA among them, have made the choice to include and even embrace the use of personal devices during the school day, believing that they are a settled fixture of our culture and that learning to use them well is now or should be part of a student's overall education.

Here are things we're working on at school that parents can help encourage:

1. Use devices and your connections with others well: be edifying, uplifting, and encouraging in your posts and exchanges online.
2. Use your devices as the powerful learning tools they can be: look things up, verify evidence and arguments, find out things, add to your understanding, seek for wise solutions to problems, verify what you find with multiple sources.
3. Use your devices appropriately: Be on guard against unhealthy use of time, distractions, separation from face-to-face relationships and obligations, etc.

Other thoughts as we strive to raise healthy teens in a social-media world:

1. Be on the same social media sites as your teens, and "follow" them as they post. Be part of their online world!
2. Schedule your internet connection to go offline during the night on whatever schedule fits your family - but probably at least from midnight to early morning? That way there's no temptation to your teen to be logging on during his or her primary sleeping hours.
3. Make the use of social media part of your conversation - if you don't know how, let your teen teach you. Talk about what healthy social media use looks like.
4. Be mindful of our adult example: are we good stewards of time and social media use? As our kids watch us, are they seeing a good example of how to manage it well?

As Dr. Campbell notes, there are a number of positive aspects to living in our wireless, connection-saturated world. And of course, there are pitfalls as well. Thanks for praying for one another in our school community as we work together to help students grow up with "the wisdom that comes from heaven [which] is first of all pure; then peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." (James 3:17)

DPCA Class of 2013 Alumnus Receives Academic Honors

LONGVIEW, Texas - Micah Ritschard of Buena Vista was named to the Spring 2015 President's List at LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas. The President's List recognizes students who have achieved a perfect 4.0 grade point average to receive this honor.

LeTourneau University President Dr. Dale A. Lunsford said being named to the President's List is a significant academic achievement and honor.

"LETU students are among our nation's best," Lunsford said.  "I'm especially impressed with these honor roll students. Expect them to have a significant impact on our future."

LeTourneau University is a comprehensive institution of Christ-centered higher education where educators engage students to nurture Christian virtue, develop competency and ingenuity in their professional fields, integrate faith and work, and serve the local and global community. LETU offers a wide array of undergraduate and graduate degree programs in aviation, arts & sciences, business, education, engineering and nursing. Around 1,300 students study at LETU's main campus in Longview, Texas. LETU also offers a robust suite of online programs, as well as hybrid programs in Dallas and Houston.

Claiming every workplace in every nation as their mission field, LeTourneau University graduates are professionals of ingenuity and Christ-like character who see life's work as a holy calling with eternal impact. For additional information, visit www.letu.edu.

(August 28, 2015 press release from LeTourneau University; used by permission.)

Micah is a 2013 graduate of Darren Patterson Christian Academy who is studying mechanical engineering at LeTourneau.  DPCA has had three graduates continue their studies at LeTourneau; most recently including Joel Parker, a 2015 DPCA graduate who is beginning his first semester at LeTourneau, also in engineering. We're proud of all our students and our graduates!

Happy Independence Day 2015!

"Educate and inform the whole mass of the people... They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty."

~Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the United States

"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

~John Adams, 2nd President of the United States

What if "the whole mass of the people" are educated and informed, but in the wrong way? If education does not include morality and religion, what of our Constitution? If education does not preserve and promote the principals and values that lead to liberty, what of our liberty?


It is certainly possible to educate and inform and at the same time destroy liberty.  The children being "educated" in Islamic State schools today will certainly not grow up promoting liberty - especially not for women or religious minorities.  The children educated under the communist regime of Mao Tse-Tung, or in the former USSR, were not "informed" in ways that lead to lasting liberty.  Tyrants everywhere use education to teach children the "proper" worldview in order to maintain their tyranny.

If we want liberty, if we want to remain a free people, then WHAT is taught in our schools and HOW it is taught are critically important.  An educated and informed citizenry can maintain liberty only if their education has inculcated in each one the principles that preserve liberty.  And what are those principles?  There are many, touching on standards and practices of government, of economics, of social reform, of cultural plurality, of freedom of expression and assembly, and so on. These many, though, must find their foundation in a smaller set of guiding principles about who people are and how they should be treated.  The most free nations the world has ever seen have been those informed by and grounded in this smaller set of principles, which are ultimately moral and religious principles having their origins in the Christian Bible.

The evidence is overwhelming that a fundamentally Biblical orientation toward humanity, morality, and religion formed the foundations of the US Republic, and were a routine part of our Founder's thinking and vision, including Adams and Jefferson.  The historical evidence is overwhelming that countries and cultures that largely embrace these Biblical principles become markedly more free than those that do not.

We have a tremendous heritage of liberty in the United States.  Is the education of our children promoting morals, principles, practices, and religion that will tend to lead toward the preservation and promotion of that liberty? If a primary objective is to maintain our status as a free people, how well are we building an educated and informed citizenry that knows what liberty requires, and is committed to personal action that promotes the common good in our communities and across our nation?

Happy Independence Day!  May we never assume that freedom is the norm, (history tells us it is not!) or that a free people need not work to maintain their liberty!

DPCA Graduate Receives Academic Honors

We're excited about this press release notifying us that Micah Ritschard, a 2013 graduate of DPCA, has been named to the fall President's List at LeTourneau University:

LONGVIEW, Texas (March 20, 2015) - Micah Ritschard of Buena Vista was named to the Fall 2014 President's List at LeTourneau University. The President's List recognizes students who have achieved a perfect 4.0 grade point average to receive this honor.

LeTourneau University President Dr. Dale A. Lunsford said being named to the President's List is a significant academic achievement and honor.

"LETU students are among our nation's best," Lunsford said.  "I'm especially impressed with these honor roll students. Expect them to have a significant impact on our future."

LeTourneau University is a comprehensive institution of Christ-centered higher education where educators engage students to nurture Christian virtue, develop competency and ingenuity in their professional fields, integrate faith and work, and serve the local and global community. LETU offers a wide array of undergraduate and graduate degree programs in aviation, arts & sciences, business, education, engineering and nursing. Around 1,300 students study at LETU's main campus in Longview, Texas. LETU also offers a robust suite of online programs, as well as hybrid programs in Dallas and Houston.

Claiming every workplace in every nation as their mission field, LeTourneau University graduates are professionals of ingenuity and Christ-like character who see life's work as a holy calling with eternal impact. 

Hear the Story

I found my anchorage in Him while at DPCA, because I was challenged to live excellently, to love, to persevere, to forgive, and above all, to walk with Christ. My teachers set an excellent example and walked with me through every struggle and triumph. I am truly blessed that God blessed me with my time at DPCA, and I hope that many more will have the same privilege.  

Ethan, DPCA Class of 2012

DPCA means a lot to me… Everything done is based upon God and God’s Word.

Malachi, 5th grade 2015  

Randy and Carole Barnes played before and after

Testimonies like these made up the heart of DPCA's "Hear the Story" Banquet March 9.  Over 100 guests enjoyed a fantastic meal at Trail West Lodge and heard from students, staff and board members as each shared how God is working in student hearts and lives through the ministry of Darren Patterson Christian Academy.  Finn and Sully (current kindergartners) opened the banquet with some of their memorized Bible verses and a prayer of thanksgiving for the evening, the day, and the food.  Eagles basketball team players served guests a gourmet meal of roasted pork, new potatoes, spring salad, steamed vegetables, and rolls, followed by a strawberry cheesecake.

Sully and Finn get the evening started

Laughter picked up as board member Michael Courson called students and staff to the front for a game involving hotdog throwing and catching.  Former board president Dave Macnab shared how friends of the school could donate "stuff" through the school's new partnership with iDonate; following Dave, several students and staff shared stories and testimonies from life at school.  An obvious theme quickly emerged:  the Lord is faithfully meeting needs and growing disciples through the learning, mentoring, and community-building that characterizes each day at DPCA. Whether in the classroom, or in chapel, or in the gym, or on the trail with Ekklesia Mountain High courses, from kindergarten through senior high, students are finding in their teachers caring mentors who do so much more than "just" teach the academic lessons. 

That's either Grizzly Adams or board member Michael Courson getting the hotdog contestants ready

Keely (center) and Mr Euler show off their hot-dog catching moves while Noah (left) remains calm

School Administrator Erik Ritschard began the evening wrap-up with a reminder that the financial need that DPCA has each year is not even close to the whole story. Rather, the best part of the DPCA story is victory and triumph being realized in the lives of students who are learning and growing in an environment firmly grounded and centered in the Bible. The Academy's need is for partners who will delight in helping to support that mission and those triumphs. 

Guests enjoying the evening

Board member and banquet organizer Brian Dengler brought the evening to a close with an appeal for support and a closing prayer expressing our school community's gratitude for the evening and the Lord's faithfulness.  Guests responded enthusiastically: over $10,000.00 was contributed at the banquet to support DPCA, with some additional funds coming in as this article is being written. Readers who would like to contribute to the banquet or our annual Strength to Serve funding effort, please click here.

All of us in the DPCA family want to express our gratitude for a great evening:

Mr. Euler shares how he has seen the Lord work.

Lily shared an essay "What DPCA means to me."

• Our guests: thank you for coming and for your so very generous response!
• Brian Dengler:  thank you so much for taking the lead and working as our banquet organizer!
• Randy and Carole Barnes for music before and after the banquet.
• DPCA School Board and office staff: thanks for your support and so much help and work "behind the scenes."
• Parent, staff, and student volunteers: we couldn't have had such an enjoyable, beautiful evening without your help and support with decorating, set-up and clean-up, serving, and child-care. Thank you so much!
• Trail West Lodge staff and volunteers: Wow, you all know how to do things well!  Thanks so much for hosting our banquet and for the fantastic food!

And finally,

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good, and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100: 4-5

 We're grateful that the Lord has provided for and sustained DPCA for almost 33 years, and we join with Finn and Sully in giving thanks for a great day and a great evening!



Darren Patterson Christian Academy has been guiding preschool through high school students on paths of excellence in Christian life and service since 1982.  To learn more, please visit us on the web at www.dpcaweb.org.

 Ekklesia Mountain High is a boarding and day-student program for high school juniors and seniors at Darren Patterson Christian Academy, in which approximately forty days of wilderness experience and leadership training is integrated with rigorous academics in DPCA's Biblically-centered environment.  To learn more, please visit  the EMH program's website at www.emhweb.org.