Seeking out an alternative therapeutic boarding school for struggling boys in Baltimore, Maryland? Perhaps you will consider Heartland Boys Academy, a low-cost boarding school in Western Kentucky. Heartland is an alternative year-round boarding school known for its commitment to teenage boys who have gotten off track academically, emotionally, legally, or socially.

Heartland Boys Academy enrolls underperforming boys from across the U.S., including from Baltimore, Maryland. It is a faith-based boarding school that uses adventure as a powerful therapeutic method for turning around troubled boys. We are an alternative school with a calling to lead struggling teenagers to fulfill their individual purpose, or destiny, in Christ.

Heartland exclusively enrolls troubled or struggling boys. Parents of these boys find it valuable for their boy to grow in a new environment here at Heartland that is away from negative influences back home in Baltimore, Maryland. We show love and respect to disrespectful and difficult boys who are in need of a better life perspective including a foundational spiritual belief system. Our mentoring and encouragement brings about new thinking and motivations where there was once only ungodly motivations and an impasse in the relationship with their parents.

Accredited Education for Teens from Baltimore, Maryland

Our commitment to a quality education is also a top priority. Heartland Boys Academy is a fully accredited private school that employs a program of independent study with tutelage. Students work through courses at their own speed, with weekly objectives established by instructors based on the student’s chosen course work. Heartland also supports students to work toward post-secondary goals by helping them prep for college testing.

Students from Baltimore, Maryland, who attend Heartland achieve quick progress towards successful high school completion and beyond. Our partnership with Edgenuity facilitates an educational environment that builds a desire to succeed, which gains momentum and encourages the boys to do their best. Edgenuity is certified by COGNIA, the highest accrediting body for schools in the United States.

While the Edgenuity program is intuitive and self-paced, our own certified on-campus teachers make sure that the boys reach goals with their coursework. They tutor, answer any questions, and give each student plenty of encouragement. Our teachers are kept informed online how well each student is progressing. Students who lag behind or are having difficulty with a specific topic are helped, but if they are falling behind as an act of rebellion, they may lose out on some on-campus privileges like free time until they choose to get caught up.

Heartland Spiritual Focus

Spiritual life is the foundational characteristic of Heartland Boys Academy. We believe that ultimately Jesus Christ is the only answer for troubled teens from Baltimore, Maryland. We are committed to introducing every teen to a relationship with their Maker. We help them find their spiritual gifting and destiny in Christ.

Many teens who come have dismissed their spiritual heritage or have never professed faith in Christ. Heartland offers an open environment for them to take ownership of their faith as they may never have done before. Godly character permeates every aspect of life at Heartland Boys Academy.

Where Teens from Baltimore, Maryland, Can Gain Leadership Training

Beyond helping capable students learn to apply themselves academically and spiritually, we present specific leadership training to unlock the potential in each teenager. We teach teens to serve and love each other. Mission trips and community service projects offer real life experience and application of the leadership principles taught at Heartland.

Changing the Negative with a Positive Peer Culture

Heartland recognizes that teens and their families in Baltimore, Maryland, face huge challenges from the culture. Teens are impacted by a barrage of negative peer pressure. The Heartland plan for change is called Positive Peer Culture (PPC), which asserts that young people can learn self-worth, significance, dignity, and responsibility only as they become committed to the positive values of helping and caring for others.

Adventure Therapy is a Primary Tool

Adventure therapy is a key therapeutic tool of Heartland. We understand that boys are more open to talking and learning while enjoying adventure tasks, so we use those times to instill positive thinking and to improve their communication skills. It also helps improve their ability to work cooperatively with others.

Adventure therapy is a form of experiential therapy that uses challenging adventure activities to aid the therapeutic healing process. It is meant to contribute to character growth. Every teen takes part in our adventure program because of the important values that can be learned. We offer many kinds of adventure activities including camping, backpacking, rappelling, canoeing, swimming, hiking, hunting, and spelunking (cave exploration).

At an adventure therapy program like Heartland, students get the opportunity to engage in numerous activities and new adventure experiences during their time here. Adventure therapy used at Heartland are where boys learn to listen, learn regulation skills, and push themselves to overcome challenging fun tasks. The obstacles the boys face through our adventure programming are meant to forge a more positive identity, build character, and develop a sense of accomplishment. Students do not just participate in the activity; they reach for a goal and accomplish it. This is called experiential learning.

Our team are trained to facilitate the adventure program in a safe and effective way. The same guides who live with students all week, building rapport and making connections, are then able to instruct students during their adventure activities.

Heartland Boys Academy is a place of healing and hope for boys in Baltimore, Maryland. We have seen many at-risk and troubled teens transformed into hard-working, respectable graduates. We help restore teens to their families; healthy, confident, and spiritually and academically on track. Call (888)300-2830 to learn more today, or contact us through our online inquiry form.

Please consider looking outside of Baltimore, Maryland to see how our Christ-centered adventure-based therapeutic boarding school program can lead your struggling boy toward life transformation. To find out more, please call or inquire online today.