Searching for an alternative therapeutic boarding school for struggling boys in Rockford, Illinois? Perhaps you will consider Heartland Boys Academy, a low-cost Christian boarding school in Western Kentucky. Heartland is an adventure-based year-round boarding school known for its devotion to adolescent boys who have gotten off track academically, emotionally, legally, or socially.

Heartland Boys Academy accepts underperforming boys from across the U.S., including from Rockford, Illinois. It is a faith-based boarding school that uses adventure as a powerful therapeutic method for turning around negatively motivated boys. We are an alternative school with a purpose to lead struggling teens to fulfill their individual purpose, or destiny, in Christ.

Heartland exclusively enrolls troubled or struggling boys. Parents of these boys find it constructive for their boy to experience a new environment here at Heartland that is detached from negative influences back home in Rockford, Illinois. We show love and respect to disrespectful and difficult boys who are in need of a better life perspective including a new spiritual focus in life. Our mentoring and encouragement is meant to bring about new thinking and motivations where there was once only ungodly motivations and an impasse in the relationship with their parents.

Accredited Academics for Boys from Rockford, Illinois

To provide a quality education is also our top priority. Heartland Boys Academy is a fully accredited high school that employs a model of independent study with personalized instruction. Students work through courses at their own speed, with weekly goals established by teaching staff based on the student’s program of study. Heartland also supports students to work toward post-secondary goals by helping them prep for college testing.

Students from Rockford, Illinois, who attend Heartland achieve phenomenal progress towards successful high school completion and beyond. Our partnership with Edgenuity facilitates an educational atmosphere that builds a desire to succeed, which gains momentum and helps students 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 classroom teachers make sure that our students 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 certain topic are helped, but if they are failing as an act of rebellion, they may lose out on some on-campus privileges like free time until they understand it is better 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 teenagers from Rockford, Illinois. We are devoted to introducing every teen to a relationship with their Maker. We lead them toward their spiritual gifting and destiny in Christ.

Many teenagers who enroll have dismissed their religious 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 everything we do at Heartland Boys Academy.

Where Boys from Rockford, Illinois, Can Gain Leadership Training

Beyond helping capable students get back on track academically and spiritually, we present specific leadership training to unlock the potential in each boy. We teach teens to serve and love other people. Mission trips and community service projects give real life experience and application of the leadership principles learned at Heartland.

Changing the Bad Attitudes with a Positive Peer Culture

Heartland recognizes that teens and their parents in Rockford, Illinois, face huge challenges from the culture. Boys are assaulted by a barrage of negative peer pressure. The Heartland plan for change is called Positive Peer Culture (PPC), which states that young people can learn self-worth, significance, dignity, and responsibility only as they embrace the positive values of serving and caring for others.

Adventure Therapy is Paramount

Adventure therapy is a key therapeutic tool of Heartland. We understand that boys are more open to talking and learning while enjoying adventure activities, so we use those times to instill better 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 development. Every teen participates in our adventure program because of the valuable life skills 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 enjoy being able 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 students face through our adventure programming are designed to forge a more positive identity, build character, and create a sense of accomplishment. Students do not just participate in the activity; they learn how to do it themselves. This is called experiential learning.

Our staff 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 Rockford, Illinois. We have been privileged to see hundreds of at-risk and troubled teens transformed into hard-working, respectable adults. We help restore teens to their families; healthy, confident, and spiritually and academically on track. Call (888)300-2830 to learn more today, or fill in our online inquiry form.

Please consider looking beyond Rockford, Illinois to see how our Christ-centered adventure-based therapeutic boarding school program can guide your troubled teen toward life transformation. To learn more, please call or inquire online today.