Young Men Find Purpose & Adventure During Summers at Boys Home
What Happens During Summer at a Residential School?
When school lets out for summer, many people begin to wonder how our residential school maintains the structure our young men rely on while also enjoying the fun and relaxation that summer should bring.
At Boys Home of Virginia, summer isn’t a break from growth and development— it’s a time to explore new opportunities!
A Different Kind of Summer Schedule
For students enrolled in summer school, mornings follow a familiar pattern:
- Wake up and complete morning chores
- Breakfast in the dining hall
- Head to the Greer Center for classes
For those not in summer school, the morning hours are dedicated to work programs – strategically scheduled earlier in the day to avoid the afternoon heat. These work sessions typically run three to four hours through lunchtime, giving students substantial opportunities to earn money and develop practical skills.
Work Hard, Play Hard Philosophy
Brittany Tate, Boys Home’s Director of Admissions and Intake, captures the summer spirit perfectly: “Boys Home during the summer is all about ‘work hard, play hard.’ Our students are busy working on the farm and grounds crews or finishing up their sessions in summer school during the morning hours. In the afternoons, it’s time for fun: from dodgeball in the gym or going swimming at the creek, they also stay busy fishing, having campfires with s’mores, and cookouts, and they also go off campus to the city pool, YMCA, or the movies.”
The afternoon activities provide essential balance to the morning responsibilities:
On-Campus Activities:
- Swimming in the creek
- Fishing
- Dodgeball in the gymnasium
- Campfires with s’mores
- Campus cookouts
Off-Campus Adventures:
- City pool visits
- YMCA activities
- Movie trips
- Kayaking
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Camping
“Our students have a healthy balance of structure and fun, and with both, there is always something to learn,” explains Tate. “On the work crews, they are learning new skills every day that build their work ethic. During the afternoon activities, they are learning new things about themselves and developing new interests through opportunities they never had before coming to Boys Home.”
Discovering New Possibilities
Sometimes the most profound growth happens when students step outside their comfort zones. Tate shares a perfect example from last summer involving student Jahleel and a kayaking trip:
“Jahleel came into my office and said, ‘Mrs. Tate, I don’t want to go, I’m gonna sink and drown.’ I responded to him, trying to ease his comment with some laughter. I said, ‘Well, in life we gotta sink or swim,’ and he said, ‘Nah, I think I’ll keep paddling.'”
Despite his reservations, Jahleel joined the kayaking expedition. The next day, he was the first person Tate saw walking into the cottage. “His eyes were sparkling with excitement as he told me, ‘Mrs. Tate, I loved kayaking. It was so fun, I flipped my kayak a couple of times, but got in and kept going. I liked it, it was the most fun I had in a long time.'”
Summer Work Programs: Building Skills and Character
Under Linda Angle’s guidance as Farm Manager and Equine Instructor, the farm program becomes a cornerstone of summer learning. Students participate in agricultural and equine enrichment programs that go far beyond basic farm work.
“The goal for the farm is to educate the students about the different animals and the role they each play,” explains Angle. “The most important thing is getting the students outdoors, getting their hands busy in a constructive way, and getting them involved in nature.”
During the summer, the farm offers some paid employment opportunities. Our young men develop both agricultural skills and financial responsibility.
“The students gain a lot of pride and self-confidence when they see their efforts grow,” Angle adds, noting how the therapeutic benefits of working with animals support personal growth and emotional well-being.
Camps and Special Experiences
Summer camps offer young people a unique opportunity to build confidence, develop new skills, and form lasting friendships in a supportive and adventurous environment. Boys Home students will be participating in summer camps as campers and counselors this summer:
- Local 4-H camp (where some students serve as counselors)
- Alpine Bible Camp in West Virginia
- Mission group day camps on campus
- Camp Chanco
- Quaker Teen Adventure Camp
The Highlight: The Best Week of Summer
The Galilee mission camp, hosted by Galilee Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach, earns special recognition among students who call it the “best week of summer.” This camp combines recreation with spiritual growth, creating memorable experiences that students treasure.
Maintaining Connections to Home
Not every student stays on campus all summer long. Boys Home understands that family time matters, and summer plans vary—some students go home for the entire break, while others enjoy shorter visits with their families. All students return to campus before school begins on August 4th. They come back with stories to share and ready to start fresh.
Building Character Year-Round
Summer at Boys Home proves something important: you can have structure without being rigid. You can have fun without losing focus.
Students might spend their morning learning to operate farm equipment, then conquer their fear of water on an afternoon kayaking trip. Some develop leadership skills serving as camp counselors at local 4-H camps.
Each experience builds something – confidence, resilience, new interests. The lessons learned during these summer months stick with students long after they leave campus.
Want to learn more about Boys Home of Virginia’s year-round programs? Contact us today to see how we support young men through every season.