Day in the Life of a Bonnie Brae Boy

In 1916, Judge Harry Osborne founded Bonnie Brae as a home and safe haven for boys and young men in crisis. Bonnie Brae provides boys with a beautiful and safe place to heal, to grow, and to learn. The staff earns the boys trust, challenges them to look at the results of their choices and gives them tools to make better choices. Bonnie Brae has come a long way since its days of being a working farm for boys. Implementing a routine in these boys’ lives is very important. It helps to provide structure and they know what to expect, so that nothing comes as a surprise to them. Many times, the boys come from environments where they don’t know where food is, where parents are, and what’s going to happen next. For some of the young men, Bonnie Brae is the safest place they have ever been. Here is what a typical day is like for a Bonnie Brae boy according to Assistant Director of Residential, Kevin Montgomery. 7AM: The Brae boys wake up at 7AM during the week 7:15AM: Conduct a chore and clean their room 7:45AM: Basic hygiene and getting ready for the day 8AM: Group day plan – the boys discuss their goal for the day and what they want to do well 8:15AM: Breakfast in the cafeteria, some cottages make breakfast for themselves 8:40AM: Back to the cottage to check their rooms 9AM-3PM: The Bonnie Brae boys go to school and participate in general studies 3PM: School for the day ends. Kids, teachers and residential staff gather outside on the blacktop to exchange information on the day. Teachers share with residential staff how the kids were in school and if any issues arose and how they were handled. Teachers point out things other staff should look for, and individual needs that should be addressed. . 3:15PM: Kids attend their treatment groups 4:15PM: Transfer back to the cottage 4:30PM: Mandatory cottage group activity and discussion of the boys’ issues and concerns 5PM: Dinner 6PM: Skill building groups – the boys learn how to take care of themselves and learn life skills 7PM: Free choice of activities – the boys can choose between going to the gym, TV time, playing games, etc. 8PM: Special snack provided from the cafeteria 8:30PM: Shower and get ready for bed 10PM: Lights out for the Bonnie Brae boys Accredited by the Joint Commission, Bonnie Brae is one of the nation's preeminent residential treatment centers for at-risk adolescent boys who have been neglected, abused, or abandoned. We provide a safe place for boys and young men in crisis, ages 8-21, a place for them to heal, to learn and to grow. We have helped over 10,000 boys and families since our founding in 1916. Please contact us today to learn how you can make a positive difference in a young man’s life.