Athletics at Salem4Youth

Athletics are a big part of mentoring and developing young men. At Salem4youth we have a strong sports program, led by Billy Rogers our Athletic Director. Athletics helps to motivate and inspire the boys to be everything they can be. Salem4Youth is a member of the Illinois Inter-Agency Athletic Association (IIAA), a statewide association of residential treatment facilities in Illinois. The IIAA promotes good sportsmanship.

The boys compete in many sports at our facility and at other facilities across the state of Illinois. In the past years Salem4Youth has been fortunate to be the state champions in many of the sports in which we compete. We have also come up short and played and gave our all. Our team name is the Mustangs....so "GO MUSTANGS!"

Sporting Events of Salem4Youth

  • Basketball
  • Softball
  • Volleyball
  • Soccer
  • Track and Field
  • Swimming
  • Dodgeball
  • Bowling

One of the goals of our athletic program is to teach the boys the importance of losing and winning, and humbly accepting the outcome of competitions teaches the boys that life is more than winning or losing.

Healthy Lifestyle

Athletics promote a healthy lifestyle, and many boys find that they can excell when challenged to participate. Many young men after participating in our sports program lose fat and gain muscle mass while increasing their strength and endurance. The boys can sign up for a weight-lifting class, and many of the boys belong to a new club at Salem4Youth, a running club.

Running Club

We have a group of boys that gets up early in the morning and runs. This club is being led by our Executive Director, Kent Robson, and he takes the boys to competitions in the area. Some of our boys have done very well in these events. We are thankful to a wonderful donor that has given a pair of running shoes to each boy.

Athletics and Sportsmanship

These events encourage the young man to feel good about himself, and help him develop skills to compete in the future.

Jesus Is the Answer!

The answer to his heart problems is found in Jesus Christ. Jesus said,

"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me." (John 14:1).

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When I got home, people all around me said I had changed


BY DAVE

Before I went to Salem my life was a mess. I stole from my family and was a disrespectful person. I was not a Christian at the time and hid a lot of things inside my heart and from my family. I always caused trouble at school and never paid much attention to my education. Almost everybody either thought I was weird or hated me. My life was a total mess.


Then on January 7, 2005, my Dad and my youth pastor brought me to Salem Ranch. At first I didn't want to go, but I finally went. During my stay I learned lots of things like respect, social skills, and family issues. It seems like every problem I had at home was fixed, but it wasn't very easy. I got mad at the other boys and staff, but there was always somebody to talk to. One time when I was really mad Steve said, "David, it's just another hole in the road. Your car hasn't crashed yet." I always remember that.


When I got home people all around me said I had changed. Salem changed my life forever. Without Salem I would not be where I am today. I have more friends from the church, and everybody knows me as a better person. I think that while you are there you grow to like the Ranch so much that when a boy is ready to leave he doesn't really want to.


The teaching at Salem helped me understand Jesus, and when I came home I became a Christian.


Dave

Brett and Carrie's Story

When things were at their worst and we didn't know what else to do with our son, God provided us with a light. We heard about Salem from an acquaintance whose son had also been through Salem's programs years ago. We drove down and toured the facility and spoke with several of the staff.


We knew even before leaving that this was the answer to our many prayers and cries for help. We knew a short term rehab would not be successful and we didn't want to send him to a long term program in another state because we wanted focus on family therapy as well. Salem was only a short drive from our home, it was a long term program based on Christian philosophy, and it would provide healing for our son as well as our whole family.


As tough as things were at home it was still hard to say goodbye to him that first day. The following weeks were full of challenges for all of us. Our son had to deal with many emotions and confront the reality of what was happening in his life and we had to learn who we were as parents all over again. We had been dealing with all the problems for so long we almost didn't know what to do when we were not bombarded by them daily.


Through all of these difficult days the staff at Salem was wonderful. Even though we didn't directly speak with our son those first few weeks the staff made sure to stay in touch with us, gave us frequent updates, and were there to listen to us and support us. It took time, but as the weeks and months went by we saw the program begin to really work.


There were frustrations as well as many days showing us there was hope for recovery and change of heart. Through all the good and bad the Salem staff continued to be there for him and us. The true commitment the Salem staff has to the boys, their families, and the program as a whole is evident in all they do. We thank God for such a wonderful place and are forever grateful to Salem staff for all they have done for our son.


Brett and Carrie