We were invited to visit the Illinois Boy's Youth Center in St Charles and participate in
an animal education/interaction day. Sue, Jody and I arrived at the facility on the
scheduled morning accompanied by Rio, Sue's 15 year old,16.3 hand, paint horse that
she adopted from FOD and Orlando, our 43 year old donkey. As we pulled up to the
intimidating metal gates we were greeted by the facility's psychologist and told where
to park our trailer. The gates slowly opened one-by-one and we entered into an area
that was controlled and guarded.
We were excited and happy to be there; our intention was to have as many boys take
part interacting with our four-legged friends as possible. Sue and Jody stayed outside
with Rio and Orlando and I was invited to listen to the presentation being given by the
Anti Cruelty Society, Chicago. As I entered the small room filled with approximately
20 boys I must admit I was nervous and not sure of what to expect. I quickly found a
seat and began listening to the talk. As the ACS moderator continued his discussion I
looked around the room noticing each boy. They ranged in age from 13 to 20 with
various ethnic backgrounds. It was obvious that the boys showed different levels of
enthusiasm concerning the day. Some boys appeared totally bored slumping in their
chairs, while others were completely attentive to the information being shared. As I
watched the boys I noticed one young man sitting in the corner, gently petting the
ACS dog that had lain down next to him with a slow and caring touch. Another boy
was eagerly answering every question that was being asked so he could receive a piece
of candy that was being given for a correct reply. And the boy sitting next to me had
his head pulled into his sweatshirt with no concern for what was going on in the room.
But they each shared one thing in common ~ they had lost their freedom because of
committing a crime.
When the lecture ended I was introduced to the boys and they were told that there
was a surprise waiting for them outside. As they passed by me exiting the building, I
felt an excitement in knowing that this was possibly the first time some of these boys
had ever had the opportunity to touch a horse or a donkey. I was pleased to be a part
of their experience.
It was interesting to witness the response of the boys when they saw their surprise.
Some immediately gravitated to Rio and Orlando, while others very cautiously
approached, and still others wanted no part of the interaction. The comments varied
as well. "Wow, he's huge" as they observed Rio, and "Hey, it's a donkey, look at the
big ears". Questions included what do they eat, do they lay down when they sleep,
can we ride them? Grooming mitts and brushes were handed out and shared between
the young men. We answered question after question allowing each boy who wanted to
participate to take a turn grooming.
As I watched the young men approach our four-legged friends, there was a
vulnerability present that I did not expect to see. Different perspectives were
apparent. I saw child-like behavior in some, kids at heart lighting up at the thought
of playing with a horse or a donkey. I saw the tough-guy attitude, young men that
would not allow themselves to approach because it may be viewed as a sign of
weakness. And I saw the boys who were disinterested because in fact they were
genuinely afraid of Rio and Orlando. Each young man chose the amount of
involvement he wanted and it was apparent in some that there would be no
involvement at all. But it was certain that each one of them took something from this
experience. It may have been through the gentle hands-on touches or perhaps the
distant stares, but each boy left with a new understanding and appreciation of the
animals they learned about on this day.
Sue, Jody and I each participated separately in our own exchange of communication
with the boys. Each of us were involved in various activities throughout the day and
individually connected with as many boys as possible.
Sue's experience ~
"While waiting outside for the first group of boys to come out, I wondered if they
would be as excited as I hoped they would be. When the doors opened to the
auditorium my hopes were fulfilled because many of the boys were excited seeing Rio
and Orlando. I was touched by how excited some were and how nervous others were.
My delight was that even though some were very nervous because they had never been
around a horse, they braved it through and came up and started petting them.
Several boys navigated straight to Rio and Orlando. As I was holding Rio the boys were
inquisitive and were asking so many great questions that I had to remind them to ask
one at a time. What a great problem to have. I was impressed at their level of
kindness. Many were in awe of how big Rio is. They had just had an orientation and
the #2 rule was to respect animals. They definitely showed that. I was also impressed
with how polite the young men were to us. I felt respected and welcomed and had
many boys say thank you with a handshake.
I saw a mutual respect toward Rio due to his size. You don't tell a huge horse what to
do. You ask him ~ and Rio was the perfect gentleman the entire day.
I would love to be able to go to the boy's home weekly if it would help the boys. I saw
a spark in some of their eyes and a definite passion to learn more ~ that was very
exciting to me."
Jody's experience ~
"The boys were totally amazed at O's age and asked several questions about how long
they live. They noticed the difference with how rough O's hair is compared to Rio's. I
was pleasantly surprised at how respectful and polite the boys were toward us and Rio
and Orlando. One of the kids commented that Orlando looked like a big bunny (due to
his ears) which brought a good laugh because we had never heard that description
before. One young man touched Sue and I. He had a natural touch with the horses
and he seemed to light up when he was grooming them. He knew how to stand
around them, how to hold the brushes and he had a kindness that impressed us both.
He said that when he was released he wanted to go to a nearby stable and see if he
could get a job. That comment made everything worth the effort of going there."
After lunch, Sue, Jody and I joined several staff members and the ACS moderator, and
along with our four-legged friends, we leisurely walked the perimeter of the campus
learning about the history of the boy's prison built in 1904, and about the daily
routine of the correctional institution. As we walked past the secured dorms, boys
pounded on the windows to get our attention wanting a closer look at the unexpected
guests. Other young men, playing basketball, yelled in our direction asking us to stop
so they could see Rio and Orlando. The guards standing watch would not allow the
interaction. The reality of where we were was evident by the security constantly
present.
As we walked the path, twisting and turning, we approached a picturesque pond on
our right-hand side. It was encircled by tall, mature trees with tiny blue flowers
dotting the grass. It was a serene place with birds chirping and squirrels running
aimlessly across the dirt road from one side to the other. It was a place where you
would want to stop and linger and breathe in nature.
But in a split second, as I turned my head to the left, I was promptly reminded of the
overpowering truth. The starkness of the prison fencing, topped with razor wire,
stretched as far as I could see surrounding the entire facility. It was a barrier that
kept people out and more importantly kept young men in. It was not a place where
you would want to stop and linger. I could not help but think that this location was
symbolic. We all have a path to travel in our lives and it is up to us to choose the side
of the path we want to explore.
The second lecture was about to begin and the next group of boys arrived. It was my
turn to give the presentation and talk about Field of Dreams. I began by sharing the
stories of many of our horses and describing the various situations in which we received
our four-legged friends. I explained that many of our horses not only have physical
problems but some also have been in situations that have caused them to struggle with
emotional setbacks. The boys reacted with numerous questions referring to the
sensitivity of the horses. I explained that we help the horses become healthy not only
physically, but also in mind and spirit. Afterwards the boys were escorted outside to
meet Rio and Orlando and partake in similar activities like those that had occurred
earlier in the day.
I wondered if the lives of some of these boys somehow paralleled the lives of some of
our horses. And I also wondered if our lives as FOD volunteers paralleled the lives of
the staff, faculty and guards trying to help the young men at the youth center. I
recognized that we are all working towards the same goal ~ trying to create new
beginnings, giving second chances and building the trust and respect that is necessary
for daily survival.
As we left the Boy's Youth Center at the end of the day, I couldn't help but reflect on
the past several hours. My thoughts moved in many directions ~ what was going to
happen to some of the young men I met today. Will they take advantage of the
opportunities given to them at the facility and begin to change their lives in a more
productive way? Will they understand the benefit of the education offered and
appreciate how it can better improve their lives? Will this day of interaction with the
animals somehow assist them in making better choices? Hopefully, with help, these
young men will choose to create a more positive environment and begin to move
forward into a future where they can contribute to society in a beneficial way. I would
like to think that we may have played a part, in a small way, to this endeavor.
My earlier intention was to have the boys interact with the horses but now my hope
was that we had touched many hearts and souls with our visit.
~Addie
an animal education/interaction day. Sue, Jody and I arrived at the facility on the
scheduled morning accompanied by Rio, Sue's 15 year old,16.3 hand, paint horse that
she adopted from FOD and Orlando, our 43 year old donkey. As we pulled up to the
intimidating metal gates we were greeted by the facility's psychologist and told where
to park our trailer. The gates slowly opened one-by-one and we entered into an area
that was controlled and guarded.
We were excited and happy to be there; our intention was to have as many boys take
part interacting with our four-legged friends as possible. Sue and Jody stayed outside
with Rio and Orlando and I was invited to listen to the presentation being given by the
Anti Cruelty Society, Chicago. As I entered the small room filled with approximately
20 boys I must admit I was nervous and not sure of what to expect. I quickly found a
seat and began listening to the talk. As the ACS moderator continued his discussion I
looked around the room noticing each boy. They ranged in age from 13 to 20 with
various ethnic backgrounds. It was obvious that the boys showed different levels of
enthusiasm concerning the day. Some boys appeared totally bored slumping in their
chairs, while others were completely attentive to the information being shared. As I
watched the boys I noticed one young man sitting in the corner, gently petting the
ACS dog that had lain down next to him with a slow and caring touch. Another boy
was eagerly answering every question that was being asked so he could receive a piece
of candy that was being given for a correct reply. And the boy sitting next to me had
his head pulled into his sweatshirt with no concern for what was going on in the room.
But they each shared one thing in common ~ they had lost their freedom because of
committing a crime.
When the lecture ended I was introduced to the boys and they were told that there
was a surprise waiting for them outside. As they passed by me exiting the building, I
felt an excitement in knowing that this was possibly the first time some of these boys
had ever had the opportunity to touch a horse or a donkey. I was pleased to be a part
of their experience.
It was interesting to witness the response of the boys when they saw their surprise.
Some immediately gravitated to Rio and Orlando, while others very cautiously
approached, and still others wanted no part of the interaction. The comments varied
as well. "Wow, he's huge" as they observed Rio, and "Hey, it's a donkey, look at the
big ears". Questions included what do they eat, do they lay down when they sleep,
can we ride them? Grooming mitts and brushes were handed out and shared between
the young men. We answered question after question allowing each boy who wanted to
participate to take a turn grooming.
As I watched the young men approach our four-legged friends, there was a
vulnerability present that I did not expect to see. Different perspectives were
apparent. I saw child-like behavior in some, kids at heart lighting up at the thought
of playing with a horse or a donkey. I saw the tough-guy attitude, young men that
would not allow themselves to approach because it may be viewed as a sign of
weakness. And I saw the boys who were disinterested because in fact they were
genuinely afraid of Rio and Orlando. Each young man chose the amount of
involvement he wanted and it was apparent in some that there would be no
involvement at all. But it was certain that each one of them took something from this
experience. It may have been through the gentle hands-on touches or perhaps the
distant stares, but each boy left with a new understanding and appreciation of the
animals they learned about on this day.
Sue, Jody and I each participated separately in our own exchange of communication
with the boys. Each of us were involved in various activities throughout the day and
individually connected with as many boys as possible.
Sue's experience ~
"While waiting outside for the first group of boys to come out, I wondered if they
would be as excited as I hoped they would be. When the doors opened to the
auditorium my hopes were fulfilled because many of the boys were excited seeing Rio
and Orlando. I was touched by how excited some were and how nervous others were.
My delight was that even though some were very nervous because they had never been
around a horse, they braved it through and came up and started petting them.
Several boys navigated straight to Rio and Orlando. As I was holding Rio the boys were
inquisitive and were asking so many great questions that I had to remind them to ask
one at a time. What a great problem to have. I was impressed at their level of
kindness. Many were in awe of how big Rio is. They had just had an orientation and
the #2 rule was to respect animals. They definitely showed that. I was also impressed
with how polite the young men were to us. I felt respected and welcomed and had
many boys say thank you with a handshake.
I saw a mutual respect toward Rio due to his size. You don't tell a huge horse what to
do. You ask him ~ and Rio was the perfect gentleman the entire day.
I would love to be able to go to the boy's home weekly if it would help the boys. I saw
a spark in some of their eyes and a definite passion to learn more ~ that was very
exciting to me."
Jody's experience ~
"The boys were totally amazed at O's age and asked several questions about how long
they live. They noticed the difference with how rough O's hair is compared to Rio's. I
was pleasantly surprised at how respectful and polite the boys were toward us and Rio
and Orlando. One of the kids commented that Orlando looked like a big bunny (due to
his ears) which brought a good laugh because we had never heard that description
before. One young man touched Sue and I. He had a natural touch with the horses
and he seemed to light up when he was grooming them. He knew how to stand
around them, how to hold the brushes and he had a kindness that impressed us both.
He said that when he was released he wanted to go to a nearby stable and see if he
could get a job. That comment made everything worth the effort of going there."
After lunch, Sue, Jody and I joined several staff members and the ACS moderator, and
along with our four-legged friends, we leisurely walked the perimeter of the campus
learning about the history of the boy's prison built in 1904, and about the daily
routine of the correctional institution. As we walked past the secured dorms, boys
pounded on the windows to get our attention wanting a closer look at the unexpected
guests. Other young men, playing basketball, yelled in our direction asking us to stop
so they could see Rio and Orlando. The guards standing watch would not allow the
interaction. The reality of where we were was evident by the security constantly
present.
As we walked the path, twisting and turning, we approached a picturesque pond on
our right-hand side. It was encircled by tall, mature trees with tiny blue flowers
dotting the grass. It was a serene place with birds chirping and squirrels running
aimlessly across the dirt road from one side to the other. It was a place where you
would want to stop and linger and breathe in nature.
But in a split second, as I turned my head to the left, I was promptly reminded of the
overpowering truth. The starkness of the prison fencing, topped with razor wire,
stretched as far as I could see surrounding the entire facility. It was a barrier that
kept people out and more importantly kept young men in. It was not a place where
you would want to stop and linger. I could not help but think that this location was
symbolic. We all have a path to travel in our lives and it is up to us to choose the side
of the path we want to explore.
The second lecture was about to begin and the next group of boys arrived. It was my
turn to give the presentation and talk about Field of Dreams. I began by sharing the
stories of many of our horses and describing the various situations in which we received
our four-legged friends. I explained that many of our horses not only have physical
problems but some also have been in situations that have caused them to struggle with
emotional setbacks. The boys reacted with numerous questions referring to the
sensitivity of the horses. I explained that we help the horses become healthy not only
physically, but also in mind and spirit. Afterwards the boys were escorted outside to
meet Rio and Orlando and partake in similar activities like those that had occurred
earlier in the day.
I wondered if the lives of some of these boys somehow paralleled the lives of some of
our horses. And I also wondered if our lives as FOD volunteers paralleled the lives of
the staff, faculty and guards trying to help the young men at the youth center. I
recognized that we are all working towards the same goal ~ trying to create new
beginnings, giving second chances and building the trust and respect that is necessary
for daily survival.
As we left the Boy's Youth Center at the end of the day, I couldn't help but reflect on
the past several hours. My thoughts moved in many directions ~ what was going to
happen to some of the young men I met today. Will they take advantage of the
opportunities given to them at the facility and begin to change their lives in a more
productive way? Will they understand the benefit of the education offered and
appreciate how it can better improve their lives? Will this day of interaction with the
animals somehow assist them in making better choices? Hopefully, with help, these
young men will choose to create a more positive environment and begin to move
forward into a future where they can contribute to society in a beneficial way. I would
like to think that we may have played a part, in a small way, to this endeavor.
My earlier intention was to have the boys interact with the horses but now my hope
was that we had touched many hearts and souls with our visit.
~Addie