Cherokee Creek Boys School

My son is 13 and has been attending CCBS for 9 months. He has healed from tech overuse and the underlying conditions that brought it about including abandonment and divorce. He loves the school and his friends. He was accepted into an ideal private school and will be transitioning home soon. I am so happy for him. CCBS changed his life and helped our whole family.

Cherokee Creek changed our son's life for the better. They also changed our family for the better. I am beyond thankful that we were able to send our son there. I was scared to send our son to a therapeutic boarding school. What would it be like? Would he be miserable? Would anything change once he came back home? How was the academic education- would he fall behind at school? CCBS blew all those worries away. The staff there are close to miracle workers. My son had fun, made friends, and thrived academically. He also learned to make better choices and got out of so many maladaptive patterns of behavior. CCBS also helped our whole family. As a mother of a difficult child, I had felt isolated and ashamed before CCBS. The school's founders work hard to connect parents and facilitate those relationships. We attended quarterly family seminars that included lots of education for us as parents, but also lots of intentional time for bonding with other parents. I no longer felt isolated- they gave us a community. If you are considering sending your son to Cherokee Creek, go visit. You will be impressed and leave with a smile.

Our son started at Cherokee Creek in January 2025. He had struggled for years with levels of depression, acting out, and impulsive behaviors. Initially, he went to a wonderful wilderness program where an additional diagnosis was identified, and he was trained on the social skills and other behavior practices needed for him to succeed. Following wilderness, we enrolled in Cherokee Creek to provide the structure and the practice in the new skills so that he can truly succeed in life and relationships. While this has been the hardest journey with him as parents, we would do it again in a heartbeat given the positive change we have seen in him and that he has seen in himself. The teachers invest in the students: meet them where they are and encourage them in progressing, help with social skills in the classroom, provide positive reinforcement with clear boundaries, and coach without shame or judgment. Primaries and therapists work with the students and build lasting relationships with coaching, care, concern, and clarity. Families are educated in the program, student progress, and how to practice the same skills at home for consistency and success when your child returns. There is talk of the transition home even from the beginning - so that the focus is always on lasting success and not a short-term fix. Additionally, as parents, we have a new network of friends and support that we never knew existed. It is so comforting to know that we are not alone in this difficult journey. This school instills lasting values that are universal around most cultures and also adds to it to support your family values as well. We love CCBS and are extremely grateful to partner with them during this pivotal time in our son's development. Our family dynamic is significantly improved, and we are hopeful for continued growth into the future.

I am a physician and a parent of 4. Our youngest son struggled after Covid and was never able to catch back up on the social skills and struggled to fet his footing academically, going from straight A's to F for no apparent reason. Since we have found Cherokee Creek school, we feel empowered by their expertise, comforted by their structure, and encouraged with the loving guidance they have given our son. We have not seen our son look so content and at peace with himself in years! The structure of the school is unique and takes a minute to understand. Since we have understood the step by step profession of the social apprenticeship, our entire family has gained wisdom. This is a school where we have met amazing "other parents" who are brilliant and humble. They come from all over and all different walks of life. The teachers are vibrant, youthful, yet have been there for years. Every staff is invested in the kids as they ALL know our son and can give us very detailed experiences of him. The passion that the teachers have is genuine and contagious. The math and science teacher, the math teacher, the Priamry coaches, the administrators are ALL super reactive and genuinely care about the entire picture: the body, the brain and the soul. We are so lucky to have found this place. It is a diamond and we cannot say enough positive about it

Sending our child to CCBS was the scariest decision we have ever had to make, but it was the absolute best decision we ever made. Not only was it incredible for our son, but our entire family also benefitted from the process. It truly was a parallel process. I can't say enough wonderful things about our CCBS journey and the people who work there every day. We feel so fortunate to have found this small school with a big heart!

As a teacher, I am impressed with the academics offered at Cherokee Creek Boys School alongside the treatment. A wonderful balance of healing and learning.

This school was truly a blessing for our family and we are all so grateful for the life-changing experience. Sending our son away to school was an excruciating decision for us. It turned out to be the best decision we ever could have made, for him, for us and for our family. The program focuses on so many important issues that are critical for the healthy and happy development of these boys and their futures. They learn about themselves, their values, their strengths and their weaknesses, in a nurturing, positive and structured environment, while working through a program that rewards hard work and difficult self-reflection. I wish every child was able to experience a program like this, designed to build necessary skills that enable these boys to communicate, be present and flexible and they face challenges and grow into the best person they can be. I will always cherish this amazing experience and hold a special place in my heart for this incredible place and the warm, ultra-competent and caring staff that make it so successful.

As a therapist of many years at CCBS, I am truly honored to know that we make a difference in so many families' lives. Families come to CCBS thinking they want their sons 'fixed', yet they find that the entire family heals...siblings, parents, conflicted relationships, and their sons too. They, and we, may not find perfection, but we all watch transformation and progress, growth, confidence in healthy socialization, and overall healing. CCBS is a fun place to work, focused on finding balance in the lives of middle school boys, and we too, as staff enjoy the fun as well. It is clean, as much as a 'camp-like' setting for boys can be, and safe, and full of adventure!

As a former therapist at Cherokee Creek, I can not even begin to describe how special this place is to me. Cherokee Creek shaped and molded me, and fundamentally made me a better person. At least once a day, I have to remind myself to "be open to outcome" or to "show up and be present". This is a wonderful school with fantastic and committed staff.

I am a very satisfied staff member from Cherokee Creek. Our mission, "to challenge boys and their families to discover what is true about themselves and the world around them," helps to maintain focus and to motivate our efforts. The staff operates with the concept of striving for the best interest of the student. I enjoy seeing students come to us underperforming academically and resisting school and by the time they leave they are achieving their best and have developed a love of learning.

Could not be more enthusiastic in recommending this school! They are SO loving and supportive. And - it's a place where kids have fun! My son has learned skills that will last a lifetime. I wish I could have learned this at his age. What a wonderful opportunity for middle schoolers to re-launch themselves with whole heads and hearts! We tried many different schools until we found CCBS, and we are blessed to have found it. Wonderful place.

I have had the privilege to be part of the Cherokee Creek family for over 8 years. One of my favorite things about the school is the strong desire to help the student and family heal and grow together. We believe in the healing power of nature and love watching students discover the fun they can have outdoors. Whether on the river, hiking to a waterfall, or being in the classroom, both students and staff work together to learn.

The work that we do is so important and it's amazing to see our students and their families learn, grow, and thrive as they continue their journey. Working at CCBS is not like any other job that I have had. The relationships with co-workers extend beyond doing the job, and the community is so valuable.

I am not on the staff at CCBS (there was not a category for me :-). But I am proud to say that I have supported the school as a consultant and trainer throughout its 20 years! Each year I conduct a session with the staff and the families about how to improve relationships, communication, and teamwork between people. CCBS offers great ongoing support and learning to the families and keeps helping their staff learn, grow and thrive as a team. Their team is extraordinary - each staff member is truly committed to helping boys and their families by challenging them "to discover what is real and true about themselves and the world around them." CCBS gives practical tools, information, support, and ongoing learning to make a difference in the lives of these boys and their families.

Cherokee Creek was a transformational experience for my son and our family. My son was loved, supported, understood, and received top-notch therapeutic care from extremely skilled and nurturing professionals, who aligned everything they did with the thoughtful values and mission of the school. My son worked hard, challenged himself, grew tremendously, built lasting relationships, and had so much fun. He misses the special CCBS community greatly now that he has graduated and recognizes CCBS as a place where he truly thrives. Our whole family often draws upon the lessons learned and skills built through this experience. I could not be more grateful for this school and the caring, purposeful support it provided for my family.

CCBS is a warm, caring place where one immediately senses the love and support for the boys and their families. The location is gorgeous and part of the healing and growth process. Each time we`d arrive for visits I could feel the healing embrace of the natural surroundings. The staff is amazing - dedicated and knowledgeable. The outdoor activities - kayaking, climbing, hiking, canoeing, camping, fishing - are just what so many kids need these days to reconnect to their true selves. CCBS was a blessing to our family.

I have had two family members attend CCBS and I'm certain it saved their lives. The school truly lives its mission statement and helps transform both the students and their families. Their quarterly family seminars taught me and my family so much. There is great intentionality behind everything the school does and the way that the staff interacts with the students, other staff, and the families. CCBS gives the boys and their families tools that will last a lifetime. I was always impressed when we saw the alumni panel of boys to hear how they were able to convey their emotions. Then to see my nephews on it after they graduated felt like it came full circle. CCBS cares for each child individually and works with him at his pace. I am forever grateful to CCBS!

I have worked at Cherokee Creek for over 10 years. There are so many things I found valuable about working at this small school with a big heart. It is a safe place for students and their families to discover what is real and true about themselves and the world around them. The staff cares about the students and meets them where they are both emotionally and academically. Lastly, it is a place where boys can be their authentic selves and make healthy friendships that last a lifetime.

My family member attended Cherokee Creek and had a wonderful and healing experience. He struggled with depression and ADHD throughout his childhood. This impacted his self-confidence, his friendships, and our whole family system. He made wonderful friends there, learned about himself, and gained confidence. The medicine wheel is something he still uses today as an adult (who is happy and healthy!) He has fond memories of his time there and stays in touch with some of the staff and friends he met while enrolled. We are grateful for Cherokee Creek and its team!

My son is a graduate of Cherokee Creek Boys School. This school not only works with the student but also with the parents or caregivers. I cannot say enough about the staff and program provided by this school. They are very supportive to both the student and family. Thank you Cherokees Creek Boys school, you hold a special place in my heart. Smiling mom in Hilton Head.

Cherokee Creek is truly the small school with the big heart - it is an amazing place. It saved our son and our family, giving us a new future. I will be forever grateful for the incredible support, guidance and care that every single staff member gave our whole family. I would highly recommend Cherokee Creek.