The Youth Challenge Program is a program for at-risk youth run by the National Guard of the United States, which consists of Youth Challenge Academies (known as YCA's) in each participating state. The stated mission of the Youth Challenge Program is "to intervene in and reclaim the lives of at-risk youth to produce program graduates with the values, skills, education and self-discipline necessary to succeed as adults." The program accepts 16- to 18-year-old male and female high school dropouts who are drug-free and not in trouble with the law. The program lasts for 17½ months. The first 5½ months are part of the quasi-military Residential Phase. The last 12 months are part of the Post-Residential Phase. Most participants will earn their GED or a high school diploma by the end of their Residential Phase.
The program is one of many programs administered by the National Guard Bureau that address leadership, life skills, and physical training.
Core Components
1st Day at the Youth Challenge Academy (1st class) Milledgeville, GA - The mission of the National Guard Youth Challenge Program is to intervene in and reclaim the lives of 16-18 year old high school dropouts, producing program ...
- Citizenship
- Academic excellence (GED/high school diploma attainment)
- Life-coping skills
- Service to community
- Health and hygiene
- Job skills training
- Leadership/followership
- Physical training
Participating states and territories
The following is a list of states who participate in the Youth Challenge Program. Some states have multiple campuses; for example, Georgia has a YCA at both Ft. Stewart and Ft. Gordon, but both fall under the same state director.
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- California
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Montana
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Puerto Rico
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Related Programs by the National Guard
- Partners in Education
- HUMVEE School Program
- YOU CAN School Program
- Guard Fit Challenge
- Heritage Outreach Program
- ASVAB Career Exploration Program
- GED Plus Program
- About Face
- Forward March
- National Guard Drug Demand Reduction Program
Gallery
See also
- Civil Air Patrol
- Exploring (Learning for Life)
- Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps
- United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps
- Young Marines
References
External links
- Official National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program Site
- Official National Guard Youth Foundation Sites
- Official Southern California Sunburst Youth ChalleNGe Academy Site
- Official Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy Site
- Official South Carolina Youth ChalleNGe Academy Site
- Official Michigan Youth ChalleNGe Academy Site