The document describes the Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy (IDYCA), a voluntary 17.5-month program for at-risk youth aged 16-18. It has a 22-week residential phase using a structured military environment to build self-discipline, followed by a 52-week post-residential phase where cadets work with mentors toward goals. The program focuses on 8 components including academics, physical fitness, leadership, and community service. It aims to help youth graduate high school and gain skills to succeed in future education or careers.

1. WELCOME
FIRST TWO ROWS ARE
RESERVED
FOR POTENTIAL
APPLICANTS

2. IDAHO YOUTH
CHALLENGE
ACADEMY

3. HELPING AMERICA’S YOUTH SINCE
1993!

4. IDYCA PARTNERS
National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program
State of Idaho / Military Division
City of Pierce
Joint School District 171 (Orofino School District)
Past, Present, Future Cadets and Their Families

5. ADMISSION CRITERIA
 Voluntary admission
 16-18 years of age on day of admission
 Current high school dropout/expellee/at-risk
 No pending legal action (charge, indictment, sentencing)
 Never convicted of a felony
 Not on probation for other than misdemeanor offenses
 Drug free upon enrollment
 Citizen or legal resident of the US and State of Idaho
 Physically and mentally able to complete the program

6. Idaho Youth ChalleNGe
Academy
WHAT WE’RE NOT:
 Not a juvenile detention center
 Not a military recruiting program
 Not a hospital, medical, or dental clinic
 Not a mental health, drug or alcohol treatment center
CADETS AND PARENTS MUST:
 Be informed
 Be committed to success
 Be honest with themselves and with us
 Must be accountable and accept responsibility

7. TWO
PHASE
PROGRAM

8. ChalleNGe Structure
2 weeks
Total 17 ½ Months
20 weeks 52 weeks
2 PHASE PROGRAM
 22-week Residential Phase – Goal: uses a structured Military-style
environment that emphasizes self-discipline and personal
responsibility.
First 2-weeks are an Acclimation Period – Goal: identify those students
that have the desire and discipline to complete the program. This is part
of the Residential Phase.
 52-week Post-Residential Phase – Goal: the cadets work
towards goals created during the Residential phase, with the help
of their adult volunteer mentor.

9. Acclimation Period - (2 WEEKS)

10. ACCLIMATION
First Two Weeks (14 Days)
 16 Hour Days (5:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.)
 Physical Training Once-a-Day
 Drill and Ceremonies
 (Team Building)
 Mentally and Physically Challenging…

11. RESIDENTIAL PHASE (20 WEEKS)

12. Typical Weekday – Residential Phase
Daily Activities
 0500 Wake-up/Accountability/Hygiene
 0530-0600 Hygiene/Barracks Maintenance
 0600-0730 Morning Chow/Personal Time
 0735-0745 Colors/Formation
 0745-1115 Academic Instruction
 1115-1145 Lunch
 1145-1530 Academic Instruction
 1530-1600 Promotions/Announcements
 1600-1700 Physical Training (PT)
 1700-1730 TL Time/Big Book Time
 1730-1900 Dinner/Personal Time
 1900-1910 Formation
 1910-2030 Hygiene/Snack/TL Time
 2030-2050 Journal Entry/Relaxation Time
 2050 Mount/Quit Time
 2100 Lights Out

13. Squadron = Diversity
 Thirty-Five to Fifty Cadets per Flight
 From All Over The State of Idaho
 Different Backgrounds
 Different Beliefs
 Different Experiences…
 Will learn to become one team!

14. 8 CORE COMPONENTS
 Academic Excellence
 Health and Hygiene
 Job Skills
 Leadership/Followership
 Life Coping Skills
 Physical Fitness
 Responsible Citizenship
 Service to Community

15. ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
 Recover High School credits and return to home high school to
graduate.
 H.S. Equivalency – GEDplus, leading to:
Vo-Tech School
Community College
Employment, or
Military Service

16. CREDITS
 2 English
 2 Social Studies
 2 Physical
Education
 1-Personal
Finance
 1-Leadership-
Elective
 1-World Issues/
Debate- Elective
 2 Math
 2 Science
 1-Health
 1-Careers-Elective
 1-Computer
Applications-
Elective
 1-Service
Learning-Elective

17. BENEFITS OF A HS DIPLOMA
 High school graduates earn an average of $503,000
more than drop outs over the course of their
working lifetime (until age 65).

18. HEALTH and HYGIENE
 Good health, hygiene, and nutrition practices.
 Substance abuse awareness and prevention.
 Safe lifestyle choices—human sexuality, communicable
diseases, physical and emotional effects of their decisions.
 Family planning.

19. JOB SKILLS
 Job search skills—where/how to look for jobs, preparing
applications, resumes, and interview skills.
 Education options—considering alternatives, selecting a
school, applications, financial aid.
 Career options—vocational, service sector, public sector,
military service.
 Work ethics—being a good employee and co-worker.

20. LEADERSHIP and FOLLOWERSHIP
 Lessons/discussions on value-based leadership.
 Focus on positive, moral, and ethical standards as a leader and/or
follower in any role—school, job, citizen.
 Opportunities to serve in cadet leadership roles in large and small group
situations.
 Performance evaluated, feedback provided
by IDYCA staff.

21. LIFE COPING SKILLS
To prepare the student for independent living, with a focus
on self-awareness and self-discipline
 Personal financial management
 Conflict resolution
 Anger management
 Goal setting and achievement

22. PHYSICAL FITNESS
 Daily physical fitness—calisthenics, jogging, hiking, intramural sports,
etc.
 Fitness program based on national standards established by the
President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports—the President’s
Challenge (www.presidentschallenge.org)
 Expectation—cadets will be in the best shape of their life…and
hopefully committed to staying that way

23. RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP
 Understand federal, state, and local systems of government—
structure and processes
 Individual rights and responsibilities as a citizen and registered
voter
Participate in cadet government
How to be a positive, contributing member of the community

24. SERVICE TO COMMUNITY
Cadets must complete a minimum of 40-hours of
volunteer service to the community projects or
conservation projects.
 Work as individual, in small group, or large group.
 Projects scheduled on Friday and/or Saturday.

25. Barracks Life
 50 Cadets per bay (Open Bay)
 Dorm Details (Cleaning)
 Letter Writing/Journal Writing
 Personal Hygiene
 9:00 PM Lights Out…

26. RECAP
 This Is A Tough Program
 Physically Challenging
 Mentally Demanding
 Cadets Will Get Dirty
 Cadets Will Be Sore
 This Won’t Be A Free Ride!!!

27. "The National Guard Youth ChalleNGe
Program offers a future of promise to
those who have the will and desire to
pursue it. The Program is a 'hand up,'
not a 'hand out,' that provides youths
with the tools, support and knowledge
they need to start believing in
themselves again.“
- U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu

28. POST-RESIDENTIAL
MENTOR SUPPORT - 12
MONTHS
“Friendly Matches”
Screened & trained by IDYCA Staff
Provide an ongoing supportive adult for
encouragement, guidance, a listening ear, and a
connection to IDYCA during Post-Residential
Phase

29. Benefits of Mentoring
 More likely to attend college
 Improved grades
 Less likely to use drugs
 Less likely to act violently
 Less likely to use alcohol

30. Mentor Eligibility
 Must be same gender as youth
 Should be at least 25 years old (some exceptions
made)
 Should live within reasonable distance of where
the youth will live after the Residential Phase
 Must NOT be a member of the family

31. Mentor Eligibility
(continued)
 Must consent to criminal history background
check (free of any sex crimes; free of felonies,
DUI’s, alcohol or substance abuse within the last
five years)
 Have a desire to volunteer some time for youth
and the Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy

32. Mentoring Commitment
 Complete 2.5 hour online training
 Attend a 4-hour training/orientation
 Match with your student on Day One or in
person
 Maintain weekly contact for the entire
mentoring relationship (including 4 hours of
personal contact each month during the
Post Residential Phase
 Maintain faithful communication with your
Case Manager (once monthly) and provide
information on the Cadet’s placement status

33. A PICTURE SAYS A THOUSAND
WORDS…

34. IT IS TIME
We no longer have the luxury of assuming that at some
unknown future date, our youth will have opportunities
to resolve the many personal conflicts, and fears which
go unspoken every day. It is time to be deliberate in
providing youth safe and positive opportunities to dispel
their fears, and at the same time create value in their
existence and the rich diversity around them.
–Hasan Davis-