The Louisiana National Guard will hold an information session on their Youth Challenge Program (YCP) on Saturday, January 11 at the South Regional Library in Lafayette.
Public Relations Director Stephen Hurley joined GMA to share more about the program and this weekend's information session.
Started about 25 years ago, the Youth Challenge Program is a free alternative educational program which offers teens between the ages of 16 and 18 the opportunity to change their future.
Hurley says that participants of the 22-week program have the opportunity to learn self discipline, leadership, and responsibility while working to obtain a high school equivalency diploma.
Around 1,400 people graduate from the program each year.
Counselors from Camp Minden will be at the South Regional Library to answer any questions and interview students for possible placement in the program.
That event begins at 12:00 pm.
Registration is not required to attend the event, but Hurley says that individuals are encouraged to call the program at 1-800-CAMP-KID for more information.
Applications for the program can be found online at langycp.com.
Hurley says that the program is comprised of two phases:
During the 5 month Residential Phase, students live on site at one of the three locations: Camp Minden near Shreveport, Camp Beauregard in Central Louisiana, and The Gillis W. Long Center near Baton Rouge.
In this phase, students attend school, receive individual counseling and are supervised 24 hours per day.
After graduation, students return home and enter the 12 month Post Residential Phase.
During this phase, which is designed to help students continue in a positive direction, graduates are assisted by YCP case managers and community mentors to continue their education, enroll in college, begin job training, find employment, or enlist in the military.