Among the most at-risk groups of people in the U.S. are the young people who have dropped out of high school or are at risk of doing so. This is a major problem that has affected communities throughout the country and appears to be a growing phenomenon.
Grizzly Youth Academy is one of two National Guard Youth Challenge programs in California and is located in San Luis Obispo. GYA's goal is to educate young people through a nontraditional, military structured learning environment that addresses life, leadership and academic skills, while also improving self-esteem, pride and confidence levels. GYA is a charter school funded on a 60-40 basis with federal and state funds, respectively. GYA is operated by the U.S. National Guard Bureau and it is FREE to any struggling student that meets the requirements.
Participants are 16 to 18 years of age and feel a responsibility to positively change their lives. It is a voluntary program and participants must want to attend. Each applicant must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident and reside in California; a high school dropout or a student not on track to graduate; and unemployed or underemployed. Applicants must be free of substance abuse upon acceptance and be free of any serious involvement with the criminal justice system (i.e., no felony convictions). Also, an applicant must be physically and mentally capable of completing the program.
This program is offered in twice a year, with classes starting every January and July.
Phase One is a two-week pre-challenge program in which applicants are introduced to the program, campus environment and evaluated by the GYA staff. If applicants who, because of poor behavior or attitude, are found to be insufficiently motivated to complete the program, they are dismissed during this phase.
Phase Two is a 20-week residential stay during which cadets wear uniforms, follow a daily schedule, attend classes and study hall. On weekends, they are involved in community service and field trips. This phase provides cadets with an educational curriculum, emotional support and physical training based on educational excellence, responsibility, citizenship, life coping skills, health and hygiene, physical fitness, leadership and community service.
There is also a Job Shadowing program and many extra supports such as AA, Hospice, SARP, Tobacco Cessation, and Anger Management classes.
The third phase or post-residential part of the program, consists of a one-year period following graduation from GYA. A mentor is assigned to each cadet to provide advice and assistance. The cost of this program is $18,000, but is FREE to all applicants who qualify and are accepted into the program.
Upon completion of the residential phase, each cadet will receive 55 high school credits, an amount roughly equivalent to one year of high school. Cadets also may opt to graduate from the Academy or receive a GED.
The GYA staff reports a 90 percent to 93 percent success rate for those cadets who complete the five-month in-residence course. For information: call 1:800-926-0643 or visit our website at www.ngycp.org/ca There is absolutely NO military commitment!!
If you would like to take a tour, or receive more information, please call me directly:
SFC Suzy Elwell 805-574-0415
