Dr. Joe Morrow apologized that the Grizzly program representative had failed to mark the date and did not show up. Dr. Julian Crocker, Grizzly Youth Academy Charter School administrator for almost 20 years, gave an outline of the program. Dr. Crocker explained that 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. It is the hope that graduates leave the program with the values, life skills, education and self-discipline needed to succeed as productive citizens. The program is run jointly by the National Guard at Camp San Luis and by the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education who provides the teaching staff. There now are three such programs in California, funded mostly by the federal government, and several throughout the country. The program has been highly successful.
The Grizzly Youth Academy Mentor Program
Both Dr. Joe and Dr. Crocker spoke about the importance of the Mentor program to the Grizzly cadets. Each Grizzly is matched with a mentor who tries to stay in contact with the student at least once a week by phone, note or visit. This interaction does not end when the Grizzly student completes his five months in residence and graduates. The communication continues as the student enters the work force, continues his education or joins the military. The commitment for a mentor is a year, and there is a one day mandatory training for this role.
Information about the Grizzly program and the Mentoring opportunities is available online:
www.grizzlyyouthacademy.org