What is the Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy?

HISTORY:
During the late 1980's, the Rockefeller Foundation identified the need in our country to provide opportunities for young people working to overcome problems in their lives that include being a high school dropout.   In 1991 the Joint Armed Services Committee directed the National Guard to develop a plan to "add value to America by providing values, skills, education and self-discipline to young people incorporating the structure and esprit de corps found in the military model".  The National Youth ChalleNGe program began operating in 1993 under Public Law 102-484.  West Virginia is proud to be one of the original programs. 

 
MISSION:
The mission of the Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy is to train and mentor selected at-risk youth to become contributing members of society using the 8 Core Components in a quasi-military environment during a 22-week residential and one year follow-up program. 

 

STRUCTURE:
The Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy uses 8 Core Components in a quasi-military environment during the 22- week residential and one year post-residential phases of the program.  Quasi-military is a term used to describe the program because it resembles military training.   Our structured environment includes many aspects related to military training such as paying attention to detail, respect, self-discipline and a chain of command.