Louisiana National Guard Youth Challenge Program - Camp Minden
Minden, LA
"Learning the Way, Earning the Way"
National Guard Youth Challenge Program
Free Intervention Program for At-Risk Youth Ages 16-18
At a Glance
Established
2002
Program Type
Youth Challenge
Administered By
National Guard
State
Louisiana
The Verdict
Camp Minden is one of three Louisiana Youth Challenge Program sites and part of the largest Youth Challenge operation in the nation—Louisiana accounts for 14% of all national YCP graduates and has produced over 28,000 graduates in 30 years.
This free, 17-month alternative education program transforms at-risk youth ages 16-18 through a quasi-military structure that emphasizes discipline, education, and life skills. With over 80% of graduates continuing to higher education, entering the workforce, or enlisting in the military, Camp Minden offers a proven second chance for Louisiana youth.
Campus & Cadet Life
About
The mission of the National Guard Youth Challenge Program is to intervene in and reclaim the lives of 16 to 18 year old youths, producing program graduates with the values, life skills, education, and self-discipline necessary to succeed as productive citizens.
Admissions & Selectivity
Admissions Philosophy
developmental
Key Requirements
- Must be 16-18 years old on the first day of the program
- Legal U.S. citizen and Louisiana resident
- High school dropout or at risk of not graduating
- Drug-free (subject to testing)
- Not on probation or parole for violent offenses
- Strong desire to complete a structured, disciplined program
- Interview required
Location
Program Details
Eligible Ages
16-18 years old
Residential Phase
22 weeks
Mentorship Phase
12 months
Cost
FREE
Gender
coed
Eligibility
State Resident
Participation
Voluntary
Barracks Life
Housing Type
barracks
Daily Schedule
Highly structured quasi-military schedule beginning at 0600 with wake-up and accountability, followed by physical training, personal hygiene, barracks maintenance, and meals. Daytime hours (0800-1500) focus on classroom instruction with certified teachers in math, reading, and HiSET/GED preparation. Afternoons include tutoring, clubs, physical training, and team sports. Evenings feature study hall, personal hygiene, and cadet time before lights out. Weekends include uniform inspections, community service, field trips, outdoor sports, and nondenominational religious services. Cell phones and personal items are surrendered upon arrival.
Discipline Model
Military-style discipline with cadets divided into platoons and squads under 24-hour supervision by active and retired military staff. The program begins with a 2-week Acclimation Phase where candidates adjust to physical, mental, and disciplinary expectations—receiving haircuts, surrendering personal items, and exchanging street clothes for uniforms to place all cadets on equal footing. Marching, drill, code of conduct, and military customs and courtesies are integral to daily life. The focus is on peer accountability, teamwork, and leadership/followership development.
Program Outcomes
Success Metrics
80%+ continue education, enter workforce, or enlist in military
Post-Program Pathways
Cadets who enlist receive preparation through ASVAB testing; program focuses on workforce readiness and vocational pathways rather than service academy preparation
Note: Youth Challenge programs focus on GED completion, credit recovery, and life skills development—not traditional college prep metrics.
Physical Training
Physical Fitness Program
Daily physical training is a core component of the program, integrated into the structured schedule. All cadets participate in military-style PT including running, calisthenics, and organized team sports. Physical fitness is one of the eight core components, emphasizing discipline, teamwork, and personal health improvement. Weekend activities include adventure training and outdoor sports.
Physical Activities
Facilities
Camp Minden Training Site encompasses 15,000 acres and serves as the Louisiana National Guard's primary training installation. The former Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant features over 2.5 million square feet of existing buildings, more than 100 miles of convoy training routes, and 11,000 acres of training areas. YCP cadets have access to residential barracks, dining facilities, classroom buildings, outdoor training areas, and recreational spaces. The site is located approximately 18 miles east of Shreveport off I-20.
Note: Youth Challenge programs emphasize physical fitness as one of the Eight Core Components, focusing on building endurance, strength, and healthy habits rather than varsity athletics.
Photo Gallery
Related Schools
Louisiana National Guard Youth Challenge Program - Camp Beauregard
Pineville, LA
The mission of the National Guard Youth Challenge Program is to intervene in and reclaim the lives of 16 to 18 year old youths, producing program graduates with the values, life skills, education, and self-discipline necessary to succeed as productive citizens.
Louisiana National Guard Youth Challenge Program - Gillis Long
Carville, LA
The Louisiana National Guard Youth Challenge Program (YCP) is an alternative educational program which offers adolescents (16 -18) an opportunity to change their future. Students looking for a way to succeed outside of a traditional school setting learn self discipline, leadership, and responsibility while working to obtain a high school equivalency diploma.
Mississippi Youth Challenge Academy
Camp Shelby, MS
The mission of the Mississippi National Guard Youth Challenge Academy is to intervene in and reclaim the lives of sixteen to eighteen-year-old, male and females, who are struggling in the traditional educational environment and produce a program graduates with the values, life coping skills, education, employment potential and self-discipline necessary to succeed as productive citizens.
Texas Challenge Academy
Eagle Lake, TX
The Texas Challenge Academy is a 5 1/2-month quasi-military residential academy sponsored by the Texas National Guard. It is a tuition-free educational program for 15 1/2 to 18-year-old teens who are disengaged in school, offering academic instruction, structure, and discipline to help cadets develop personal accountability and become successful adults.
Alaska Military Youth Academy
JBER, AK
The Alaska Military Youth Academy is a National Guard Youth Challenge Program that helps at-risk youth develop self-confidence, discipline, leadership skills, and life-coping skills.
Appalachian Challenge Academy
Grays Knob, KY
To intervene in and reclaim the lives of 16 - 18 year old Kentuckians and produce program graduates with the tools and skills necessary to succeed in society.
Guides & Resources
National Guard Youth Challenge Academies: What to Expect
A parent's guide to Youth Challenge programs—free residential programs for at-risk teens ages 16-18 run by the National Guard.
Free Military Schools: Your Complete Guide to No-Tuition Options
Yes, free military schools exist. Public academies, charter schools, service academies, and Youth Challenge programs offer tuition-free military education—each with different requirements and trade-offs.
Military School vs. Therapeutic Boarding: Knowing the Difference
A critical guide for parents of struggling teens. We clarify the stark difference between the discipline-based structure of a military school and the clinical intervention of a therapeutic program.
Beyond the Uniform: Sports, Arts, and Extracurriculars
Military schools offer far more than marching and discipline. Discover the robust athletic programs, arts opportunities, and leadership clubs that make cadet life well-rounded.
The Cadet Readiness Checklist: Is Your Child Actually Ready?
Not every child is ready for military school. This honest assessment covers emotional maturity, physical ability, and the traits that determine success or failure.
Leaving Military School: Withdrawal Policies, Refunds, and Transitions
What happens if military school isn't working out? Understand withdrawal timelines, refund policies, transcript handling, and how to transition back to traditional school.