education Florida Youth ChalleNGe Academy by: Ben Barksdale
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uring the 1980's, the Rockefeller Foundation identified the need in our country to provide opportunities for young people working to overcome problems in
In July of 2001, the Florida Youth ChalleNGe Academy (FLYCA) opened its doors at Camp Blanding in Starke, Florida for its first class. This program, initiated by the National Guard (hence the
their lives which included being high school dropouts. In 1991
capital NG in the name), sought to help young men and women
the Joint Armed Services Committee directed the National Guard
in Florida who were dropping out of school, finding themselves
to develop a plan to “Add value to America“, by providing values,
in trouble with the law, and losing their way. Now, 20 years later,
skills, education and self-discipline to young people incorporating
FLYCA has graduated over 5500 young men and women from
the structure and espirit de corps found in the military model. A
all over the State of Florida, remaining open and safe even in the
five-year ChalleNGe Pilot Program began operating in ten states in
midst of the pandemic. The Academy is completely tuition free
1993 under Public Law 102-484 and has since been embraced by
and is funded by a cooperative agreement between the State of
more than 29 states.
Florida (through the Department of Military Affairs, Department of
BAY BIZ / FALL 2021
