Cadets help out in local forests

Over the past few weeks, cadets from the Oregon Youth Challenge Program have helped with fire suppression efforts near Camp Sherman. Youth Challenge is an accredited alternative high school operated under the auspices of the Oregon National Guard. Applicants are accepted from all 36 Oregon counties, and Bend-La Pine is the host school district for this statewide program.

Last Saturday, about a dozen cadets labored side by side with U.S. and state forestry personnel to thin U.S. Forest Service land along Forest Service Road 1216, about a mile west of Camp Sherman. ODF personnel did the thinning and cutting, while the cadets hauled logs and stacked limbs and slash for future burning.

Usable firewood from the cutting will be donated to senior firewood programs.

Forest Service representative Dave Moyer selected the work site and helped coordinate the multi-agency project. Moyer praised the cadets and their work ethic and said that when the work was complete, an underburn would be the last step in the treatment process for the area.

Youth Challenge has 34 program sites in 28 states and Puerto Rico. A 35th program is set to start next year in the state of Washington.

According to Youth Challenge Community Service Coordinator Ken Olsen, "Challenge exists for high school dropouts or kids who have been kicked out of high school, and it cannot be court adjudicated."

In other words, candidates can't be ordered or sentenced to participate. Olsen emphasized that they must be both "able and willing." Felons need not apply; they are not eligible. Many participants have had lesser run-ins with the law, but none with any pending legal issues are eligible. Candidates may be male or female and must be between the ages of 16 and 18 when training commences.

Olsen said that many students seek out Youth Challenge of their own volition, but exasperated parents often point the way as well. For the members of First Platoon - who insisted that their platoon was "best"- the paths to Challenge were varied. One credited his scoutmaster, another a school counselor, still another said it was Youth for Christ and others cited friends who completed the program. One cadet who admitted to a failed family relationship said he asked a police officer what he could do to help himself.

Not everyone came along enthusiastically. "I fought it every step of the way," said one. One of his fellow cadets interjected, "Actually, he stopped fighting about five weeks ago." The first cadet shrugged and said, "Yeah, and now I'm almost done."

Another cadet chimed in, "And then there was the time he ran away..." Everyone laughed, and the story continued, "We have a runner! Well, actually, he's walking..." More laughter. Since the program is voluntary, students can quit. As it turned out, though, this one didn't; and now he's "almost done."

Cadet Bjur - they all have the same first name, "Cadet" - said that he came in with a friend, but she didn't make it through "pre-challenge." That's the two-week boot camp the candidates must endure to become cadets.

"She just couldn't adjust to the structure and discipline," he said.

Bjur plans to join the U.S. Marines when he finishes. Another cadet has already enlisted in the U.S. Army and will enter service in July. Rumor has it that "real" boot camp is a piece of cake for Youth Challenge graduates.

Others also had friends who didn't make it. First Platoon started with 60 candidates; 49 remain. Each class starts with two male platoons of 60 and one female platoon of 36. There are two classes per year.

In all, the entire program lasts nearly a year and a half. Five months of resident training is followed by a year-long period of mentor interaction in the community. Each candidate must enlist at least two mentors prior to application. Mentors may not be family members.

Camp Sherman resident Lyle Miller has served as mentor for four cadets.

"It's a wonderful experience," he said. "You're not to be a parent; you're not to be a law enforcement officer; you're to be a friend. The idea is to help them stay on track."

Although not a mentor to any of the cadets on hand for Saturday's project, Miller was out in the woods hauling logs and stacking slash with the cadets.

Olsen cited national statistics indicating an extremely high success rate for graduates. Two to three years after completion, he said, 33 percent were employed, 25 percent were enrolled in education, 13 percent did both, and 29 percent entered military service. Less than one percent wound up in jail, Olsen said.

For more information call (541) 317-9623 or visit http://www.oycp.com. The application deadline for the July class is June 13.