Drive to keep boot camp open gets two-week extension

NEVADA, Mo. -- Supporters of a popular youth boot camp have been given a two-week extension as they try to raise enough money to keep the state from closing it.

The ShowMe Challenge program for high-school dropouts was to close this week. But after a public outcry, Democratic Sen. Harold Caskey of Butler pushed Gov. Bob Holden to extend the closing date.

Supporters, who began raising funds two weeks ago, now have until Jan. 27 to raise about $500,000. As of late Tuesday, about $200,000 had been raised, said Carol Branham of Nevada.

Branham said supporters of the camp are hoping to attract large donations from foundations to help the campaign.

The camp session that was to start this Saturday has been postponed until Feb. 15 -- if the money is raised. Branham said about 125 teenagers had signed up for the session, although she said that number might drop because of the uncertainty about the camp's future.

"We do have staff at the camp site preparing in the hopes that this will happen," Branham said from her home Tuesday night.

Missouri is one of 26 states with challenge programs, through which teenagers earn general equivalency diplomas in a boot-camp setting. Classwork, community service and physical training are stressed.

Started in 1998

More than 800 cadets have graduated since the Missouri National Guard started the program in 1998 at Camp Clark in Nevada. Parents of the graduates have said the program turned their children's lives around.

The 22-week sessions cost about $14,000 per student. Cutting the program would save Missouri about $1 million a year. The program also received $1.68 million in federal aid, about half of which must be returned if the program closes.

Branham said she and other supporters remain optimistic that the camp can be saved, in part because of "overwhelming" public support since the closing was announced.

"We're going to keep at it," she said. "Until someone from Jefferson City tells us that the federal dollars have been sent back to Washington, the doors are still open for us."