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Challenge Academy
An "In Wisconsin" Special
Give them less than six months, and they'll change your teenager. ThatÂ’s the claim the Wisconsin National Guard makes about its "Challenge Academy." The program whips high school drop-outs into ship shape. It's tough training designed to get lost teenagers back on track, through high school and beyond. Reporter Frederica Freyberg investigates the journey of five teens on a quest to change their life.
Related Links
Challenge Academy home page
Challenge
Academy Contact Information
Challenge Academy Photo Gallery
Watch the series online
Download RealPlayer or Windows Media Player to watch streaming video.
Complete program includes
the Post-Grad follow-up:
Real | Windows (28:25)
Watch individual original reports below:
Part
1: Enrollment
Watch segment video (8:55)
Real | Windows
Join the cadets on their first day in the
academy as the shock and awe strips away the old to make way for a new kind of
life.
Part
2: Halfway Point
Watch segment video (7:44)
Real |
Windows
Frederica Freyberg checks in with the cadets a few
months into their stay at the Challenge Academy. She discovers how the teens
are coping with their new strict lifestyle and increased responsibilities – and
if all of the teens have been able stick with the program.
Part
3: Family Visit
Watch segment video (5:07)
Real | Windows
Freyberg joins the cadets and their parents as
they see each other for the first time in months. Although many of the cadets
have turned a new leaf, some are still trying to come to terms with family
issues.
Part
4: Graduation
Watch segment video (8:31)
Real | Windows
Freyberg visits the cadets on graduation
day. Although the program is nearly over, there is still a lot of anxiety
and fear amongst the teens. The cadets worry about returning to the life
they left before they came to Challenge Academy. See how they handle the
pressure of the final days, and find out what they plan to do when they return
home.
Part
5: One Year Later
Watch segment video (4:38)
Windows
Freyberg catches up with the Challenge Academy grads one year later, to see if the teens are still on the right path.
