Boot Camp Alternatives

Here is a list of terms that you may have heard or seen as you have done research on finding help for your child:

Boarding Schools

There are two types of Boarding Schools, those who take defiant youth and those that don't. If your child is the least bit out of control, be sure to choose the latter. Most Boarding Schools have a no refund policy.

Military Schools

A true Military School will not hold a child against their will. They also have a no refund policy. With the semester being paid in advance, this can be a costly mistake.

Specialty Schools

These are nothing more than Boarding Schools that will take a defiant youth. Many have structure and discipline and are similar to a boot camp.

Private Schools

These are similar to Boarding Schools.

Residential Treatment Centers

This is an ideal setting for a child that is in need of help with a serious drug addiction, or a teen that has psychiatric issues that need to be monitored. Some of these will accept defiant youth.

Wilderness Programs

These are usually short term and conducted out of doors. They can be a dangerous setting when you combine unpredictability of the weather and unruly teens.

Summer Programs

As described in the title these are usually 30 -90 day programs. This is usually not a long enough time period to make lasting changes in a youth.

Boot Camps

There are short term and long term Boot Camps. We recommend long term. The long term camps include education, and have a much higher success rate than the short term camps.