Summer National Programs

In addition to unit functions, members are eligible to participate in the Young Marines National Summer Programs of Adventures, Challenges, Encampments, and Schools (SPACES). Schools consist of Junior Senior and Advanced Leadership, Scuba, Ground Aviation. Educational adventures are designed with the younger child in mind, usually from ages 10-13. In contrast, the older Young Marines participate in challenges, which consist of training in areas such as outdoor survival skills, wilderness training, and water-based activities. Young Marine encampments provide the opportunity for Young Marines of all ages to gather and train as a larger unit of up to 700 youth at one time.

The Young Marines National Headquarters sponsors a number of these events during the summer known as SPACES...for Summer Program of Adventures, Challenges, Encampments and Schools. Here is a listing of many of these adventures: Interested in seeing what each SPACES camper will do?

Junior Leadership School (JLS)

The Junior Leadership School is a leadership program designed to help Junior Young Marines to develop their interpersonal and leadership skills. Instruction includes in-depth discussion on the definition of leadership, the leadership principle and traits, introduction to the Young Marines 5 Troop Leading Steps, the conduct of close order drill and unit physical training. The school’s goal is to prepare the Young Marine for leadership positions in their units, schools, and communities.

The Senior Leadership School is a leadership program designed to help Senior Young Marines master the difficult art of leadership. Instruction includes conducting unit close order drill, physical training, improving interpersonal skills, studying ethics, and becoming more aware and sensitive to the needs of others. The school’s goal is to prepare the Young Marines for senior leadership positions in their units, school, and communities.

The Advanced Leadership School is a leadership program for Young Marines who have exhibited exceptional maturity and leadership skill in their units. Adult leaders often call upon this Young Marine to handle leadership situations and provide the inspiration to those under their charge. This two-week school is an intense train-the-trainer program. The first week is devoted to honing skills in leadership, close order drill, physical training, and techniques of military instruction. In the second week, the student serves in various leadership and instructor/mentor positions in support of the Junior Leadership School.

The Civil War Adventure is an educational program designed to stimulate an interest in, and respect for the history and traditions of the United States by providing Young Marines an opportunity to visit Civil War battlefields in Northern Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. The adventure will include one day in Washington, DC highlighted by viewing the Sunset Parade at the Marine Corps Memorial in Arlington, Virginia.

The Revolutionary War Adventure is an education program designed to stimulate an interest in, and respect for the history and traditions of the United States by providing Young Marines an opportunity to visit Revolutionary War historical sites in and around the Boston Metropolitan Area. The Adventure will include a visit to the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides), Bunker Hill, Concord and Lexington the site of the Shot heard round the world, and historic sites made famous by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem Paul Revere’s Ride written in 1860.

The Space Academy Adventure is an education program designed to stimulate an interest in math and science by providing Young Marines with the opportunity to visit the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL. The Young Marines will select one of three tracks: Space, Robotics, and Aviation. Visit the website http://www.spacecamp.com/camp/sa for more details.

The Aviation Mach II Adventure is an education program designed to stimulate an interest in aviation by providing Young Marines with the opportunity to visit the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL. The adventure includes a week of action packed flight training in a state of the art flight simulator of an F-18 Hornet. It will test the Young Marine’s land and water survival and wilderness skills. Visit the website www.spacecamp.com/aviation and click on the Mach II link for more details.

The Space Camp Adventure is an education program designed to stimulate an interest in math and science by providing Young Marines age 11 with the opportunity to visit the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL. The Young Marines will select one of three tracks: Space, Robotics, and Aviation. Visit the website www.spacecamp.com/spacecamp/camp for more details.

The Mountain River Adventure is an education program designed to stimulate an interest in nature and ecology by providing Young Marines with an adventure that directly relates to the lesson of the day. Adventure activities include rafting, mountain biking, lake kayaking, nature hiking, team building and the Trail of 100 Giants (Sequoia Tour), while educational activities include hydrology, topography, geography, native plant species, birding, geology, team building and forest concepts.

The Aviation Mach III Challenge is an education program designed to stimulate an interest in aviation by providing Young Marines with the opportunity to visit the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL. The challenge includes 12 days of action packed flight training in a state of the art flight simulator of an F-18 Hornet and expert instruction by a former Special Forces Instructor in land and water survival and wilderness skills. Visit the website www.spacecamp.com/aviation and click on the Mach III link for more details.

This foreign exchange program takes place in Germany, Canada, Australia, Cayman Islands and more. The YM must be 16-18, have outstanding performance and conduct record, be YM L/Cpl and above, and completed a local or national JLS. An adult leader may accompany their child. The cost is $300.00. Learn more here　

SPACES activities are held in various venues across the country and overseas. Over 3,000 Young Marines participate in the SPACES programs each year.

Young Marines must meet the basic requirements of each SPACES activity. Young Marine members have the opportunity to apply for the SPACES program. Each program has a set of application requirements, but one thing is common among all SPACES programs, the applicants must have graduated from Young Marines "boot camp" and have a minimum of one year in the program.

A YM may only apply for one SPACES activity per summer. They may also attend one "School" training activity if they are eligible. Therefore, your Young Marine may be able to attend two SPACES during the summer.

Please check over the SPACES information, and then let the UC know as soon as you can. Early registration begins in January. Some of these SPACES have limited enrollment numbers of Young Marines they will accept, so promptness is important to get the SPACES activity you want. Also, there are some SPACES (i.e., Training Schools) that have restrictions. Please refer to your specific school for the attendance restrictions. Many indicate that only "1" or "2" Young Marines from a Unit may sign up for that activity (first come, first serve). This allows other Units to get their people signed up too. Of course, after mid January, any open spots can be filled without any problem.

Once you have been accepted by Young Marines National Headquarters, you will be required to fill out the forms we give you and provide payment indicated for your specific SPACES activity at that time. They usually provide you with only fifteen days to get this information mailed in to them after accepting you. If paperwork and payment isn't received within this time period your enrollment will be cancelled so someone else may attend. This information is mandated by Young Marines National Headquarters.

Please double-check the individual prices for the different SPACES activities. National Headquarters isn't receiving as much funding from the Federal Government to assist in paying for our activities. So due to this fact, the prices have increased considerably. Another very important consideration while signing up your Young Marine for SPACES....ALL SPACES NOW HAVE A NON-REFUNDABLE $300.00 FEE, SO IF YOUR YOUNG MARINE CHANGES THEIR MIND AFTER YOU'VE PAID FOR THE SPACES ACTIVITY, $300.00 OF YOUR PAYMENT WILL BE KEPT BY NATIONAL.

Young Marines are required to complete a nationally certified Junior Leadership School before being promoted to YM Sgt.

Young Marines are required to complete a nationally certified Senior Leadership School before being promoted to YM GySgt.

Young Marines are required to complete a nationally certified Advanced Leadership School before being promoted to YM MGySgt.

Young Marine Encampments provide the opportunity for Young Marines of all ages to gather together and train as a large unit of up to 700 youth at a time. National encampments each year are at a different Division location. 6^{th Division Encampments are held in Camp Rilea, Astoria, Oregon or Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho.}

Each unit has the capability of selecting which youth from their unit receive the privilege of attending one of that summer’s offerings. At Treasure Valley Young Marines, the UC and XO jointly select which YM’s they will ask to attend. Selection is based on several factors, which can include attendance, participation on optional events, attitude/behavior, rank, age, and ability to be away from home for an extended length of time. A PFT score MUST be entered for each semiannual period for the YM to be eligible.

Selection will be completed by the UC and the XO prior to December 1st. Selected YM’s and their families will be notified between the dates of December 1st and December 5th.

Cost is $300 for each selected YM. Payment in full is due PRIOR to when our unit begins the electronic submission process. The fee is NON-REFUNDABLE.

Our unit can electronically submit our selected YM names beginning at early January. Our YM’s are accepted into the various SPACES offerings on a first come, first serve basis in the order YMNHQ receives their electronic submission in January. Once YMNHQ processes the electronic application then the unit is required to mail appropriate fees in immediately.

Once YMNHQ received the fees, any cancellation will NOT be afforded a refund. This is the policy of YMNHQ, not of our unit.

Unfortunately, YMNHQ has the policy that any non-immunized children will NOT be allowed to attend any SPACES event for their safety.

Not all of the children attending the camps are Young Marines, especially in Huntsville. The YM’s selected for SPACES need to recognize that ALL EVENTS are considered to be Young Marine official events regardless of other non-YM children attending and as such should behave in accordance with the Young Marine obligation, creed, and code of conduct.

Any YM sent home early for any reason shall be done so at the expense of the parent/guardian. NO EXCEPTIONS. This is the policy of YMNHQ, not of the unit. However, the unit will back the policy at the request of YMNHQ. YMNHQ will bill the unit and we are required to pay the invoice and bill the parent for reimbursement. If you refuse to reimburse the unit, none of our YM’s will be allowed to attend SPACES the following year. Your refusal to pay this expense will hurt our entire unit.