Grundy Reporter

Rep. Jackie Haas (R-Kankakee) and other House members went for a helicopter ride to the Lincoln’s Challenge Academy campus on April 1.

“I was honored to have this opportunity with my colleagues!” Haas posted on Facebook.

The 58th class of the academy is set to start on July 13. The academy is providing tours for potential attendees on April 30 and May 22.

“Yesterday morning before session, a bipartisan group of lawmakers took a field trip to Lincoln’s Challenge Academy in Rantoul to learn about this important and free program offered for Illinois teens," The Illinois House Republicans posted on Facebook. "The experience was organized by Rep. Dan Swanson (R-Woodhull) and the Illinois National Guard who provided two Chinook helicopters to take the Reps from Springfield to Rantoul to tour the academy. Lincoln’s Challenge Academy is a cost-free residential program for Illinois teens ages 16-18 who are working to better their futures. Cadets at LCA have the opportunity to recover high school credits, earn their GED, receive CPR training, receive a food handlers certificate, work experience, computer skills and more to set themselves up for a successful life.”

The Lincoln’s Challenge Academy focuses on the Eight Core Objective. It includes academic excellence, life coping skills, job skills, responsible citizenship, health and hygiene, service to the community, leadership or followership, and physical fitness. Cadets can learn all of these in two phases – the Residential Phase and the Post-Residential Phase.