Camp Summit Boot Camp
Facility Summary
Established
1995
Security Level
Medium-High
Avg Daily Population
Calendar Year 2011: 90
Housing
Dormitories
Superintendent
Cecil K. Davis
Located between Michigan City and LaPorte in Northern Indiana, Camp Summit is Indiana’s only military style boot camp. With a capacity of 95 beds and an average age of 16.7, this six-month program is designed for juvenile males from throughout Indiana that have been adjudicated delinquent by an Indiana Courts, have committed various offenses, and are in good health. Camp Summit’s program consists of a good balance between military components such as drill and ceremony, physical training, team building and program components such as an accredited school, where high school credits can be earned and are transferable, and where students can complete their GED if 16 years of age; counseling programs to include individual, group, and family counseling, as well as substance abuse counseling, parenting classes, anger management classes, and Restorative Justice.
Camp Summit is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Correctional Association and a 2011 Performance-based Standards (PbS) Barbara Allen-Hagen Award Recipient. As students enter the final phase of our program, they may qualify for eight hour family temporary leaves to finalize plans for their release, by spending time re-establishing their relationship with their family, planning an educational programming, and filling out job applications. Camp Summit’s mission is to instill discipline, self-confidence, and individual responsibility in our students so that when they re-enter their communities they will have the opportunity to be productive citizens.
Contact Information
Phone: (219) 326-1188Fax: (219) 326-9218
2407 N. 500 W.
LaPorte, IN 46350
Cecil K. Davis, Facility Superintendent
cdavis@idoc.in.gov
Laura Gorbonosenko, Program Director
lgorbonosenko@idoc.in.gov
John Galipeau, Custody Supervisor/Grievance Specialist
jgalipeau@idoc.in.gov
Mickey Ellch, Administrative Assistant
mellch@idoc.in.gov
Rich Cubberly, Business Office Contact
rcubberley@idoc.in.gov
Peter Agba, Principal
pagba@idoc.in.gov
Beth Poortenga, Custody and Programs Secretary/Student Visitation Information
bpoortenga@idoc.in.gov
Media Contact
Cecil K. Davis
cdavis@idoc.in.gov
(219) 326-1188 ext. 212
Visiting Guidelines
Saturday & Sunday 1:00p.m.- 4:00p.m.
Directions
Located in northern Indiana, between Michigan City and Laporte, at 2407 N 500 W, Laporte, IN 46350. You may click the link below to access the maps page to receive specific driving directions from your location.
Programs
Camp Summit Boot Camp is a Juvenile Male Facility within the Indiana Department of Correction. The program is approximately six months in duration and includes military drill and ceremony, physical training, full-time education programming, substance abuse, group, individual and family counseling.
Camp Summit's program is based off the Normative Model, a research based program that defines the culture at our facility for students and staff. This model involves teaching skills such as problem solving, decision-making, anger management, communication, etc. The guidelines for acceptable behavior are defined by the general orders, norms and rules of the facility. Some of the tools that are used to modify behavior include SAMS and WHIPS (problem solving), a token economy (point system based on behavior), and disciplinary system that is directly connected to the general orders, norms and rules.
Camp Summit's program is based off the Normative Model, a research based program that defines the culture at our facility for students and staff. This model involves teaching skills such as problem solving, decision-making, anger management, communication, etc. The guidelines for acceptable behavior are defined by the general orders, norms and rules of the facility. Some of the tools that are used to modify behavior include SAMS and WHIPS (problem solving), a token economy (point system based on behavior), and disciplinary system that is directly connected to the general orders, norms and rules.
Individual Growth/Transition/Release Plans are developed for each student based upon their individual needs. These Plans are updated periodically by multi-disciplinary treatment teams.
Individual Aftercare, Career, and Relapse Prevention Plans are developed for each student prior to their graduation from the program.
The following groups, services, and programs are offered at Camp Summit:
Substance Abuse Education Group: This program provides an overview of the psychosocial and physiological effects for substance abuse and addiction. All students at Camp Summit are required to complete this group prior to graduation from the program as this is one of the major needs areas of most of our students. This group meets one hour per week on Tuesdays.
Why Try: Students learn ten visual metaphors, such as the Reality Ride, Tearing off Labels, Defense Mechanisms, etc. These metaphors teach and help students explore new social skills and coping skills techniques to break old behavior patterns and to achieve opportunity, freedom, and self respect in their lives. Students complete assignments that involve writing, art, music, and physical activities to practice their skills. Students then learn how to apply the skills to their criminogenic needs, their high risk factors, and their life upon release.
Restorative Thinking Group: This group is a part of our Restorative Justice Program and is designed to help students evaluate how their negative actions not only affected them but also their victims, families, and other members of their community. This group meets one hour per week on Thursdays and all students are required to complete the group prior to graduation.
Restorative Justice Program: This is a program based on the idea that when a student commits a crime against a victim or the community that the student has an obligation to restore the losses occurred to the victim or community. This idea not only holds the student accountable for their actions but also empowers the victim by making them an active participant in the juvenile justice system. Restitution, community service, and victim-offender mediation create awareness in offenders of the harmful consequences of their actions for victims, require offenders to take action to make amends to victim and the community, and, whenever possible, involve victims directly in the justice process. The various parts of the program include: Restorative Thinking Group, The Gang Graffiti Abatement Program (cleaning up of graffiti in the community), The Community Victim Impact Panel (victims, in general, speak of their experiences of being crime victims), and The Victim-/Perpetrator Conference (brings the specific victim and perpetrator together to discuss the incident that happened and the impact the negative behavior has had on the victim).
Second Chance Act Projects: The Indiana Juvenile Justice Task Force (IJJTF) and AIM have partnered with IDYS to implement two Second Chance Act projects funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs-OJJDP. As part of these projects, youth from Marion and Hendricks Counties will have an opportunity to receive services including multi-systemic home-based therapy and mentoring focusing on reentry planning, while in the facilities and upon their return home. Youth from Elkhart County will participate in the mentoring component in the facilities and upon return home. In addition, all Marion and Hendricks county youth participating in the project will attend the AIM Reentry Academy for the first month upon release. At the Academy they will receive life skill and socialization training; employment, educational and housing assistance; community-based referrals; and structured group activities for mentors and mentees. Youth from Elkhart County will participate in the mentoring component and will be connected to community-based programs upon their release, but will not be participating in the home-based counseling component.
Education: Camp Summit has one full time Principal, 6 full time High School/GED teachers in English/Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, Health & Physical Education and Mathematics, and 1 teacher for Post Secondary/ Reentry/Vocational Programs. We also have 1 Computer Lab teaching Assistant, 1 Transition Coordinator and 1 Special Education Secretary. Our school is a State and NCA accredited and offers High School, GED, and Vocational/Post Secondary courses in Personal Finance, Serve Safe certification college prep classes. Our students can earn multiple credits in subjects such as Math, English, Social Studies and various other courses that are available in the Computer Lab via the Nova Net Program. Students who are 16 years or older are encouraged to complete their GED prior to graduation especially if they have a limited accumulation of High School credits. All students have an Individual Learning Plan that outlines their individual needs. Special Education Services are provided to students who meet the classification standards.
Physical Fitness: All students at Camp Summit are required to take part in physical fitness. The program consists of calisthenics, running, a weight lifting circuit course, and structured recreation including basketball, soccer, volleyball, and touch football. Students are required to take tests on various sports and activities for which they can earn High School credits for physical fitness. Students must also pass a military based physical fitness test prior to their graduation from the program.
Tutoring: With the assistance of volunteers from the community students are provided with professional tutors to assist them on a weekly basis with their educational needs.
HIV/STD Awareness: This is provided quarterly by a volunteer and is a hour and a half workshop that teaches the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases as well as prevention.
Parenting Education: This is a program that will be offered to students who currently have children or who are expecting children in the near future. This program will provide students with information on childcare and responsibilities.
Bookmobile: This service is provided by the La Porte County Public Library every other Monday. Students who have reached Senior status in the program have the privilege of checking out books from the Bookmobile.
Religious Services: Camp Summit meets the religious needs of our students by offering services per the Religious Services Master Design. Per policy, these services are provided with the coordination of our Community Involvement Coordinator.
Community Advisory Board
This Community Advisory Board is for the Indiana State Prison, Camp Summit, and Westville Correctional Facility.
Meetings
- March 2, 2011 at Westville at 1:00 p.m.
- June 1, 2011 at ISP at 1:00 p.m.
- September 14, 2011 at Camp Summit at 1:00 p.m.
- December 7, 2011 at ISP at 1:00 p.m.
Members
Jim Arnold
State Senator, Indiana State Senate
Tom Dermody
State Representative, Indiana House of Representatives
Scott Pelath
State Representative, Indiana House of Representatives
David Decker
Board of Correction (former)
Paula Siminski
Director, Portage Adult Education Center
James Gunning
Town Marshall, 106 Ridge Street
Neil Hannon
Chief Adult Probation Officer
Dr. Roger Krynock
Grace College
Michael Mollenhauer
Sheriff, LaPorte County
Robert Hinojose,
Starke County Community Corrections
Mark Swistek,
Michigan City Chief of Police
Barbara Peat, Ph.D.,
Director, Indiana University Northwest
Robert Taylo,
Former Employee
Larry Embling
Volunteer
Michael Pendergast
Catholic Deacon
Gene Rice
International Director (former), Lion's Club
Rick Richards
Regina Ruddell
President, Westville Chamber of Commerce
James Stemmler
Karen Wilson-Freeman
Attorney at Law
Joan Wiseman
Academic Director, Brown Mackie College
Chris Yagelski
Sergeant Public Info Officer, Michigan City Police Department
Gavin Mariano
Director, Youth as Resources
Lester Norvell
LaPorte County Community Transition
Nicky Ali Jackson, Ph.D.,
Purdue University Calumet
Kellie Bittorf
Lake County Community Corrections
Jim Jessup
Executive Director, Leadership LaPorte County
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