YOUTH CAMPS HAVE HISTORY OF SUCCESS TROUBLED TEENS MAY LOSE PROGRAM.

Byline: Nicholas Grudin Staff Writer

SAUGUS - In the parched hills on the outskirts of Santa Clarita, a small paved road leads to two county-run camps where teens are trained in constructive participation in society.

But these are not your average summer camps.

Scudder for boys and Scott for girls are juvenile probation camps that house and rehabilitate about 200 troubled youths at any given time. They are part of a county program that offers an alternative to conventional incarceration for teens who might otherwise fall through the cracks and into lives of crime.

``The whole idea is to teach discipline, keep kids focused and give them some options for success in the future once they reach the community,'' said Edward Anhalt, director of Camp Scudder.

However, if budget cuts being proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger are passed, the camps will become a luxury the county cannot afford - all 18 camps, from Saugus to Lake Hughes and beyond, will be forced to close down.

Out of all the possible places for young offenders to go, according to Anhalt, juvenile probation camps like Scudder provide the best shot at rehabilitating teens.

``The California Youth Authority is a solution of last resort,'' Anhalt said, explaining that the state's detention center often only serves as a precursor for teens committing more crimes.

``We have a much higher success rate than the youth authority,'' Anhalt said.

Aside from the Youth Authority, other offenders might be sent back into communities in probationary placement, an option that is highly expensive, according to Anhalt.

The probation camps focus on teaching literacy and preparing kids to transition back into society, Anhalt said, and none of the other options ``can get as much bang for their buck.''

``It's a very short-sighted solution to even consider shutting down these camps.''

Camp Scudder houses about 105 young men, all of whom must participate in a range of work and study programs. The camp often helps teens complete requirements for general equivalency diplomas and even enrolls them in community colleges once they're released.

``If we shut down, half of the kids would go home, a quarter would go into placement and a quarter would go into the California Youth Authority,'' Anhalt said.

Nicholas Grudin, [phone]

nicholas.grudin(at)dailynews.com