The faded yellow California bungalow on the 200th block of State College could be home for several casual Penn State scholars. An old clothes dryer sits on the front porch. Throughout the day, forlorn students walk by the house on their way to campus for class.

The quiet scene exudes State College order and routine.

For the troubled boys who currently reside here, though, the calm, worn sanctuary is the first home where they are able to live as wanted members of a family.

Before coming to Nittany House, their idea of the daily rites of a family came from television programs like "The Brady Bunch" and "Leave It To Beaver."

At Nittany House, owned and operated by Appalachian Youth Services, Program Supervisor Cliff Gordon and three full-time counselors attempt to provide a stable, peaceful home for up to 10 teenage boys placed in the house by court order.

Eight boys currently reside at Nittany House, said Sharon Schall, a case manager for Appalachian Youth Services.

The boys, aged 12 to 18 years old, have been referred to Nittany House for what authorities call "incorrigible behavior." For instance, one teenager spent time at Nittany House because he did not attend school for 90 of 101 days.

Besides referral to Nittany House for truancy, some boys come to escape temperamental parents; others arrive to stop drug and alcohol abuse.

Gordon says the house's mission of striving to maintain a stable environment is a worthwhile challenge.

"Some of these kids have never been to the dentist," he said.

The average length of stay for each boy at Nittany House is six months, he said. During this time, the staff, through a points and phase system, attempts to help each boy realize the importance of personal attributes like patience, courtesy and respect, Gordon explained.

"It's set up as a behavior-modification facility," said Devon Wheeler, an intern who works with the boys twice a week. The boys currently residing at the house are a "pretty good group of guys," she said.

The boys' house has a strict schedule that is followed each day. The counselors say they hope to change attitudes and behavior with an adherence to the point system. According to the counselors, this system identifies each boy's problem with accepting responsibilities.

For a simple task such as making his bed, a boy will be given a certain number of points. As the boy earns more points, he receives more freedom to choose what he may do with his time, Schall said.

A phase system divides the point system into three categories. For instance, while living under the conditions of phase one, everything that a boy does is at the staff's discretion. Opportunities to watch television and listen to the radio are earned by conforming to the guidelines of phase one behavior.

By phase three, a Nittany resident may carry his own cigarettes and spend six hours each week in the community and away from the house.

Also upon reaching phase three, a boy no longer has a regular chore and receives a $5 allowance.

A typical day also includes individual counseling. Schall said a case manager or intern will take a boy aside and discuss problems incurred with his housemates, friends, the house's program and school. Twice a day, counselors gather the boys together for group counseling, she said.

Along with changing some of the adolescents' attitudes, counselors must help them overcome homesickness.

"My only personal problem is that there is less nurturing here," Wheeler said. "I wish that there could be a more nurturing atmosphere -- only because the kids don't have a family around them."

Occasionally, a newcomer refuses to conform to the Nittany House system, Schall said. She said her greatest disappointment is seeing a youth leave after 48 hours because of immediate rebellion against the program.

All of the boys attend State College area schools. After every class, each teacher writes a brief statement of the boys' performance that day, Schall said.

While attending school, many Nittany boys make friends with State College natives. Three house residents participate on either State College Area High School wrestling, basketball or track teams.

Once a boy turns 18, he may choose either to remain as a resident at Nittany House until he graduates from State College Area High School, or receive financial support from an unrelated independent living program, Gordon said.

Of course, the boy may also return to his hometown or remain in State College and live on his own, he said.

"We need community support through donations and volunteers and we welcome student interns," Gordon said.