Five boot camps designed to put young offenders on the straight and narrow will be running in Queensland within six months.

Premier Campbell Newman announced on Sunday that boot camps for convicted youths will be open in Townsville, Rockhampton and on the Fraser Coast by September, along with two other camps.

Youths will spend four weeks at the camps cooking, cleaning, doing physical activities and studying while under constant surveillance.

Mr Newman says they will be given an opportunity to turn their lives around under the guidance of mentors and their families.

"This program is designed to teach these young people about discipline, rehabilitation and respect for themselves and those around them," he said in a statement.