Designing Quality Youth Programs: Strategic Changes Across Structures, Policies, and Activities

163 Pages·2008·4.17 MB·English

by  American Camp Association

Designing Quality
Youth Programs
Strategic Changes Across
Structures, Policies, and
Activities
An American Camp Association Book
©2008 American Camping Association, Inc. All rights reserved.
The forms and lists in this book were intended to be helpful in designing
quality youth programs. You may photocopy any of the appendix items in
this book and on the accompanying resource CD for use in your program,
presentations to your board or other stakeholders, program evaluation
and planning, staff training, and for other operational uses. For additional
uses, please contact Healthy Learning.
Every effort has been made to give proper credit for activities and
processes used in this book.
Disclaimer: The purpose of this book is to provide a set of resources and
narrative to help youth professionals through a process of program
improvement. It should be recognized that camp directors and other
youth professionals who run camp operations and youth programs will
require further education and experience in a variety of areas covered in
this book. Neither the publisher nor the author of this book undertakes to
verify that individuals who use this book are trained appropriately. Nor do
the publishers or author assume any responsibility or liability for any
consequences of the use of the information in this book. Further, the
American Camping Association, Inc., and Healthy Learning hereby
expressly disclaim any responsibility, liability, or duty to camp or youth
program administrators, operators, or personnel or program participants
or their families for any such liability arising out of injury, illness, or loss to
any person or organization, by the failure of such administrators or
personnel to seek further training.
Throughout this book, the masculine shall be deemed to include the
feminine and vice versa.
ISBN: 978-1-58518-663-1
Library of Congress Control Number: 2008921548
Front cover photo: Happy Hallow Children’s Camp, Nashville, Indiana
Cover design: Joyce Koeper
Book layout: Bean Creek Studio
Healthy Learning
P.O. Box 1828
Monterey, CA 93942
www.healthylearning.com
American Camp Association
5000 State Road 67 North
Martinsville, IN 46151
www.ACAcamps.org
Dedicated to all the staff who take the time to ask the
hard questions, listen with an open mind, and bring
about change because they believe that doing so is
the path to quality experiences for youth.
To bring about change that increases the quality of
what you offer often means taking some risks. The
process for program improvement described here
capitalizes on understanding multiple perspectives
regarding what is happening and helps translate those
perspectives to what could be better and how you get
there. Much of the information in this book came from
a national research study conducted by the American
Camp Association (Innovations, 2006) with the help of
Youth Development Strategies, Inc., and the generous
support of the Lilly Endowment, Inc., of Indianapolis,
Indiana. The 23 camps who participated in this
national research project were the source for many of
the practical applications, example strategies, and
sample templates shared here. Without their insights
and lessons learned, there would be no book. The
following group of directors from the national research
project also shared very specific Words of Wisdom in
this workbook: Jill Frey, Pat Smith, Marah Lyvers,
Mary Rogers, and Karen Lubecki.
We gratefully acknowledge the support and
contributions of a group of colleagues who generously
gave their time and expertise during the review
process for this book. Their critiques and suggestions
have helped shape and improve the contents of this
book. Kudos to: Nancy Frankel, CCD, director
(retired) Girl Scout Camp Farnsworth Ellen Gannett,
National Institute of Out-of-School Time Karla
Henderson, Ph.D., North Carolina State University
Kathleen Jamison, Ph.D., 4-H Curriculum and
Learning Karen Lubecki, Glengarra Girl Scout
Camp
Gwynn Powell, Ph.D., University of Georgia
Marge Scanlin, Ph.D., CCD
Marie Schmid, Camp Foley
Chris Thurber, Ph.D., Phillips Exeter Academy
Shane Wright, Camp Paha, City of Lakewood
We are also appreciative of the artistic support
provided by Joyce Koeper, and the unflagging
efforts of Grechen Throop, who kept the entire
process moving along.
We hope that this book encourages you to explore
new ways to approach change that reflects your own
unique mission, philosophy, and values and provides
the tools to turn these ideas into positive actions.
Offering quality programs is the goal for every
professional. We hope that Designing Quality Youth
Programs helps you reach this goal.
Project Personnel
ACA National Staff Team
Amy Katzenberger, Education Services Director
M. Deborah Bialeschki, Ph.D., Senior
Researcher Barry Garst, Ph.D., Director of
Research Applications Kat Schreve, Director
of Education
Congratulations! You likely believe that your program
offers a quality experience for your participants. Because
you picked up this book, you probably also believe that
doing even better is ideal. This journey of improvement
you are considering, although not necessarily quick and
easy, is a rewarding experience to take with your
participants, staff, and other key stakeholders.
This book will serve as a step-by-step guide for your
journey. It contains information learned from other
directors who wanted to make their programs a better
place for their young people. As you choose how to use
this workbook in your setting, the process will become
unique for you and your organization. It is your journey!
No single set of “best practices” will inject quality into
your program, or will definitely change your program for
the better. Instead, this book will help you embark on a
process of self-evaluation that will lead to strategies and
actions that best fit your program. This process, built on
eight steps, is designed to be individualized: to draw
upon and fit your mission and philosophy, to reflect input
from your young people and staff, and to implement
strategies that make sense for your program. These
strategies will be a direct link to your organizational
structures, policies, and activities and will enable you to
have a holistic approach to changes that result in
program improvement. You will also find tips and words
of wisdom from directors who have been through the
process. These words and stories from professionals like
you might provide just the right encouragement or hint
that you need to overcome a particular challenge or
affirm your direction.
So, if you’re ready… it’s time to venture out of your
comfort zone, get into a “stretch” position, and learn how
to take a critical look at your program’s potential to
promote positive youth development. The eight steps
used in this workbook will lead you through opportunities
for critical reflection and change that, ultimately, help
make the experience you provide a more vital
component of children’s development. Let’s go!
WHAT YOUTH PROGRAM
DIRECTORS NEED TO
KNOW TO GET STARTED
Tom Sawyer Camps, Altadena, California (Photo by Chris Isherwood
Taylor)