ACA and Youth Development M. Deborah Bialeschki, Ph.D., ACA Marge Scanlin, Ed.D., ACA Michelle Gambone, Ph.D., YDSI Funded by Lilly Endowment Inc

ACA Program Improvement Project Benchmark Study on Supports and Opportunities –80 Camps in 4 regions –7672 Campers Program Improvement Process –23 camps for two summers –Targeted improvement strategies –2278 campers

Community Action Framework for Youth Development © Connell & Gambone 1998 Increase Supports & Opportunities for Youth (C) Build Community Capacity and Conditions for Change (E) Implement Community Strategies to Enhance Supports & Opportunities for Youth (D) Improve Long- Term Outcomes in Adulthood (A) Improve Youth Developmental Outcomes (B) Adequate nutrition, health & shelter Multiple supportive relationships Meaningful involvement Challenging & engaging skill building activities Safety

Overall Supports & Opportunities (Optimal) (Insufficient)

How Camps Might Compare: Adult Support

How Camps Might Compare: Skill Building

Steps in the Organizational Improvement Process 1.Leadership Sets Initial Targets 2.Staff Reviews Survey Results 3.Youth Review Survey Results 4.Develop Action Plan 5.Prioritize Areas for Improvement in Year One 6.Re-set Targets for Year One Plan 7.Leadership Reviews Survey Results

YOUTH INVOLVEMENT: What Is Important? Decision Making Leadership Belonging

DECISION-MAKINGLEADERSHIPBELONGINGOVERALL Camp Camp 2XXXXXXXXXX Camp Camp Camp Camp Camp 7XXXXXXXXXX Camp Camp XXXXXXXXXX Camp 10XXXXXXXXXX Camp Camp 12XXXXXXXXXX Camp Camp 14 Camp Camp Camp XXXXXXXXXX Camp 18XXXXXXXXXX Camp Camp 20XXXXXXXXXX Camp 21 Camp 22 Camp 23

Effective Strategies for Improving Youth Involvement  Providing early adolescent campers with an unstructured hang out time  Having older campers mentor younger campers  Using camper feedback on a regular basis

Effective Strategies for Improving Youth Involvement  Training staff to involve youth in decision making  Involving campers and staff in decision-making with camper councils and allow more opportunities to plan cabin/camp activities  Having counselors ask campers for input on their upcoming week and then meeting together to plan the rest of the week

That being said… It is NOT ABOUT specific Strategies…. It IS ABOUT being purposeful in making organizational changes.

Organizational Improvement Process Step 2. Organizational Assessment Organizational structures (S): Low youth to staff/volunteer ratios Safe, reliable, and accessible activities and spaces Continuity and consistency of care Organizational policies (P): Ongoing, results-based staff and organizational improvement process Flexibility in allocating available resources Community engagement Organizational activities (A): Range of diverse, interesting, and skill-building activities Youth engagement in organizational decision making High, clear, and fair standards

LESSONS FROM DIRECTORS: What Worked?  Start with Systematic Data o “We always thought we were camper centered…this process brought meat to what it means to be camper centered.”  Use a Youth Development Framework o “The process helped us do strategic planning in direct relationship to youth development. We thought about youth development but this helped us focus…and re- motivated us around youth development principles.”  Focus on Intentionality and Accountability o “Leaders felt more confident about knowing their job – better prepared to provide the emotional support. What we covered and how we covered it was different… felt prepared to focus on the campers. There was a different attitude through camp because of intentionality on a fun safe summer.”

LESSONS FROM DIRECTORS: What Was Challenging?  Staff Buy In  Staff Skills  Camp Structure  Youth Buy In  Unexpected Events

Next Steps  YOUTH INVOLVEMENT  Training tools for youth workers in facilitation vs. control  Defining developmentally appropriate “leadership”  Decision-making power in things that matter

Next Steps  Move from language to practice  Mentoring directors  Helping staff understand and support human development  Tools for Youth Workers  Methods to capture information on developmental quality from youth and front- line workers  A means/process for Program Improvement  Development and implementation of culturally appropriate “program”

So What? Camps of all types improved their impact on campers by specifically targeting camp structures, policies, and activities by using a continuous improvement process. In fact, 83% of camps in ACA’s study showed significant improvement in one or more dimensions vital to positive camper development.

Getting feedback from campers and staff on their perceptions of camp programs, procedures, and relationships is critical to developing strategies that will work in camp. Simply selecting another camp’s strategies is not nearly as effective as using a process for self-examination that results in strategies that are designed by campers and staff and intentionally applied to the camp setting. To improve the likeliness of having a positive influence on camper growth, strategies need to integrated into the camp’s structures, policies, and activities.

Ponder Points? How do you pick a focus? Do you help your folks focus on outcomes? Behaviors that lead to outcomes? Both?? then click on Inspirations (Benchmarking study) and Innovations (PIP study)