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Creating Positive Youth Outcomes Review by Nancy King
American Camp Association5000 State Road 67 North
Martinsville, IN 46151-7902
765-342-8456
http://www.acacamps.org/
Creating Positive Youth Outcomes is like a roadmap for individuals wanting to start their own youth camp. This book can help design a program for any youth camp. By using an evaluation process to determine what kinds of ideas you want, you can meet camp-specific guidelines. This book comes with a CD-Rom to better aid in planning.
There are seven steps for targeting the outcomes of the youth camp:
Step 1: Explore readiness to evaluate youth outcomes-- A readiness chart is provided for staff to check off what they may or may not have in order to provide the best atmosphere possible.
Step 2: Consider how you will use your results-- After using the checklist, what are some of the things that need to be addressed or changed.
Step 3: Identify your camp's mission, goals, and objectives-- These allow a camp to tell its purpose and what it intends to do for the campers.
Step 4: Learn to use a logic model to focus on changes with campers-- This is a chart that lists the things your camp hopes to accomplish (i.e., program goals, program elements, and short/long-term outcomes).
Step 5: Complete a logic model for your youth camp-- Using the chart in the book as a model, make one for your camp.
Step 6: Consider your youth outcome results-- Consider what can be done to change any negative outcomes from the charts you have designed. Keep your expectations to an obtainable goal.
Step 7: Share your youth outcome results with others-- Share what you've learned with parents/guardians, camp staff, the media, donors, community organizations, etc.
All these steps are important because we want to have the camper's best interest at heart. By preparing with this in mind, first-year staffers and even veterans will be able to work together and achieve the best atmosphere. Some other goals that might need to be targeted are supportive relationships, safety, youth involvement, and skill building. I feel that these are all important, attainable goals. This book would be very helpful for those starting a youth camp.
