How to Run a Free Summer Youth Activity Program

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How to Run a Free Summer Youth Activity Program Bonnie Tjeerdsma Blankenship Holly Pierce William Harper Purdue University

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How to Run a Free Summer Youth Activity Program. Bonnie Tjeerdsma Blankenship Holly Pierce William Harper Purdue University. Rising/high obesity levels in children Children gain BMI twice as fast during summer as during school year (Downey & Boughton, 2007) - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of How to Run a Free Summer Youth Activity Program

Page 1: How to Run a Free Summer Youth Activity Program

How to Run a Free Summer Youth Activity Program

Bonnie Tjeerdsma BlankenshipHolly Pierce

William Harper

Purdue University

Page 2: How to Run a Free Summer Youth Activity Program

The Need

• Rising/high obesity levels in children

• Children gain BMI twice as fast during summer as during school year (Downey &

Boughton, 2007)

• Some evidence low SES children have lower PA levels than high SES children (e.g., Biddle et al., 2005; Macdonald et al., 2004)

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Free Camps at Purdue University

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Purdue Athletes Life Success Program (PALS)

• Formerly National Youth Sport Program• 300 boys & girls, ages 10-16• Income requirements• Day program• 20 week days, 8 am-2 pm• Physical activities & other activities

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Operation Purple• Week-long, residential camp• Children with parent/s in military and

deployed• 50 boys & girls ages 10-15 • Outdoor activities • Purposes: provide fun week, help children

deal with stresses of parental deployment• “Kids Serve Too”• Co-sponsored by the Military Family

Research Institute

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Elements of Successful Programs

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Funding• PALS

– Brees Dream Foundation/PEFCU– Schuemann Family Foundation

• Operation Purple– National Military Family Association grant– MFRI

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Possible Funding Sources

• Funding distinctions

• Local gifts

• Local partnerships

• Local medical personnel/facilities

• Local college/university in-kind support

• Local volunteers/family help

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Possible Funding Sources

• State level grants

• National level grants

• Foundation grants

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Funds Needed (Budget)• Facilities/equipment?• Housing?• Meals?• Transportation?• Activity fees?• Staff salaries?• Insurance• Marketing/Publicity

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Leaders - Characteristics• Dedicated

• Creative

• Organized

• Energetic

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Leader Roles

• Camp Administrator• Activities Director• Staff Supervisor• Facilities/equipment

supervisor

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Staff - Characteristics• Dedicated• Enthusiastic• Easy-going• Organized• Flexible• Reliable• Mature• CPR/First Aid certified

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Staff - Roles• Instructors

• Counselors/Team Leaders

• Medical

• Disciplinarians

• Service Learning

• Equipment/water

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Staff – Hiring & Management• Advertising for positions• Application forms• Interviews• Background checks• Staff training• Staff handbook• Time sheets• Staff meetings

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Participants – Who?• Decision based on your experiences,

funding, needs• Income requirements• Military children• Special needs children• Age, gender, special interests

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Participants - Marketing• How advertise camp/reach target

population?

• Agencies (schools, churches, YM/WCAs, social agencies, etc.)

• Brochures, bulletin boards, newspaper ads, verbal announcements, letters

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Participants – Obtaining & Management

• Registration Forms• Medicals/physical exams• Permission forms• Behavior contracts• Structure during camp

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Activities• Decision based on:

– Participant needs– Local resources – Available expertise– Space– Equipment

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Scheduling• When to have camp?

• How many days/weeks?

• How long per day?

• How to schedule activities?

• Special activities?

• Example Schedules– Operation Purple– PALS

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Risk Management• Liability insurance• Medical insurance/procedures• Emergency procedures (e.g., injuries, weather,

child abduction)• Parent/Guardian Pick up Procedure• CPR/First aid requirement of staff• Background checks• Examination of procedures/forms by Risk

Management

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Publicity• Newspapers

• Television

• University/college publicity

• Website• Operation Purple at Purdue Website• PALS Website

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Outcome Documentation/Camp Evaluation• Why? Funding sources want results!!! • What? PA levels, attitudes, preferences,

dispositions, knowledge, motor skills• From whom? Children, parents, staff,

teachers• How? Self-report, observation, objective

means• When? Beginning/end of camp, after camp

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Lessons Learned….

• Be flexible!!!!

• Be organized!!!!

• Learn from mistakes!!!!