Post on 16-Jan-2016
description
How to Run a Free Summer Youth Activity Program
Bonnie Tjeerdsma BlankenshipHolly Pierce
William Harper
Purdue University
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)
Free Camps at Purdue University
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
Elements of Successful Programs
Funding• PALS
– Brees Dream Foundation/PEFCU– Schuemann Family Foundation
• Operation Purple– National Military Family Association grant– MFRI
Possible Funding Sources
• Funding distinctions
• Local gifts
• Local partnerships
• Local medical personnel/facilities
• Local college/university in-kind support
• Local volunteers/family help
Possible Funding Sources
• State level grants
• National level grants
• Foundation grants
Funds Needed (Budget)• Facilities/equipment?• Housing?• Meals?• Transportation?• Activity fees?• Staff salaries?• Insurance• Marketing/Publicity
Leaders - Characteristics• Dedicated
• Creative
• Organized
• Energetic
Leader Roles
• Camp Administrator• Activities Director• Staff Supervisor• Facilities/equipment
supervisor
Staff - Characteristics• Dedicated• Enthusiastic• Easy-going• Organized• Flexible• Reliable• Mature• CPR/First Aid certified
Staff - Roles• Instructors
• Counselors/Team Leaders
• Medical
• Disciplinarians
• Service Learning
• Equipment/water
Staff – Hiring & Management• Advertising for positions• Application forms• Interviews• Background checks• Staff training• Staff handbook• Time sheets• Staff meetings
Participants – Who?• Decision based on your experiences,
funding, needs• Income requirements• Military children• Special needs children• Age, gender, special interests
Participants - Marketing• How advertise camp/reach target
population?
• Agencies (schools, churches, YM/WCAs, social agencies, etc.)
• Brochures, bulletin boards, newspaper ads, verbal announcements, letters
Participants – Obtaining & Management
• Registration Forms• Medicals/physical exams• Permission forms• Behavior contracts• Structure during camp
Activities• Decision based on:
– Participant needs– Local resources – Available expertise– Space– Equipment
Scheduling• When to have camp?
• How many days/weeks?
• How long per day?
• How to schedule activities?
• Special activities?
• Example Schedules– Operation Purple– PALS
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
Publicity• Newspapers
• Television
• University/college publicity
• Website• Operation Purple at Purdue Website• PALS Website
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
Lessons Learned….
• Be flexible!!!!
• Be organized!!!!
• Learn from mistakes!!!!