How to Run a Free Summer Youth Activity Program

1
How to Run a Free Summer Youth Activity Program

• Bonnie Tjeerdsma Blankenship
• Holly Pierce
• William Harper
• Purdue University

2
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)

3
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

5
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
7
Funding

• PALS
• Brees Dream Foundation/PEFCU
• Schuemann Family Foundation
• Operation Purple
• National Military Family Association grant
• MFRI

8
Possible Funding Sources

• Funding distinctions
• Local gifts
• Local partnerships
• Local medical personnel/facilities
• Local college/university in-kind support
• Local volunteers/family help

9
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

11
Leaders - Characteristics

• Dedicated
• Creative
• Organized
• Energetic

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Leader Roles

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

13
Staff - Characteristics

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

14
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!!!!