AAPHERD March 15 th, More Hours to go: Programming After School Recreational Activities June Price-Shingles, Ed.D. CSU

Description This session will examine and discuss guidelines and techniques for programming after school recreational activities. We will discuss the various steps needed to program successful events including initial planning, formatting, marketing and evaluation.

What is your goal or purpose? Exactly why do you want after school recreational activities? What requirement or need are you trying to meet? Skill development, self-esteem, fun, socialization, break down cliques, etc? Before we examine the purpose we need to be aware of the factors that influence what we want to do and can do.

Factors that influence program development Community and Partnerships Federal and State Legislation Professional Organizations and Research Attitudes, Leadership, and Vision of the Faculty, Students, and Parents Physical Education and Coaching Staff Facilities and Equipment Risk Management Funding Student Needs, Interests, Wants and Intentions

Professional Organizations and Research National, State, and Local organizations What guidelines and/or resources exist? What is coming out of research pertaining to after school activities? Where can you get ideas and brainstorm?

Program Funding Sources School Budget State/Federal Grants Department of Public Health Department of Human Services Federal Extension Services Partnerships Park Districts, YMCA, Churches, etc. Participant/Activity Fees In-Kind Corporate Sponsorship Will scholarships be needed

Attitudes, Leadership, and Vision of the Faculty, Students, and Parents Is it viewed as an integral part of the school program? Okay maybe not integral but is everyone on board? Who will set the tone for the priority it is given? What are your written statements, philosophies, and policies. Can athletes participate? Do students need a certain GPA?

Physical Education and Coaching Staff Are they all supportive? What adjustments can be made for facility usage?

Facilities and Equipment Do you have access to equipment and facilities? If no facilities at school are there some in the community? Can you take them off campus? Can you offer during lunch or only after school

Legislation Multicultural Education Project What group/culture/sub-culture is not active in your school. What is being done about it?

Risk Management Permission Slips/Waivers Policies: Student enrollment Community students who are not enrolled Partnerships Back Ground Checks Check with your legal system

Community Community can be a source of facility space, funding and promotion of activities we want to do. Also, we need to be aware of what is offered in the community (Parks and Recreation departments or church’s). Avoid duplication/competition?

Partnerships What are the benefits of Partnerships? Who are our Partners? How do we make contact with potential partners? Contracts/Agreements?

Student Needs, Interests, Wants and Intentions Do we understand the difference in these terms and what are we targeting? Are we more concerned with Needs, Interests, or Wants? What would they actually show up to do. Youth love big ideas but when it comes to the event do they intend to participate? How can you influence each?

Point System Would a cumulative point system based on entire year sustain interest and stimulate competition? Points awarded on Contests won Championships gained League standings Participation Fair play Contributions to objectives of the program

Needs Assessment What are ways we can determine students needs, interests, wants, and/or intentions? Student Advisory Committee Student meetings and workshops Interviews Surveys Anyone done one of these? If so, what type?

Steps to doing a needs assessment 1. Define the purpose of doing a needs assessment 2. Decide on your methods 3. Decide who can help with the process 4. Collect the data 5. Analyze and report the findings

Define what you will assess What do you want to know? Why do you want to do a needs assessment? What are you going to measure? Is there actually a need in the community? Who is your target population? What are the objectives?

Define what you will assess Selecting your population Who is going to be your target population To what extent do you believe the target population will be utilizing your services What are the barriers that you believe they will face What are the resources already available to your selected population What are the demographics of your population (e.g. place of residence, income, gender, family status)

Decide on methods We have already discussed methods in detail Important to remember for program evaluation Survey Interviews Focus Groups Community forums Combination of methods - strength to any needs assessment

Decide on Methods What kind of information will you gather Historical development - how the community and or agency came to its current status, how resources were obtained Geographical information - growth patterns and population distribution Demographic data - the characteristics of your target population (age, income, race, family composition)

Assign responsibilities Who is going to help you do your needs assessment? Hire outside professionals/consultants Find volunteers Use agency staff Form a committee Factors to consider Agency budget The time available to agency staff

Collect the data Use a pilot study to try out the method Utilize the people mentioned in previous section (staff, volunteers etc.)

Analyze and report the findings Cannot just stop after you collect the information - have to interpret it What are the strengths of your information What are the weaknesses Not enough people surveyed or interviewed Low response rate

Analyze and report the findings Have to find a way to report the findings Share the findings with administrators, community, people who may be giving grants Do a presentation at a city meeting, have a special meeting, make a display at the agency, put information in a newspaper

This knowledge leads us to the approach we will take to programming Programming by Participant Desires Programming by Perceived needs Programming by Objectives Programming by Cafeteria Style Programming by External Requirements

Creative Programming Define problem: Examine the facts available and identify existing alternate solutions What exactly is the problem we trying to solve by offering after school programs? Generate Approaches: Consciously create possible programmatic solutions to the identified design problem What if your not creative? Can we think of a “hook” to get them in the door? What are other schools doing?

Creative Programming Exploration/Interpretation: Are they realistic? Do they address the problem? Can we change or elaborate on existing ideas or ideas from other sources to make them new and fresh for our situation? Innovation: Develop innovative procedures for their implementation.

Successful Programs Experienced four times: Vicariously during designing the event In a written program plan When Program is operated During the evaluation it is relived

WRITTEN PLAN Provides a record of information about the current status of a program Provides a record of the resources needed Provides a reference for use during future operations of the program Includes: Management Plan: what are the jobs, activities, and timeline Considerations: location, impact, and when is best to have the event (seasonal or by facility availability)

Program Formats What is a Program Format? Why are Program Formats important? How do Program Formats relate to overall Customer Satisfaction?

Types of Program Formats Competitive Drop-in or Open Class Club Special Events Workshop/Conference Interest Groups Outreach

Program Diversification Multicultural Programming Globalization USA Melting Pot Non-Traditional Programming Special Events

Operation What leadership is needed? What are our back up plans in case what we have planned does not work?

Marketing Determine best way to reach your students. Internet? Flyers? School Announcements? School Meetings (PTA etc.) Is it critical in your situation for the information to reach the parent? Flyers often do not reach home.

Technology Numerous software's available for tournament design Allow students to check stats and standings from home Helps motivate interest Helps in registration, contact information, scheduling, locations, results, etc.

Evaluation Evaluation is basically a judgment of worth – an appraisal of value Program evaluation is carefully collecting information about a program or some aspect of a program in order to make necessary decisions about the program.

Types of Program Evaluation Program Evaluation Goal- Based Process- Based Outcomes- Based Are your programs achieving their overall, predetermined objectives? Understanding how your program really works, and its strengths and weaknesses Identifying benefits to clients

Key Considerations: Purpose Audience Who is it for? Kinds of information What will be asked? Why? Collection of information When is information needed How will it be reported? Resources What do you need to conduct properly?

Evaluating & Analyzing the Data Did you meet your goals and objectives? Did you meet participant needs? Did you consider the requirements of staff and organization members, parents and community?

Questions and Discussion What has worked well for you? What questions do you have?