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. 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) The Need

3. Free Camps at Purdue University

4. 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. 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 Operation Purple

6. Elements of Successful Programs

7. PALS Brees Dream Foundation/PEFCU Schuemann Family Foundation Operation Purple National Military Family Association grant MFRI Funding

8. Funding distinctions Local gifts Local partnerships Local medical personnel/facilities Local college/university in-kind support Local volunteers/family help Possible Funding Sources

9. State level grants National level grants Foundation grants Possible Funding Sources

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

11. Dedicated Creative Organized Energetic Leaders - Characteristics

12. Leader Roles • Camp Administrator • Activities Director • Staff Supervisor • Facilities/equipment supervisor

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

14. Instructors Counselors/Team Leaders Medical Disciplinarians Service Learning Equipment/water Staff - Roles

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

16. Decision based on your experiences, funding, needs Income requirements Military children Special needs children Age, gender, special interests Participants – Who?

17. How advertise camp/reach target population? Agencies (schools, churches, YM/WCAs, social agencies, etc.) Brochures, bulletin boards, newspaper ads, verbal announcements, letters Participants - Marketing

18. Registration Forms Medicals/physical exams Permission forms Behavior contracts Structure during camp Participants – Obtaining & Management

19. Decision based on: Participant needs Local resources Available expertise Space Equipment Activities

20. When to have camp? How many days/weeks? How long per day? How to schedule activities? Special activities? Example Schedules Operation Purple PALS Scheduling

21. 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 Risk Management

22. Newspapers Television University/college publicity Website Operation Purple at Purdue Website PALS Website Publicity

23. 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 Outcome Documentation/Camp Evaluation

24. Be flexible!!!! Be organized!!!! Learn from mistakes!!!! Lessons Learned….