Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/21
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for the Military Teen Adventure Camp Programs initiative was military affiliated youth from across the country, ages 14-18 of active duty, guard, reserve or retired military personnel. Deployment of a family member was not an eligibility requirement to participate in a camp. Changes/Problems:The problems experienced during 2020 and 2021 were a result of the unforseen implications of the COVID-19 pandemic. Restrictions related to keeping people safe resulted in cancellation of events in 2020 and lower than expected participation numbers in 2021 as families eased back into meeting face-to-face. Otherwise, the processes implemented were effective in accomplishing the goals for the MTACs. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training and professional development was conducted by each sub-contracted university for all personnel working at the camps under the auspices of each university's protocols. Each institution's training included specific information with respect to safety and mandatory reporting when working with minors. Zoom calls with camp coordinators at each LGU allowed the coordinators to share information about their camps, discuss protocols, and identify recommended practices. These were especially important during the summer of 2020 and 2021 as effects from the pandemic lingered. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Camp enrollment and attendance data, along with photos and quotes,have been provided to our NIFA/USDA contact and the Program Analyst/ Children, Youth, and Families/Office of Military Family Readiness Policy/DoD, Military Community and Family Policy. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
During the project period (2016-2021), Military Teen Adventure Camps (MTACs) were held in 7 states: Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Washington. A competitive RFA process was established an implemented annually to allow Land Grant Universities to submit proposals to host MTACs. Following a review process, sub-contracts were awarded to the successful LGUs by Purdue University. A total of 82 camps were held during the project period for an average of nearly 14 annually. A total of 2,384 military youth, ages 14-18, attended a MTAC, for an 85% fill rate of available camping slots. An average of 397 youth attended camps annually. This funding period included the Summer of 2020 during which no camping opportunities were able to be offered due to the restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Other reasons provided for no-shows were family deployments, illnesses, or other family issues. Advertising for MTAC opportunities was handled through the Purdue University MTAC website. Links within the website allowed viewers to connect directly to each of the host universities to register for the specific camp of interest. The 4-H Military Partnership and USDA/NIFA also shared the camping opportunities through their listservs.
Publications
- Type:
Websites
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
https://ag.purdue.edu/extension/adventurecamps/Pages/default.aspx
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Progress 09/01/19 to 08/31/20
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for the Military Teen Adventure Camp Programs initiative was military affiliated youth from across the country, ages 14-18 of active duty, guard, reserve or retired military personnel. Deployment of a family member was not an eligibility requirement to participate in a camp. Changes/Problems:The problems experienced this year were due to the unforeseen implications of a global pandemic. Restrictions related to keeping people safe in the midst of COVID-19 resulted in the cancellation of each of the nine military teen adventure camps that had been scheduled for Summer, 2020. Otherwise, the processes implemented went very smoothly. We will be able to transition smoothly into the next funding cycle. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Each respective state was prepared to conduct training for all personnel who would be working with the teen adventure camps. This training would align with the respective universities' protocols, including safety and reporting when working with minors. The Zoom calls for the state camp coordinators provided some additional professional development as we learned from each other practices that we had found to be effective. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We have kept our contacts at USDA-NIFA and Children, Youth, and Families Ofice of Military Family Readiness Policy apprised of the ongoing challenges related to the pandemic and the steps that have been taken to ensure responsible fiscal management of the funds that have been allocated, as well as the safety of the youth and adults involved with the camping experiences. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will continue to stay in touch with our subawardees as they reschedule their camp experiences for the Summer, 2021. We will also prepare to launch the RFA process for the next round of funding provided for FY 2020, for additional camps to occur in the Summer, 2021.The RFA for FY 2020 has been submitted to USDA-NIFA for their review.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
A competitive RFA process was implemented in the Fall of 2019 resulting in subawards extended to Colorado State University, the University of Georgia, and the University of Kentucky. A total of nine camps were scheduled to be held in June and July, 2020. Sub-contracts were prepared, issued, and signed for each of the subawards. IRB appoval was received for the MTAC evaluation protocol from Purdue University as non human subject research in early 2020. Dates of the camps were advertised on the Military Teen Adventure Camp Website: https://ag.purdue.edu/extension/adventurecamps/Pages/default.aspx.Website analytics for FY2019 show 7,330 unique page views related to 2020 camp opportunities. Links within the website allowed viewers to connect directly to each host university to ask further questions about the camps that were available. Starting in March, 2020, subawardees began to explore alternate plans due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions. Zoom conference calls were initiated by Purdue University to allow the camp coordinators to discuss options that were available in their respective states. As of July 15, 2020, each of the nine camps scheduled for the Summer, 2020 had been cancelled due to the restrictions and inability to safely gather in a camp setting. A no cost extension was requested and granted by USDA-NIFA to enable the subawardees to utilize their allocated funds through July, 2021. Paperwork allowing these no cost extensions has been completed by Purdue and each of the respective universities.
Publications
- Type:
Websites
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
https://ag.purdue.edu/extension/adventurecamps/Pages/default.aspx
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Extension Military Parent-Teen Camp Experiences: Family Resilience Building in Action - https://joe.org/joe/2020april/rb9.php?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2020april (University of Kentucky)
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Progress 09/01/18 to 08/31/19
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for the Military Teen Adventure Camp Programs initiative was military affiliated youth from across the country, ages 14-18 of active duty, guard, reserve or retired military personnel. Deployment of a family member was not an eligibility requirement to participate in a camp. Changes/Problems:We are currently working on a request to finalize the unexpended, budgeted funding from 2019 Military Teen Adventure Camp sub-awardees. We will request reallocation of those unexpended funds to the continuation award that has been approved for summer, 2020 camps. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training and professional development was conducted by each sub-contracted university for all personnel working at the camps under the auspices of each university's protocols. Each institution's training included specific information with respect to safety and mandatory reporting when working with minors. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Camp enrollment and attendance data have been provided to our NIFA/USDA contact and the Program Analyst/ Children, Youth, and Families/Office of Military Family Readiness Policy/DoD, Military Community and Family Policy. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will be reviewing 2019 camp statistics and evaluations to assure we are responding to relevant feedback from prior participants. We will also be finalizing data analysis from the camper surveys and will soon launch another RFA process for camps that will occur during summer, 2020.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
As a result of a competitive RFA process established and subsequent sub-contracts awarded to Colorado State University, the University of Georgia and the University of Maine during winter, 2019, the camps resulting from the RFA process were conducted and evaluated. Fourteen camps were conducted between June and August, 2019 with the opportunity for 550 individuals to participate. Nine of the fourteen camps had significant wait lists of individuals interested in registering for the camps. Final reports of attendance indicate 494 individuals participated in camps for a 90% fill rate on camper slots. Last minute deployments in families and illnesses or other family issues were provided as general reasons for last minute cancellations or no-shows. These cancellations also mean there is little time to contact individuals on the wait list and for them to rearrange their schedules to participate. General Advertising of the Military Teen Adventure Camp opportunities were managed via the Purdue University Military Teen Adventure Camp Website. Analytics from the website indicated 14,966 unique page views since the website was activated and launched with 2019 camp opportunities. Links within our website allowed viewers to connect directly to each of the host universities to register for the specific camp of interest.
Publications
- Type:
Websites
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
https://ag.purdue.edu/extension/adventurecamps/Pages/default.aspx
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Progress 09/01/17 to 08/31/18
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for the internship program was college students and recent graduates with an educational background in child or youth development, education, family science, human services, recreation management, or a related field. Participants needed to have a strong interest in careers in child, youth, and family programs, particularly with the military. In conjunction with our partners in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Military Community and Family Policy, Office of Family Policy, and Children & Youth, we established both degree requirements and academic status that intern applicants must have met for eligibility. The target audience for the Military Teen Adventure Camp Programs initiative was military affiliatedyouth, ages 14-18 of active, guard, reserve or retired military personnel. Deployment of a family member was not an eligibility requirement to participate in a camp. In some circumstances, the teens were accompanied by a family member while at camps. Changes/Problems:As we prepared our responsesubmission of the 2017 RFA for this projectwe conductedconversationswith our military points of contact with the Navy and Air Force to determine their requests and projections of interns they would place in the spring and summer, 2018. The budget for this project was subsequently created utilizing these numbers. We were informed in October, 2017 that the Navy was opting out of the program thus resulting in a significantly decreased number of intern placements. We are currently working on a request to reallocate the unexpended, budgeted internship funding to Military Teen Adventure Camp opportunities during the summer, 2019 as we have submitted a continuation RFA for 2019. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The Air Force Point of Contact placed interns in military child development centers, school age programs, and youth and teen centers. He also assigned each intern a mentor/supervisor for the duration of the internship. Six interns and six mentors convened in Arlington, VA for Spring Orientation in January, 2018. Seventeen interns and fifteen mentors convened in Arlington, VA for Summer Orientation in May, 2018.During the orientation, interns and mentors were briefed on program reporting requirements, job duties, working with generational and personality differences, military etiquette and culture, federal careers, and how to navigate the USA jobs website, along with information about child and youth development in the military context. Interns and mentors spend time during Intern Orientation meeting and planning the interns' schedules and projects. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?A final report on the Military Internship component of this award will be presented to our Department of Defense partners in September, 2018. The Military Teen Adventure Camp evaluation data and final participant numbers likewise, will be presented to the Department of Defense in September, 2018. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We have concluded the Military Teen Internship experiences as the partnership on this project was sunset with the indication that funding was moved to other Department of Defense priorities. We will be finalizing data analysis from the Military Teen Adventure Camps and anticipate launching another RFA process for camps that will occur during summer, 2019.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Project staff communicated regularly with the Air Force Point of Contact to determine the number of interns that would be placed in internships. Recruitment efforts for internship experiences were conducted via e-mail, phone, social media, webinar, in person presentations, website listserv, and university job boards. Information about the program and the requirements for participation was disseminated through the land grant university system, a list of other universities that offer specific college majors/coursework that meet the criteria for potential interns, 4-H military liaisons, and the Department of Defense who relayed the information to potential interns. More than 1,300 contacts in the fields of childcare, youth development, education, human services, recreation management, and similar fields received program information, including the program brochure, requirements, and application deadlines. The program website had 2,529 visits since September 1, 2017 and 83% of thesewere new visitors to the website. As a result of a competitive RFA process established and subsequent sub-contracts award to Colorado State University, the University of Georgia and the University of Kentucky during fall, 2017, the camps resulting from the RFA were conducted and evaluated. Twelve camps were conducted between June and August, 2018 with the opportunity for 538 individuals to participate.The final camp concluded on August 19,therefore, we have not yet gathered the final camp participant numbers and the resulting evaluation data from our sub-contracting institutions. Final reports of attendance indicate 517 individuals participated in camps for a 96% fill rate on camper slots. Last minute deployments in families and illnesses or other family issues were provided as general reasons for last minute cancellations or no-shows. Camp evaluation datafrom each sub-contracted institutionare due September 14 and will subsequently be compiled for analysis and presentation of results by September 28, 2018.
Publications
- Type:
Websites
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
https://ag.purdue.edu/extension/militaryinternships/Pages/MilitaryInternships.aspx
https://ag.purdue.edu/extension/adventurecamps/Pages/default.aspx
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Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/17
Outputs
Target Audience:The primary target audience for the Military Teen Adventure Camp Programs initiative is military youth, ages 14-18 of active, guard, reserve or retired military personnel. Deployment of a family member was not an eligibility requirement to participate in a camp. In some circumstances, the teens may be accompanied by a family member while at camp. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training is provided by each principal investigator to prepare those serving as camp counselors or advisors as required by each institution hosting the camps. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The final camps concluded effective August 28, therefore we have not yet gathered all of the resulting evaluation data from our sub-contracting institutions. Camp evaluation data will be gathered during September, 2017 and compiled for analysis and presentation of results.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Purdue University established four sub-contracts with partner land grant universities to conduct camps focused on outdoor adventure activities that were specifically designed for a population of teens ages 14-18 whose parents are military personnel. An RFA process was created and administered during the fall, 2016 to identify Adventure Camp opportunities (specifically for military teens) that were conducted during 2017. Resulting from the formal, panel review of the RFA responses were twelve camps created to provide unique outdoor experiences for military youth to increase leadership, self-confidence and teamwork skills while participating in outdoor camping and adventure experiences. Partnering universities that hosted camps were: University of Georgia, Colorado State University, University of Maine and the University of Kentucky. Each of these sub-contracted universities scheduled, advertised and enrolled youth, and conducted the camps that were conducted between June, 2017 through August, 2017. Each Principal Investigator was also responsible for implementing an outcomes survey at the conclusion of camp. A total of 480 camper slots were created with 452 individuals ultimately participating in the camps.
Publications
- Type:
Websites
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
https://ag.purdue.edu/extension/adventurecamps/Pages/default.aspx
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