NCJ Number
59696
Date Published
1975
Length
43 pages
Annotation
A WILDERNESS CAMPING PROGRAM FOR JUVENILE DELINQUENTS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CALIF., IS DESCRIBED AND EVALUATED.
Abstract
OPERATION SUMMIT INVOLVES EXPOSING YOUTHS TO CHALLENGING AND RIGOROUS ACTIVITIES IN WILDERNESS SETTINGS, THE IDEA BEING THAT SUCH 'STRESS EDUCATION' BUILDS CHARACTER. THE PROJECT, UNDERTAKEN BY THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY PROBATION DEPARTMENT UNDER CONTRACT WITH SUMMIT EXPEDITION (A DIVISION OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, INC.), INVOLVES RESIDENTS OF TWO JUVENILE CAMPS (RANCHO DEL RAYO AND RANCHO DEL CAMPO) AND WARDS OF THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT'S FIELD SERVICES DIVISION. THE EVALUATION WAS CONDUCTED 5 MONTHS AFTER OPERATION SUMMIT BEGAN AND THEREFORE FOCUSES ON PROJECT COSTS AND POTENTIAL RATHER THAN CLIENT IMPACT. THE EVALUATION REPORT INCLUDES A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT'S DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION, DETAILS OF THE EVALUATION DESIGN, AND FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. THE MAJOR FINDING IS THAT OPERATION SUMMIT IS EXPENSIVE. A 14-DAY CAMPING EXPERIENCE COST $1,075 FOR A FIELD SERVICES WARD, $1,250 FOR A CAMP RESIDENT. MOST OF THE COST IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE CONTRACT WITH SUMMIT EXPEDITION, AND IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONTRACT NOT BE RENEWED, AND THAT THE PROGRAM BE MANAGED IN THE FUTURE BY PROBATION DEPARTMENT STAFF. OPERATION SUMMIT SHOULD ALSO BE DISCONTINUED FOR PROBATIONERS AND RANCHO DEL RAYO RESIDENTS (WHO ALREADY PARTICIPATE IN ANOTHER WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE PROGRAM) AND MODIFIED AT RANCHO DEL CAMPO. SUPPORTING DATA AND DOCUMENTATION ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)