NCJ Number
59683
Date Published
Unknown
Length
252 pages
Annotation
A WILDERNESS THERAPEUTIC CAMPING (WTC) PROGRAM WAS INITIATED BY THE TEXAS YOUTH COUNCIL AT THE CROCKETT STATE SCHOOL TO REHABILITATE AND PROVIDE CARE FOR YOUTHS WITH SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT PROBLEMS.
Abstract
THE WTC PROGRAM CONSISTS OF THREE SEPARATE SUBPROGRAMS: A CAMPING PROGRAM FOR GIRLS AND TWO CAMPING PROGRAMS FOR BOYS. DATA AND INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS EVALUATION REPORT ARE CONCERNED ONLY WITH WTC FOR MALE JUVENILE DELINQUENTS. TO COLLECT AND ANALYZE INFORMATION ABOUT STAFF DEVELOPMENT, STUDENT PROGRESS, AND PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS; THE EVALUATION WAS SEGMENTED INTO FOUR STAGES, INCLUDING OBSERVATION AND CONSULTATION, INSTRUMENT DEVELOPMENT, DATA COLLECTION, AND DATA ANALYSIS. INSTRUMENTS USED TO OBTAIN DATA WERE A CAMP OBSERVATION SURVEY, A JOB QUESTIONNAIRE FOR WILDERNESS CAMPING STAFF, A PERSONNEL CHARACTERISTICS EVALUATION FORM, A WILDERNESS MANAGEMENT EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRE, A PSYCHOSOCIAL MATURITY INDEX, AND A WILDERNESS STAFF EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRE. AREAS OF CONCERN IN THE EVALUATION PROCESS WERE STAFF TURNOVER, THE QUALITY OF CAMPSITE MANAGEMENT, THE QUALITY OF CARE OFFERED TO CHILDREN, AND MAJOR ISSUES AFFECTING PROGRAM FUNCTIONING. WHILE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS ARE NEEDED WITH REGARD TO STAFF DEVELOPMENT, STUDENT PROGRESS, AND PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS, THE OVERALL PROGRAM HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON DELINQUENT YOUTH. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT OBJECTIVE MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF THE WTC PROGRAM BE CONTINUED. SUPPORTING DATA AND ILLUSTRATIONS ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)