Evaluation Tools, Techniques, and Data Analysis
Evaluation Summary for
the “Ability Building Adventures”
Program
at the City of Loveland, Colorado,
Parks and Recreation
July 10 – August 24, 2006
Submitted to:
City of
Loveland, Colorado
Parks and
Recreation
August 31, 2006
Complied by:
Research
Associates
Summary:
This evaluation was undertaken because the Ability Building
Adventures Program is new and we must receive feedback from the target
audience. This evaluation was taken by students who attended the program and it
shows what they liked and didn’t like about the program. After plenty of
feedback is received, changes can be made, in order to make the program even
better. The results from the evaluation was mostly positive, but still didn’t
leave us with a clear understanding of what must change, so no changes will be
made for a few years, until we gain enough feedback that shows consistent
negative points. As of now, the program will stay the same, since there wasn’t
any major negative responses, but changes may be made down the road when other
evaluations are given.
Background
Information:
Mission Statement: The mission of our organization is to
provide a positive recreational environment with a variety of leisure
opportunities, through the maintaining of parks, facilities, and staff. The
benefits of my recreational services are especially designed to meet the
physical, mental, cultural, and social needs of the community, while enhancing
the overall quality of life, through an effective and efficient responsive
manner.
Values and Traditions:
My organization embraces the values of integrity, a positive and
enthusiastic attitude, teamwork, diversity, communication, and maintaining high
quality facilities, parks, and staff to benefit the community.
One tradition that my program
offers is the Ability Building Adventures, which is a summer program of
learning and strengthening new adventurous skills. Each week there is a
different adventure (e.g. hiking/rock climbing, camping, river
rafting/kayaking, etc…) that begins with basic training and as the week goes
on, it turns into a wild and strengthening learning experience. Each student is
challenged throughout the week in physical, mental, social and cultural areas,
in ways that relate to the current adventure. The ABA
program leaves students with a positive life-changing experience that keeps
them coming back, year after year.
Vision: The
vision of our organization is to continue to enhance the quality of
professionally driven leisure and recreation, by expanding our resources, such
as facilities and parks, in order to develop programs that will benefit every
age, gender, and race, as well as maintaining a positive influence to the
surrounding community.
I believe that every element that is contained within my
values, vision, and mission connect directly to the program I am developing.
These are the factors that form my program and make it what it will become.
Without each value, the standards that once were held together by each other
begin to minimize the potential of the vision for my program. The importance
and meaning of each value “serve as a common denominator among people.”(P.64)
Having the opportunity to develop a program based on values, gives me a
position of influence that will drive this program to model and teach important
values. Vision is also very important and plays a huge role in building a
program or organization. Setting goals and looking ahead is the key to
successful growth within a developing organization. The goals and direction,
within the vision, are the elements that will drive this program to higher
heights and greater opportunities in the future. Mission
has a similar importance, except this statement presents the main focus of the
program in a nutshell. This is why wording is so important. The mission
statement must directly connect with what the program truly is. With that said,
my mission statement is designed to paint a picture of what my program looks
like, in order to give the community knowledge about the organization, as well
as the services we offer. Every part of this statement will drive the program
by forming a firm foundation that stays consistent throughout time, leading
this program to reach the higher goal.
Program Description: Adventure Trips – Adventure Trips are
for 12-17 year olds and are scheduled 1 to 2 days a week. Trips, such as
hiking, camping, rock climbing the rocks of Snoqualmie, kayaking Washington’s
wonderful lakes and the Puget Sound, swimming in lakes and at water parks,
white water rafting the Wenatchee River, etc… are all types of adventures that
Teens can sign-up to experience. There are 13 spots available for each trip
with the cost of $40.00 per student. This program includes 2 staff that
transports the group, as well as supervises their every action. Some resources
I can use in developing this program are Parks, Recreational Organizations, and
Washington’s outstanding
geographical features. Most equipment is supplied by the rock climbing
organization or the scuba diving shop, etc… The cost for each child helps pay
for the equipment needed. My goal is to expand our trips to 3 or 4 days, which
will allow more time for improving skills and improving survival
techniques.
Method/Process:
A hand-out evaluation has been typed up and handed out to
each participant. They will answer each question by rating their satisfaction
from 1 to 5 (1 is low and 5 is high). There is also a comment space under each
topic for additional, more specific feedback. If there is something that the
participant truly wants changed or kept, we expect them to give us a clear
understanding by using the comment space. After all evaluations are completed
and the results are combined, the decisions we make for the next year are
determined by these outcome of the evaluations.
Results:
Registration - 10 people responded to this item and their
scores were:
5 4
4 4
5 5
3 5
5 5
Staff Involvement – 10 People responded to this item and
their scores were:
4 4
4 5
5 3
4 4
3 3
Adventure Trips – 10 people responded to this item and their
scores were:
5 5
4 5
5 4
3 4
5 5
Overall Program Rating – 10 People responded to this item
and their scores were:
4 4
4 5
4 3
5 4
4 4
4 = Median
4.1 = Mean
4 = Mode
Interpretations,
Conclusions, and Recommendations:
What should be
changed? This is the first time this program has been offered and for the
most part the data was more positive than negative. I don’t think I would make
any changes except tryout different adventures. Once I have a few years of
feedback, then I will have a better idea of what isn’t working consistently. What should be strengthened? I think
the staffs knowledge of each adventure should be strengthened, so they can
demonstrate the critical elements and safety as they explain them. If a staff
isn’t knowledgeable about a certain adventure that involves some danger, this
can lead to a higher risk of something happening. I think I will have a few
training sessions for staff to learn each skill and technique they need to know
for each adventure. What should be
dropped? After this first time running this program, I don’t think anything
should be dropped. As I mentioned earlier, after a few years and more feedback,
appropriate changes will be made to shape the program closer to what the target
audience wants. What should be added?
Like I mentioned earlier, I think training sessions should be added for staff
to give them a better knowledge of each adventure before they lead the teens on
each trip. Also, other adventures will be added or replaced to see which trips
are more popular. What should remain the
same? As of now, I think the days, times, and certain trips should stay the
same. The number of staff will also stay the same, as well as the number of
teens on each trip. There won’t be many changes this first year, so most of the
program will stay the same. What areas
need the most adjustment? The type of adventures might need some
adjustment, in order to receive feedback on what trip was most popular. Also,
staff’s knowledge must be adjusted by receiving training for each adventure. What recommendations do you have for future
programs? Right now there aren’t many recommendations except that future
programs are run by knowledgeable staff.
Overall the evaluations didn’t show extreme negativity, but
at the same time there was some, so evaluations will be given again next year
to help give us stronger, more accurate feedback. This will help us in deciding
on what changes to make as well as what to keep.
-Parks and Recreation-
City of
Loveland, Colorado
*Ability Building Adventure Program:
For each of the following topics, please rate your level of
satisfaction. (1 is low and 5 is high)
Low
High
Satisfaction Satisfaction
Registration 1 2 3
4 5
Comments:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Staff
Involvement 1 2 3 4 5
Comments:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Adventure
Trips 1
2 3 4 5
Comments:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Please circle the days that are most convenient for
you. Sun. Mon. Tue.
Wed. Thurs. Fri. Sat.
Please circle the time of day that is most convenient for
you. Morning Afternoon Evening
Please give the
program an overall score of satisfaction by circling one number.
(1 is low 5 is high) 1 2 3 4 5
Additional Comments:_______________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
