This research examines the characteristics of adults that girls and adult OST facilitators consider most important for supporting positive youth development experiences in the outdoors. Three factors are identified: Emotional support, challenge support, and outdoor preparedness. While Emotional Support is rated most important by both girls and…

Geospatial and Robotics Technologies for the 21st Century (GEAR-Tech-21), teaches science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through robotics, global positioning systems (GPS), and geographic information systems (GIS) activities for youth in grades 5-8. Participants use a robotics kit, handheld GPS devices, and GIS technology to…

Most reasons for the failure of youth groups can be organized around a few major themes or points. The most commonly mentioned reason is "the leader leaves." Four possible outcomes in this case are continuation of the group under a new leader, changes for the worse under a new leader, floundering, and death of the group. A second reason for group…

Using a needs assessment conducted for the Girl Scouts of Greater Philadelphia as a test case, this article analyzes the conditions facilitating the collection of information needed for strategic planning in a voluntary organization and the related conditions influencing whether or not the information would in fact be used. (TJH)

The paper briefly describes non-school enrichment programs and services for gifted and talented students in South Africa. Preliminary discussion examines the context of non-school interventions, the relevancy of non-formal gifted child education, and categorizing non-school provisions for this population in South Africa. Programs are listed under…

This paper describes the evaluation of the 4-H youth program (serving ages 9 through 19) in Yolo County, California. The paper concentrates on the first component of the evaluation plan, a telephone survey of community needs and perceptions regarding services for youth which was conducted in November, 1984. The originally perceived questions…

Background: The penetration of video games in media consumption behaviors is statistically very significant all over the world. Education and media education cannot ignore this phenomenon, as it is so relevant for such a considerable part of the population, especially youth. The application of media education principles and goals to video games is…

Social studies education programs should help students acquire skills and knowledge related to good citizenship, ensure that students apply these skills and knowledge to active civic participation, and promote standards of behavior and values that are also nurtured and developed in non-school settings. Children learn these in school and non-school…

Leadership training and recognition of leadership skills have been a cornerstone of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) since its inception. To determine if certain personality characteristics are associated with individuals who hold leadership positions and if the level of leadership reflects particular personality traits, 147 FFA chapter and…

A three-stage model was designed to improve leadership training and improve instruction for Indiana vocational youth organizations. The model was field tested using a pretest-posttest, control-group design administered to five classrooms representing each of six vocational youth group organizations. Both formative and summative data were…

This paper presents the case study of an attempt to bridge the gap between teacher and administrator preparation programs at Auburn University, Alabama, while engaging students in authentic learning situations at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lee County. The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lee County serves 600 youth during the school year and…

Indiana 4-H Youth Programs are being used to enhance the quality of life for troubled adolescents in residential group homes and economically disadvantaged urban areas and to provide summer-school programs for children of migrant farm workers. Four basic types of program delivery modes exist in Indiana: clubs, junior leader program activities,…

Covering the time period of August 1974 through May 1975, the report summarizes a project to improve leadership in Arizona distributive education youth groups. The primary product of the project was a one-day leadership training conference for 134 distributive education students in grades 11 and 12 and teachers in the State of Arizona. An…

This study explores the value-oriented behaviors associated with membership in prominent youth organizations in the Soviet Union and the United States of America during the Cold War. The archetypal heroic ideals and values of the Soviet Octoberists and Pioneers and the U.S. Boy Scout and Girl Scout organizations were examined. Key political,…

Research results show a skepticism among Polish youth concerning the possibility of implementing the accepted socialist values in political practice and denote a steady erosion of socialism's image. Youth organizations are many and varied, but it appears that most join because of the opportunity to meet friends, not because of political…