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Evaluation of the Marion County Project Challenge

NCJ Number
165355
Date Published
1994
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This report presents the evaluation methodology and findings for Marion County's (Florida) Project Challenge, which is a wilderness adventure program for delinquent and at-risk youth.
Abstract
The program is designed to improve participant's self- concept, self-esteem, self-reliance, and self-control while simultaneously requiring team work and cooperation. Participants gain outdoor skills and knowledge about nature as well. Based on the popular Outward Bound programs, Project Challenge provides a structured "stress-challenge" experience that is designed to modify youths' usual ways of dealing with peers and authority so as to achieve positive behavioral and attitudinal change. The evaluation procedure drew a systematic sample (every 10th case, starting with a random number) from program files. Sample size was 65, including 12 African-American males and one African- American female, 1 Hispanic male, 1 Native American male, and 6 Caucasian females. Data were obtained from pre- and post-tests of outdoor knowledge and skills, a self-esteem scale administered to each youth, instructor evaluations of youth participants, and recidivism analysis. The evaluation concludes that Project Challenge provides, safe, challenging outdoor adventures that benefit participants in numerous ways. Although the psychological benefits are difficult to quantify, the benefit to the community is clear; there were a reduced number of juvenile offenses and cost savings to the justice system when program participants were compared with a sample of youth processed through traditional adjudication. 7 figures