Adventure Central: Partnering for a Sustainable Community
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Date
2019-04
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Ohio State University. Office of Outreach and Engagement
Abstract
Adventure Central is a trusted, community-based, positive youth development partnership serving at-risk children and their parents in the west Dayton community for more than 15 years. This nationally recognized program has been at the forefront of positive youth development – providing children and families opportunities to change their lives through building positive well-being, higher academic performance, and less involvement in risky behaviors. Using nature, our high-quality and diverse staff nurtures participants in life-changing activities that strengthen values, build lasting life skills, and empower youth to explore life's possibilities. This poster will share an overview of the partnership, program, and recent community and sustainability initiatives. Partnerships within Ohio State and OSU Extension, as well as with the community and local organizations and institutions, will be demonstrated.
Description
Adventure Central is a trusted, community-based, positive youth development partnership serving at-risk children and their parents in the west Dayton community for more than 18 years. This nationally recognized program has been at the forefront of positive youth development — providing children and families opportunities to change their lives through building positive well-being, higher academic performance, and less involvement in risky behaviors. Using nature, our high-quality and diverse staff nurtures participants in life-changing activities that strengthen values, build lasting life skills, and empower youth to explore life's possibilities. At Adventure Central, we are unified by our belief that encouraging new experiences, especially in nature, can build life skills and confidence which make children happier, healthier and more productive members of their community. Adventure Central is uniquely qualified to turn these beliefs into action and results through the passion, expertise and resources of its core partners: Five Rivers MetroParks, OSU Extension, and 4-H. Sustainability and natural resource management are common subject areas for our core partners and day-to-day practices and special projects have been utilized to enhance our environment. Youth are engaged throughout the year in a variety of delivery methods to include after-school, day camp, and residential camping experiences all emphasizing sustained long-term relationships. Special programmatic emphasis is also placed on supporting and developing teens through high quality work, service learning and leadership experiences. Being physically located in a 110-acre urban park creates many natural program opportunities to focus on the environment and sustainability. Building a sustainable out-of-school system in our community has also been an emphasis for Adventure Central. Working with Learn to Earn Dayton, the local cradle-to-career initiative, a summer and after-school collaborative has been created and includes 10 programs and 17 sites. Partners are using common evaluation on performance measures focusing on student attendance, academic behaviors, family engagement, social emotional learning and healthy lifestyles. First-year data is showing promising results and partners are demonstrating commitment to improving quality and supporting one another, in contrast to an industry has historically been highly competitive and independent. Through this poster presentation, we desire to share an overview of the partnership, program and recent initiatives. Partnerships within Ohio State and Extension as well as with the community and local organizations and institutions will be demonstrated. Pictures, text and impact statements from stakeholders will be utilized to engage the audience.
AUTHOR AFFILIATION: Nate Arnett, OSU Extension educator/director, Adventure Central, arnett.67@osu.edu (Corresponding Author); Crystal Sheppard, OSU Extension program coordinator; Angela Collie, OSU Extension program coordinator
AUTHOR AFFILIATION: Nate Arnett, OSU Extension educator/director, Adventure Central, arnett.67@osu.edu (Corresponding Author); Crystal Sheppard, OSU Extension program coordinator; Angela Collie, OSU Extension program coordinator
Keywords
partnership, youth, community, urban, 4-H
Citation
Engaged Scholars, v. 7 (2019).