A Day at the BeachA Day at the BeachA Spontaneous Adventure

              

                   

                      

                   

What a beautiful day! Let’s go to the beach!What a beautiful day! Let’s go to the beach!

OK, Mom…You pack. I’ll drive.OK, Mom…You pack. I’ll drive.

                    

                   

Did you Google traffic.com, dear?Did you Google traffic.com, dear?

You can’t be out of rooms!(Maybe we should sleep on the beach)You can’t be out of rooms!(Maybe we should sleep on the beach)

The sunscreen?Oh, they’ll be OK. Just let them have fun!The sunscreen?Oh, they’ll be OK. Just let them have fun!

Jellyfish?Ooh…that left a mark.Jellyfish?Ooh…that left a mark.

How about beachcombing?Honey, where was that book on shells?How about beachcombing?Honey, where was that book on shells?

Ah…Peanut butter and jelly…the lunch of kings. What sand? It adds texture.Ah…Peanut butter and jelly…the lunch of kings. What sand? It adds texture.

I remembered the phone; just not the charger. We’ll find a pay phone to call our neighbors about feeding Pluto.

I remembered the phone; just not the charger. We’ll find a pay phone to call our neighbors about feeding Pluto.

                      

                  

Yeah, we’ll have to plan better next time…but wasn’t it fun?Yeah, we’ll have to plan better next time…but wasn’t it fun?

What did you expect?Did you plan to get that?What did you expect?Did you plan to get that?

• How did the beach trip work out?• How about the way the family handled its joys and

troubles?• What factors outside the family influenced the trip?• How would you improve on the results… or the

circumstances?

• A couple of thoughts:– It’s not that you can’t gain something even from

misadventures…but do you plan or wish for results?– It’s not that we must show results from every activity…

but do your high priority activities show results?

Is it possible that great program outcomes are not made in a day?Is it possible that great program outcomes are not made in a day?

• What individual or family outcomes might come from regular trips (to the beach or elsewhere)?– Short-term: Knowledge-Attitudes-Skills-Aspirations– Long-term: Practices-Applied Learning

• A couple of thoughts:

-Would it help to think about results in categories such as health, science, citizenship, or life skills?

-If it’s just a one time event, what will make that time impactful?

Is it possible that great program outcomes come from somewhere & lead somewhere?Is it possible that great program outcomes come from somewhere & lead somewhere?

• What individual or family outcomes might come from regular trips (to the beach or elsewhere)?– Knowledge– Attitudes– Skills– Aspirations

• What capabilities or conditions might prepare individuals or families beforehand to make the most of trips?

• What supports or opportunities might enable individuals or families to apply trip gains afterward?

Is it possible that great program outcomes happen on more than one level?Is it possible that great program outcomes happen on more than one level?

• What economic, environmental, and social conditions are necessary or desirable for rewarding family trips?

• What economic, environmental, and social conditions make mass-migration to beaches beneficial for coastal communities?

• A couple of thoughts:– How is your program affected by (and how does it affect)

the ecosystems around it?– What results might be anticipated (even intended) and

what might be unexpected?

Let’s rethink that day…or maybe you like chaos : )Let’s rethink that day…or maybe you like chaos : )

Evaluate Step-by-Step (for each family member, vendor, agency, community, nation, global ecosystems)

• Plan ahead: what changes do you want to make and how will you create the experiences for changes to happen?

• Focus: (What) are you ready to evaluate & manage?

• Design: What--and how--will you ask about changes?

• Methods: What’s the most feasible, reliable feedback?

• Data Collection: How can you organize observations?

• Analyze & Interpret: How do you make sense of data?

• Report: How can everyone interested find out about the benefits or problems related to the experiences?

…even larger perspective…even larger perspective

Target Outcomes of Programs• SEEC: Socially, Economically, Environmentally, Culturally

rewarding and sustainable recreation and learning opportunities promoting healthy, balanced, stimulating life

• Practices: Routines that are safe & healthy, eco-friendly, fiscally & socially responsible, relaxing & stimulating

• KASA Outcomes: Gains in Knowledge, positive Attitudes, Skills, or positive Aspirations resulting from the beach break

• Outputs: Diverse, accessible & affordable opportunities/ facilities used by diverse citizens

• Inputs: Facilities, qualified staff & family members, adequate funding

Connect the dots…Connect the dots…

Logic Model: Getting from investments to impact

• Ex: Science learning with 9 year-old Rachel

Input Output Outcomes Practices SEEC

Shell bookBucket

Beach walkSorting discussion

Knowledge of shells, crabs;Excitement for science;Observation skillsAspiration to learn more

Uses knowledge to learn more;Frequent & insightful exploration;Takes/makes new learning opportunities

STEM-savvy workforce, citizens;Strong, innovative community

…from every point-of-view…from every point-of-view

• Parents• Children• Camp/Condo or beach visitors• Coastal commercial or public facilities & agency

coordinators (parks & rec, • General and special planning boards (emergency

preparedness, public health, environment protection, economic development)

So what’s your plan?So what’s your plan?