Youth Program Evaluations
Youth Evaluations 2024
For the third consecutive year, Wilderness Inquiry partnered with Hello Insight to evaluate youth program efficacy and social-emotional learning (SEL) outcomes in FY24. Youth who engaged with Wilderness Inquiry’s Extended Camping Trips saw the following measurable gains:
- 100% of participants made statistically significant growth in one or more areas of Outdoor SEL capacities.
- Key Areas of Growth:
- Teamwork and group cohesion
- Leadership skills in outdoor settings
- Environmental stewardship
- Key Areas of Growth:
- 100% of Participants on Extended Camping Trips made statistically significant growth in 1 or more areas in Core SEL.
- Impact: The extended camping experience helped students enhance critical emotional and social competencies while engaging in outdoor activities.
Wilderness Inquiry once again partnered with Saint Paul Public Schools to provide Outdoor Credit Recovery programming as an alternative to summer school. In addition to recovering academic credits, youth who participated in this program reported gains in SEL growth including:
- 100% of students who were surveyed made statistically significant gains in Self-Management, indicating the program helped students better manage their emotions and actions, key to academic success and personal growth.
- 100% of students said they would recommend this experience to other students seeking credit recovery.
- Students made significant growth, scoring above the national benchmark, putting them in the 5th percentile nationally.
2024 Evaluation Highlights (PDF)
Download Full Evaluation (PDF)
Funding for this project and evaluation was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).
In 2024, we also partnered with the Wilder Foundation to complete a modified Ripple Effect Mapping evaluation with Harding High School students, parents, and teachers involved in their after-school Earth Club. Key findings show that when programs like Wilderness Inquiry and Earth Club come together to offer supportive experiences that decrease barriers to participation in outdoor activities:
- Learning outcomes and stewardship ethics are enhanced leading to students feeling a sense of belonging outside
- Deep relationships are developed between peers, young adult leaders who reflect students’ identities, and teachers
- Perspectives are broadened leading students to experience joy in nature, gain confidence in further outdoor exploration, and feel a sense of pride in overcoming challenges
Ripple Effect Mapping Infographic (PDF)
Download Full Ripple Effect Mapping Report (PDF)
To learn more about Wilderness Inquiry’s opportunities for youth, visit our Canoemobile page.
Youth Evaluations 2023
For the second year, Wilderness Inquiry facilitated a survey tool in partnership with Hello Insight to evaluate youth program efficacy in FY23. Across Wilderness Inquiry’s multi-day youth program offerings, young people showed statistically significant gains in one or more social-emotional learning (SEL) outcomes.
Youth who engaged with Wilderness Inquiry’s multi-day programming saw the following measurable gains:
- 100% of students surveyed made statistically significant gains in one or more Core SEL areas, the highest gains were made in self-management (90%), positive identity (79%), and academic self-efficacy (76%)
- 97% of students surveyed made statistically significant gains in Outdoor SEL areas, which include well-being in the outdoors, connections to the outdoors, and support for the environment
Wilderness Inquiry partnered with Saint Paul Public Schools to provide Outdoor Credit Recovery programming as an alternative to summer school. In addition to recovering academic credits, youth who participated in this program reported gains in SEL growth including:
- 100% of students surveyed made statistically significant gains in Core SEL areas
- 100% of students surveyed made statistically significant gains in Outdoor SEL areas
- Wilderness Inquiry programs scored in the 90th percentile nationally compared to peer organizations
- 94% overall program satisfaction
To learn more about Wilderness Inquiry’s opportunities for youth, visit our Canoemobile page.
2023 Evaluation Highlights (PDF)
Download Full Evaluation (PDF)
Funding for this project and evaluation was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).
*2023 survey sample size = 61 students (33 multi-day camping participants and 28 Outdoor Credit Recovery participants). Students surveyed participated in either an extended camping adventure or our Outdoor Credit Recovery program. Response rates among youth who were surveyed was 18% for multi-day camping adventures and 100% for Outdoor Credit Recovery.
Youth Evaluations 2022
Wilderness Inquiry piloted a survey tool in partnership with Hello Insight to evaluate youth program efficacy in FY22. Across Wilderness Inquiry’s youth program offerings, young people showed meaningful effect size gains in one or more social-emotional learning (SEL) outcomes.
Youth who engage with Wilderness Inquiry programming through single-day Canoemobile experiences see the following measurable gains:
- 81% of young people surveyed agreed that they enjoyed the outdoor experience
- 76% of young people reported the experience positively challenged growth, a reflection of Wilderness Inquiry staff giving frequent reminders that they believe in youth and their ability to succeed when they take risks and try their best
Youth who engage with Wilderness Inquiry programming through overnight camping experiences see the following measurable gains:
- 98% of young people reported experiencing authentic engagement, a key best practice shown to promote SEL growth
- 90% of young people reported working with an adult who helped them work with peers in teams and groups, another key best practice shown to promote SEL growth
Wilderness Inquiry partners with Minnesota school districts to provide Outdoor Credit Recovery programming as an alternative to summer school. In addition to recovering academic credits, youth who participated in this program reported gains in SEL growth including:
- 81% of young people reported Wilderness Inquiry programming expanded their interests, a key best practice shown to promote SEL growth because adults ensured that young people have the opportunity to engage in activities they like to do
- 74% of young people developed a positive identity which is considered part of self-awareness or the ability to understand one’s own emotions, thoughts, and values and how they influence behavior across contexts
To learn more about Wilderness Inquiry’s opportunities for youth, visit our Canoemobile page.
2022 Evaluation Highlights (PDF)
Download Full Evaluation (PDF)
Funding for this project and evaluation was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).
Youth Evaluations 2021
During FY21, Wilderness Inquiry participated in a program evaluation project with the Center for Applied Research in Educational Improvement with the University of Minnesota* to evaluate the outcomes of programming with youth through a six-week summer program with Great Minnesota Schools. Results of the evaluation show that:
- 79% of program staff agreed that students “strengthened their social-emotional learning skills” through participation in Wilderness Inquiry programming.
- By the end of the program, youth participants increased their level of agreement with the following statements:
- I can be successful when I try something scary.
- I am interested in jobs where I would work in nature.
*(Potter, L., Larson, M. (2021). Evaluation of Wilderness Inquiry’s Urban Wilderness Explorers Program: September 2021. Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement, College of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota.)
- Program survey feedback about virtual Mississippi River Explorers in FY21:
- 85% of participants agree they are more interested in helping the environment after participating in the program
- 78% of participants agree they want to spend more time outside after participating in the program
- 57% of participants agree they are more interested in jobs where they work in nature or the outdoors
- Program survey feedback from youth participants about virtual Freshwater Quest in FY21:
- 74% of participants agree they are more interested in helping the environment after participating in the program
- 80% of participants agree they want to spend more time outside after participating in the program
- 51% of participants agree they are more interested in jobs where they work in nature or the outdoors
To learn more about Wilderness Inquiry’s Virtual Explorers opportunities for Minnesota youth, visit our website.
Wilderness Inquiry has conducted program evaluation since 2010. For historical evaluation reports, please contact [email protected].