2013 Outdoor Leadership Evaluation Summary

Birchwood Blue Hills Charter School students participated in a post-program evaluation. 11of 13 participants completed the Qualtrics survey. Participants rated their experience highly. In every category, students improved their knowledge, as well as the ability to usewhat they learned in leadership situations.

1. How would you rate your experience in the Outdoor Leadership workshops?

Figure 1: Experience in Program

2. How did the training meet your expectations? Was what you learned applicable and appropriate to what you came to this training for?

Figure 2: Expectations of Program

3. What suggestions do you have for future training sessions?

  • More games and hands on learning! :)
  • Try to have more examples of the content in the power points.
  • A session in the fall with some actual field work would be great!
  • I suggest we should do more outside activities!
  • None (7)

4. Please rate your experiences before and after the class related to each of the following topics. Think back to before January when rating your knowledge before the class.

Figure 3: Growth through Program

Mean (Y-Axis)Categories Evaluated (X-axis)

1 = Strongly Disagree1 = I understand the 7 Stages of Adventure

2 – Disagree2 = I can use the first 5 stages of adventure effectively

3 = Agree3 = I understand and can identify the different stages of group

4 = Strongly Agree (numbers switched from survey for development

visualization)4 = I can use my knowledge of the stages of group development to benefit groups I am a part of or in charge of

5 = I understand and can identify the different decision making styles

6 = I am comfortable using different decision making styles when working with a group

7 = I understand how to read a topographic map

8 = I understand the 7 Leave No Trace principles

9 = I follow some of the Leave No Trace principles when I am outdoors

10 = I understand how to manage risk in the outdoors

11 = I understand the 4 leadership styles (relationship master, spontaneous motivator, driver, analyst/architect)

12 = I understand the 7 Core Leadership Skills (Expedition Behavior, Competence, etc.)

13 = I understand where I am in the leadership quadrant and how that affects how I work with others

14 = I am comfortable planning an outdoor trip

6/7. What was your favorite topic? Why?

Figure 4: Favorite Topic

  • 7 Stages of Adventure (5)
  • Lots of interaction and getting to know each other better (3)
  • Because we got to work as a group
  • A new topic
  • Group Dynamics (1)
  • Got to know each other.
  • Map Reading (4)
  • Gained confidence to use a map on my own
  • A new skill to learn
  • Good refresher on maps
  • It will help in the future to use maps effectively
  • 4 Leadership Styles (1)
  • Learned about how we are leaders

8/9. What was your least favorite topic? Why?

Figure 5: Least Favorite Topic

  • 7 Stages of Adventure (1)
  • I cannot retain this information and it was kind of boring
  • Group Dynamics (2)
  • I found that it is kind of hard to keep track of planning all the gear for the trip when you haven't done it before.
  • Not very hands-on.
  • Decision Making (1)
  • I’m not a leader, I am a follower
  • Leave No Trace (1)
  • Already knew it
  • Map Reading (4)
  • Maps are confusing, I can’t read maps (3)
  • I don’t like map reading and don’t understand why we had to

10. What did you get out of planning a potential trip (Ice Age Trail, Namekagon, Flambeau)? What can you use in the future from this experience?

  • Planning ahead is important (3)
  • Figuring out gear and thinking about risk management (where is the hospital)
  • Experience helps know what gear is needed (2)
  • It takes team work to make a trip happen
  • Don’t procrastinate.
  • Map reading
  • Can plan trips in the future
  • Need more direction with making this a useful exercise

11. How has this training changed the way you work as a part of a group?

  • Confidence
  • It taught me to look at everyone’s ideas and be open minded (2)
  • You need to work with people that have different leadership styles than you and you can’t force trust
  • I now help others if they’re stumped when talking
  • Helped me know what to do as a leader
  • It has helped me work better
  • Understanding the group stages
  • I can’t be stubborn
  • It didn’t change it (2)

12. How has this training changed the way you lead others (or plan to in the future)?

  • I think identifying leadership styles is a great way to go into a new project or group that's working together.
  • Confidence
  • Speak more clearly and not being as stubborn
  • It has made me understand what type of leader I am and what the group is going through.
  • I can ask for others opinions in decision making and then make a decision
  • It changed how I think.
  • I can take more control of things.
  • The 7 stages and the map reading.
  • I will be making more outlines and ideas.
  • Hasn’t changed because I’m not a leader (2)

13. If there were additional skills sessions related to outdoor leadership and skills in the coming school year, would you like to attend them?

Figure 6: Interest in Future Outdoor Leadership Sessions

14. Would you recommend this workshop to other youth?

Figure 7: Likelihood of Recommending Program to Others