The purpose of this paper is to chronicle the efforts of Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (RMYC), an outdoor experiential education service program, to establish itself as an evidence based program, highlight the constraints encountered around accomplishing this, and then suggest some alternative routes to those currently available. RMYC is typical of…

Youths not only participate in Extension services but also can be equipped as facilitators to extend information about a critical topic to new audiences. Our interdisciplinary team of Extension professionals created a program to equip youths as peer educators, increase youths' awareness and understanding of a new topic (local foods), promote…

There is currently a lack of theoretically based research regarding positive youth development (PYD) and youth in recreational sport settings, including residential summer sport camps. This qualitative research study explored the ways in which positive developmental experiences are facilitated at a residential summer sport camp. Using a case study…

This article provides a brief overview of the Teen Interactive Theater Education (TITE) curriculum, the theory behind its inception, and the expected outcomes. TITE is an innovative positive youth development program that engages young people in the consideration of pertinent topics in today's society through the use of experiential activities…

Mentoring is a promising approach to promote healthy development and prevent poor youth outcomes; however, bad mentoring experiences have yielded negative results. Thus, it is critical that youth service providers take heed of the current research and resources for establishing an effective youth mentoring program. Given the increased interest in…

The authors review the types of experiential peace education programs available to teens in the US and provide a classification guide for educators, parents, other concerned adults and teens who may be interested in developing conflict, peace and/or violence prevention knowledge, skills and attitudes. The authors identify experiential programs in…

The 2005 "UNAIDS Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic" estimated that 10 million young people are living with HIV and AIDS worldwide and that approximately half of all new infections are among 15-24 year olds. Findings from a study suggest that there may be a false sense of complacency about the disease among today's youth. This ignorance…

This paper presents the policy statement on youth employment from the National Collaboration for Youth (NCY). An introduction briefly explains the role of the NCY with regard to youth employment and describes the types of programs and services supported by NCY. A section on background provides statistics on teenagers and employment from the Bureau…

Describes how the Honolulu Theatre for Youth and Very Special Arts Hawaii developed the annual THEATREFEST, a successful program celebrating the work of young playwrights and performers. Discusses how the project came about and how it is yearly put together. (SR)

This article presents and discusses a 3-D online environment known as Teen Second Life. TSL is a virtual environment geared just for youth, ages 13-17. Its social appeal is huge, especially for teens who are developmentally inclined to seek out the company of their peers. In TSL one can meet friends or make new ones, hang out, listen to music and…

Defines youth development programs and reviews the program evaluation literature. Discusses (1) positive-behavior focused competency/asset enhancing programs, (2) problem-behavior focused competency/asset enhancing programs, and (3) resistance skills-based prevention programs. Includes an appendix of detailed summaries of 15 program evaluations.…

Describes Kaleidoscope's Youth Development Program in Illinois, which offers a variety of services to help youths who are "aging out" of foster care programs to learn to live on their own in the community. (Author/BB)

Describes the group counseling program at the House of Shalom Youth Centre in Ontario. The goals of the program are to facilitate mastery of normative developmental crises and to establish coping skills to meet present and future environmental demands. (JAC)

This report, summarizing the proceedings at a February 1988 conference at Brown University on youth service, presents briefly an overview of the emerging network of youth service programs in the following states: (1) Minnesota; (2) Pennsylvania; (3) California; (4) Massachusetts; and (5) Ohio. Rationales for youth service are analyzed. Eight…

The report describes Aunt Martha's Youth Service Center (IL), a multipurpose agency which focuses on the needs of adolescents. Founded in 1968, the agency now (1978) has a staff of 40, a 21 member board of directors, 199 volunteers, 28 foster parents, and serves a 15 township region. The goals of the program are to increase opportunities for young…