Over the weekend, I received several e-mails with questions about designing after school & camp programs, so I'm going to talk a little about a 4 step approach to designing programming today.
There are so many creative ideas for in-school, camp & after school programs out there, but so many of them never become a reality because, for one reason or another, the process gets interrupted. I think that this is due to a misunderstanding of the steps needed for a successful program. Many planners & moderators feel like they don't have support & they get frustrated quit before their program has a chance to grow.Another deterrent, is the widely accepted myth, that a program has to have every little detail in place before it can be implemented. This is not true. Its a shame when a program never gets implemented because the planner is stressed & overwhelmed and feels that "its not finished yet". While a good plan is definitely needed, the most successful programs are the ones that are not 'overplanned' and the ones that are implemented as soon as possible.
Programming is an ongoing process, rather than a "one and done" activity. While the actual program itself is obviously important, and we all want to get to that 'fun' part, there are three other phases or steps that are equally necessary. You must be willing to go through multiple series of these steps as you make the necessary revisions to nurture your program.
Here are 4 simple steps to keep in mind, whether you are a yoga teacher planning your own community program, or are an educator designing afterschool enrichment, a nurse creating an in-school wellness program, a camp counsellor running a summer science camp or any other stand-alone program:
1- Understand your mission: Your program goals must support your or the organization's mission in order to successfully grow. Make sure that the program activities are within the guidelines defined by the vision/mission statement, & that they contribute to furthering that mission.
2- Target Program Activities: What experience are you trying to create and for whom? What do you need in terms of equipment, venue and staff to accomplish this? How will you fund & promote the program? What will the participants learn/do? Goals & participants must be understood and described accurately, (and based on your mission statement), in order for the activity planning to flow. Focus on designing activities that target the needs of your participants & write your detailed plan to support them.
3- Program Operation: This is when the participants actually experience the program. The program coordinator will oversee the operation from all phases: promotion, registration, staffing, staging & interaction with participants & staff. He or she will observe & interact with participants and get a feel for the overall experience they are having.
4- Feedback: Getting feedback from staff, volunteers, moderators & participants is the fourth step of this process. A program's worth can be determined after careful consideration of all factors and all perspectives. Feedback gives you an idea of where changes are needed and what is working fine.
Remember that just because a program seems to not "get off the ground" doesn't necessarily mean you should scrap it. Review your feedback & try re-working the details and present it again. Understand that program development is an ongoing, experimental process, and the best programs grow out of trial and error, over time.
*Are you in the process of planing a program for camp, community or after school? What is the mission & location of your program? Who do you serve? Do you have an idea that you have not attempted to plan or implement yet? We would enjoy hearing about it!
Please tell us in the comments below!
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