T212 Strategies and Best Practices in the Development and Execution of Youth Outreach Programs

Tuesday, 24 September 2024
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
208A

A LOOK AT THE ROLES AND TRAINING OF STAFF WORKING FOR YOUTH PROGRAMS

Paper number: T212-3
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 1:55 PM – 2:10 PM

Authors

Abstract

Youth programs need a much larger pool of staff than traditional college field camps or research expeditions. These staff need to fulfill a variety of roles regarding safety, logistical tasks, and education of the students. Using the example of the GeoFORCE Texas program, I will discuss the expectations of roles such as camp counselors, trail drivers, and instructors and who best fits these roles. Staff in youth outreach programs should be trained and re-trained every year before working with students to solidify the best practices of their position. Some key aspects of training should include: being a role model, representing the institution and funders, and understanding the specifics of each staff members duties day-to-day. By the end of this oral presentation, audience members will have a better understanding of what kind of staff are needed on their youth program, where to recruit those staff, and how to train them.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 56, No. 5

doi: 10.1130/abs/2024AM-404954

© Copyright 2024 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.