Venture
Out Evaluations and Feedback
2001 – 2002
- Venture Out will conduct 7 extremely affordable trips for the 2001-2002 school year.
Up from 2 in the 2000-2001 school year.
- Venture Out will conduct at least 7 mini-seminars or clinics in the 2001-2002 school year.
Up from 2 in the 2000-2001 school year.
- Venture Out participants will conduct over 1000 hours of service during the 2001-2002 school year.
Up from 0 the past year.
- Indoor Climbing Wall participation has grown from 139 participants in 2000 – 2001 to 375 participants thus far this year, an increase of 270%.
-
A graduate student at GC&SU, who will be presenting the results
at a conference in April, used Venture Out participants for a study on Participant
Motivation and Social Networks in College Outdoor Programs.
-
Venture Out works from a $3000 budget and 1 full time graduate assistant,
lowest in the department.
-
All other facilitators are VOLUNTEERS who do not get paid for their
assistance. Venture Out trips, indoor
climbing wall, seminars, and clinics would not be possible without the assistance
of volunteers who believe in the quality of the programs offered through the
Department of Student Activities.
-
Venture Out provides a dynamic and exciting work environment for a
Graduate Assistant. He/she is able
to take initiative and work with programming, marketing, budgeting, evaluating,
and implementing a variety of programs and activities for students at
Venture
Out and GC&SU Mission and Principles:
Venture Out offers programs that provide opportunities for students
to increase their passion for achievement, a lifelong curiosity, and an
exuberance for learning outside the classroom. In addition, students are provided with opportunities
to refine and strengthen their mind and character by increasing their respect
for human diversity and individuality, instilling a sense of civic responsibility,
encouraging the formation of sound ethical principles, and promoting healthy
and active lifestyles. Finally, the
staff of Department of Student Activities, through the programs of Venture
Out and other services, strengthens the commitment of GC&SU to endow its
graduates with professionalism, responsibility, service, leadership and integrity.
We are proud to play an integral part in the development of students
here at
What students are saying about Venture Out Programs:
What did you like about the
experience?
“I gained confidence from the experience. I learned
something I did not think I could do.”
“Lots of 1:1 coaching. Meet new people. Skilled Facilitators”
“Instructors were very helpful and encouraging, excellent
teachers”
“I enjoyed doing something that I don’t do on a normal
basis”
“I liked learning skills and being out in the woods”
“The whole team effort and understanding/tolerance
of each other was rather great!”
“Chance to relax and relieve stress”
“Support, feedback, and pushing
myself. Out of the comfort zone”
“I like how the facilitators took their time and went
at your speed”
“Challenge myself beyond experience”
“The outdoors are just wonderful, the company was great
and laid back. I also liked that I
gained a reasonable amount of knowledge that I did not have.”
“I liked the new environment I was exposed to. I liked the fact that the leaders were easy
to identify with and willing to help and listen.”
“Just walking through the rain in the forest; also
getting to know the international students better.”
What did you learn about
yourself as an individual? As a group member?
“That I can contribute with my strengths but also that I must sit back
and learn about my weakness. As a group
member, to sacrifice personal gain to make sure everyone is succeeding. Which ended up being more
rewarding.”
“That if I am patient, I do better. When
you’re in a group, you can’t let the little things bug you.”
“I found that I got over my fear of heights, and I don’t think I could
have without the support from the group.”
“I learned that I could learn by breaking movements down 1 by 1.”
“I can push myself harder than I ever imagined, and if I put my mind to
it and listen closely, I can achieve a lot”
“I’m very supportive”
“That I’m not comfortable and as social with groups of people I don’t
know well, and I think its something I need to work
on”
“As an individual: that I had the
confidence and ability to lead/support and help others. Group member: be a part and have fun!”
“That is important to learn your limitations and to understand the needs
of those around you”
“I like to challenge myself”
“That I have a lot of determination. Encouraged
a lot of folks”
“As an individual, I’m way too hard on myself for not getting it right,
as a group member, I like to see others succeed and I’m a supporter.”
“Ability to achieve new goals. Learning how to give more
support. Understanding a new
approach to facilitating”
“Confidence in myself and ability to work with others”
“As an individual I learned that you can always keep going. As a group member I learned that doing things
as a group are more enjoying”
“I learned about my own self awareness. I got a better look at group dynamics, and the
role that I play on a trip such as this.”
“I learned that I really love the earth (outdoors) and it just reassured
my decision to start the outdoor education program next year. I also improved
my communication skills.”
“I am not as smart or strong as I would like to think, you can always
learn from someone else.”
“I learned that everything is mental.
And you make of it what you want to.
Working as a group can help other people feel comfortable.”
“I learned how to cope with the environment and I learned how to accept
what was coming for me.”
“Trusting myself and trusting other people.”
This is what participants have to say about Venture
Out:
Participants were asked
to:
Rank your feedback in each
area below using the following scale:
1 2 3 4
5 6
7 8
9 10
poor average
excellent
needs improvement
exceptionally skillful
The
mean score is provided to the right of the question for 45 participants from
January to the beginning of March:
|
Were
you satisfied with this Program?
9.5 |
|
Were
the program goals and objectives clearly defined at the beginning of
the program? 9.6 |
|
Did
the program meet those goals?
9.6 |
|
Did
you obtain knowledge and skills previously unknown to you? 9.2 |
|
Did
this program provide the opportunity to participate in social, recreational, 9.2 cultural, and educational activities? |
|
Did
this program help to increase your ability to make responsible decisions? 8.5 |
|
Did
this program help facilitate your leadership, teamwork, and organizational
skills? 8.5 |
|
Did
this program enhance your college experience?
9.4 |
|
Were
the facilitators well prepared for this trip?
9.8 |
|
Did
the facilitators encourage questions?
9.7 |
|
Were
the facilitators supportive of you and your group? 9.9 |
|
Did
the facilitators demonstrate a high degree of safety consciousness? 9.8 |
Old Evaluations:
Rank your feedback in each
area below using the following scale:
1 2
3 4 5
poor
average excellent
needs
improvement
exceptionally skillful
The
mean score is provided to the right of the question for 20 participants or
the 2000 – 2001 school year:
|
Were
you satisfied with the Program?
4.7 |
|
Would
you recommend this activity to a friend?
4.8 |
|
Was
this experience worth the time?
4.9 |
|
Were
the facilitators well prepared for this trip?
4.9 |
|
Did
the facilitators make the goals and objectives of the trip clear at
the beginning? 4.7 |
|
Did
the facilitators encourage questions?
4.7 |
|
Were
the facilitators supportive of you and your group? 5.0 |
|
Did
the facilitators demonstrate a high degree of safety consciousness? 5.0 |
Venture Out Trip/Clinic Table
|
Trip/Clinic
Name |
Date |
Num.
Of Slots |
Num.
Of Participants |
Percentage
of Part. |
1st
Time Participant |
Repeat
Participant |
Internat. Student |
|
Canyon* |
- |
6 |
6 |
100% |
6 |
0 |
0 |
|
Smokies Spring Break Trip |
- |
11 |
11 |
100% |
11 |
0 |
1 |
|
Sky Diving |
|
13 |
9 |
69% |
8 |
1 |
1 |
|
PMT |
- |
10 |
7 |
70% |
7 |
0 |
5 |
|
Sand Rock Climbing |
- |
12 |
12 |
100% |
11 |
1 |
0 |
|
PMT |
- |
12 |
11 |
91% |
8 |
3 |
0 |
|
Kayak Roll Clinic |
|
10 |
10 |
100% |
9 |
1 |
0 |
|
Kayak Roll Clinic |
|
10 |
7 |
70% |
3 |
4 |
0 |
|
Kayak Roll Clinic |
|
10 |
9 |
90% |
3 |
7 |
0 |
|
PMT |
- |
12 |
6 |
50% |
5 |
1 |
2 |
|
Kayak Roll Clinic |
|
10 |
10 |
100% |
4 |
6 |
0 |
Totals |
|
116 |
98 |
84% |
75 |
24 |
9 |
*