Wayfinders

We survey scholars, mentors, families, and camp partners annually after camp concludes. We offer parent surveys in both Spanish and English to ensure maximum completion. We also offer incentives and opportunities at our events to complete surveys with a volunteers help and follow up personally with scholars and parents about survey completion.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools provides us with attendance, discipline, demographic, and academic data.

While we adjust our metrics or add goals as our programming shifts, the focus is on many of the same outcomes to best track our scholars over the duration of the time in the program. Below are some of our goals:

1. Wayfinders scholars increase their social capital.
a. 90% of Wayfinders scholars will enjoy getting to know people who are different from them at camp.
b. 90% of Wayfinders scholars will enjoy trying new activities at camp.
c. 90% of scholars want to return to camp next year.

2. Wayfinders scholars will be exposed to new opportunities and experiences, likely unavailable to them outside of our program, leading to social and emotional growth.
a. 90% of parents will report witnessing their child use a new skill learned.
b. 90% of parents will report increased levels of self-esteem in their child.
c. 90% of parents will report increased levels of responsibility and maturity in their child.
d. 90% of scholars will report an increased connection to nature.
e. 90% of scholars will think about their choices before acting.
f. 90% of scholars can articulate a goal for themselves.

Throughout the year, we collect stories from scholars and mentors. As one scholar said: I really loved camp. It was amazing and I was able to meet new people and challenge myself to be more open.

The Wayfinders theory of change expects that positive summer camp experiences and year-round enrichment and mentoring will motivate scholars to be successful in school, increase self-confidence and access to educational opportunities, and improve leadership skills.

These intermediary outcomes are then expected to influence more long-term outcomes such as academic performance, attendance, goal setting, and ultimately graduation from high school. Using data provided by CMS and partners, we examine scholars academic performance following their camp experiences to evaluate how our scholars are progressing academically and overcoming summer slide.

In addition to school-based indicators such as test scores and grades, attendance, discipline, and on-time entrance to ninth grade and graduation, we review each students experience through scholar, parent, and counselor surveys. These outcomes are compiled and reported on annually by an independent evaluator. Our Family & Academic Success Coordinator reviews all academic and attendance data throughout the year and follows up accordingly.