Collaborative Decision Making Year 1 Claim 1 My leadership in the past year sought to adapt a more acceptable evidence base,

as part of building the capacity of participants to collaborate in strengthening data collection. (Besides, professors at both UW and WSU have questioned the validity of the older 4H Life Skills Inventory). Evidence 1 In an effort to create a more reliable Pre- Post Test, I persuaded 4H Adventure Education to drop the 'post-only' Life Skills Inventory, and adopt a more quantitative Pre- Post test format for Challenge Course participants. WSU-4H brought in WSU professor Robby Cooper, faculty from Piece County 4H, as well as Seattle Parks Experiential Education specialist Shan McElroy and myself. We came up with a 16 question survey that measured decision making, teamwork, communication, and teamwork. The new Challenge Course participant tests are still under Internal Review Board at WSU, will be practiced with on course at Camp Long in late September, and should be on course by October (source Inquiry 2013-2014) Claim 2 To build more capacity (and stake holders) within Parks and Recreation, my leadership has persuaded several internal organizations to use the 4H Challenge Course at Camp Long for internal team building. (Standard 4b, 4c) Evidence 2 Parks and Recreation can actually be divided into two branches: Parks: grounds crew, maintenance, etc. and Recreation which includes pools, community centers, etc. Three different Parks staffs (sewer, plumbing, and tree crew) all had three-hour sessions on the high course for Standard 4d, 4e

communication and self-efficacy development.

Within Recreation, 10 different teen work-

study groups came out (almost 100 high school students) to the low challenge course, and then a month later, the same groups returned to use the high course. In this sequence, they focused on communication, teamwork, decision making, and self-efficacy. (source: enrollment numbers for 2013) Claim 3 Through my encouraging and better explanation of the facilitator process, the 4H Challenge Course at Camp Long has attracted stronger partnerships with the Department of Neighborhoods grant. WSU 4-H Youth Development seeks to train volunteers (agency members) to be challenge facilitators and spread Life Skill Development to their youth and youth leaders (vs. developing paid staff that are extremely competent facilitators in themselves). Seattle Parks has partnered with Renton Area Youth and Family Services (RAYS), Neighborhood House, the Mountaineers, SCA, and numerous other non-profits in the hope that they will bring their teen groups to the course at Camp Long (basically, a pyramid scheme with the best intentions). (Standard 4d) Evidence 3 The intent of the Camp Long Challenge Collaboration (CCC) is grand, the actual results are mixed. "Outdoorsy" non-profits like Outdoors For All, Mountaineers, SCA, tend to produce the most competent challenge facilitators (probably because they are already adventure education specialists, challenge courses are not a 'stretch' for them). However, Neighborhood House in the High Point region of West Seattle has been one of the most proficient users of the challenge course this year with over 7 visits this spring/ summer alone bringing extremely diverse students (typically immigrant Muslim) to the challenge course. Because of their high frequency usage,

we have tailored programs working with Muslim girls with all or predominant female staff. (source: enrollment numbers for 2013) Future work for 2013-14 As I intern in with Seattle Public Schools PE program, I will try to: - promote the value of adventure education within PE programs and how it can support academic resilience in students. - support the efforts of SPS teachers receiving Challenge Course Facilitator Training (with clock hours). - explore more ways Parks and Schools can collaborate together. As I start my 3rd year as the Challenge Course Manger, I will: -continue strengthening the CCC, working with current facilitator to set the bar high with their facilitation skills, while training and mentoring new Partner facilitators. And, redefining what it means to be a partner in the CCC.