DESCRIPTION

Camp LEAD (Leadership for Equity, Access, and Diversity) is a transformative experiential leadership program for middle and high school aged students. This research based social- emotional residential program has been found to positively impact school communities while also helping individual students transform in ways that positively impact school attendance, behavior, and academic performance.

Camp LEAD is a three-day experiential residential camp. This program has been making a difference in schools throughout San Diego County for over twenty years. Through practical hands-on training, students work to identify and address their own behaviors and attitudes about ethnic culture, religion, race, socioeconomics, gender and age. Through interactive activities and discussions students come away with new knowledge and skills to be build, positive, inclusive campus environments where all students feel valued and connected.

To learn more about how to get your school or youth involved, please contact us.

CAMP LEAD OUTCOMES:

  • Improves social-emotional skills

  • Increases school attendance

  • Improves behavioral outcomes

  • Improves academic performance

  • Improves law enforcement and youth relationships

  • Increases connectedness

An evaluation conducted by Duerr Evaluation Resources, a California-based evaluation company with 36-years of experience conducting research and program evaluations, validated the following outcomes from Camp LEAD:

FOR HIGH-RISK STUDENTS:

·   Reduced discipline problems

·   Improved academic performance

·   Increased school attendance

·   Improved social-emotional skills

·   Enhanced sense of school connectedness

FOR STUDENTS AND ADULT PARTICIPANTS (SCHOOL STAFF, SERVICE PROVIDERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, ETC):

·   Greater feeling of connection to the community

·   Increased empathy

·   More empowered to affect change

·   Enhanced resiliency

·   Greater self-awareness

EVALUATION

Camp LEAD consisted of pre-post analysis of academic data. The analysis compared data for the semester prior to Camp (baseline) to data for the semester following Camp (follow-up), including the numbers of office referrals, numbers of D and F grades, credit pass rates, and absences. A pre-post survey was also administered student participants. A total of 683 student surveys were matched on a pre-to-post Camp basis. A focus group was held with students after the summer 2009 Camps, and a staff survey was administered at the end of each Camp.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY SHERIFF’S DATA HAS FOUND COST SAVINGS THROUGH REDUCED CRIMINAL INVOLVEMENT:

  • Camp LEAD effective in reducing juvenile crime by using best practices in restorative justice.

    • In 2011, the Lemon Grove and Santee Station referred 110 students to camp for minor offenses: fighting, daytime loitering, curfew and family disturbances. Out of the 110 students that attended camp, only 1 student was detained for a criminal offense in the next year after attending camp.

  • Camp LEAD is a cost-effective social justice program that breaks the cycle of crime/ violence with some minor offenders, reducing the likely hood of future offenses and reducing the chances of future incarceration.

Camp LEAD is a program of Real Matters, Inc.