The CYFAR project goal at Adventure Central is to help youth succeed in school by increasing parental involvement in their child's learning process.

Adventure Central is a partnership between Five Rivers MetroParks and Ohio State University Extension. It is located in a neighborhood in West Dayton where 94% of the population is African American. The median annual income is just over $18,000 and 85% of youth qualify of the Free and Reduced Meal program. Adventure Central serves as a hub for out-of-school time programming such as after school activities, a youth leadership board, workforce development training and work experiences, open computer labs, clubs, overnight camps, and summer day camps for school-age youth. The center is open between 2:30 and 8:00 pm Monday through Thursday, and offers expanded hours in the summer. Its mission is focused around positive youth development with an emphasis on environmental education and leadership skills. At Adventure Central youth spend time getting help with homework, reading with volunteers, learning through hands-on activities, and forming positive relationships with caring adults.

Adventure Central - Logic Model

Evaluation

CYFAR project staff developed evaluation tools that assess family involvement.

Parent Surveys

• Adult-completed survey to assess parent involvement in their child's learning.
• Adult-completed survey to assess how well their children are doing academically and socially.
• Annual survey to assess impact of experiences at Adventure Central.

Focus Group Interviews

• Parent questions focused on family activities, parenting skills, desired programming content / scheduling, and barriers to parent involvement.
• Staff observations, ideas, and assessments about activities related to fostering more parent and family involvement at Adventue Central were collected.

Location

This afterschool center in Dayton, Ohio, is a cooperative venture between Ohio State University Extension 4-H and Five Rivers MetroParks.