Institution Response: Status Updates on Advisory Group Recommendations
In consideration of recommendations by Youth and Family Programs Advisory Group
Children’s School/Group One/Boys’ and Girls’ Club
| Recommendation | Status | Notes/Details (if applicable) |
| More/improved training for staff • Additional, specific training for working with children with special needs • Add Chautauqua-specific items (history, tour of grounds) to orientation process • Establish partnerships with local schools/universities to create pre-professional training opportunities for and within Y&FP staff | In Progress | Youth and Family Programs collects feedback on training annually, which is reviewed by the leadership team to identify training topics and improved structure for the next year. Enhanced training has recently included: community partner workshops on working with children with disabilities, leading nature play and STEM programming; developmental stages, scenario roleplay; and year-round professional development through Chautauqua’s Arts Education program. The leadership team has identified a specific focus for this year on development of orientation topics and support materials for staff new to Chautauqua. |
| Establish “ADA Coordinator” position | Considering | We envision a broader role to meet ADA needs across the Institution with a specific focus on the needs of Youth and Family Programs. Within Youth and Family Programs, a Camper Success Meeting plan was implemented in 2022 which is facilitated by each program leadership team. This process has been reviewed and improvements are being made following pilot season assessment for the upcoming season. |
| Conduct market compensation analysis of Y&FP staff positions | Regularly Evaluating | |
| Offer opt-in lunch program | Completed | Y&F Programs is piloting an opt-in lunch programs for Group One and Boys’ and Girls’ Club Groups 2-6 in 2023. |
| Include additional gender identities on registration forms | Regularly Evaluating | At this time, families are able to self-select the best fit Boys’ and Girls’ Club Group for their child during registration. |
| Diversify programming schedule | Completed | Within Children’s School, Group One, and Boys’ and Girls’ Club, the leadership team is proactively seeking opportunities to enhance program offerings, this includes: adjusting staff structure to better support program planning, working across departments for special guest and workshop opportunities as applicable, and internal new activity and event development. The Y&F team is also working on program development through classes; more information is provided in items 7 and 8. |
| Rethink Week Nine Y&FP programming | Completed | Classes and workshops are scheduled to be offered through Special Studies, Recreation, as well as classes developed by the Youth and Family Programs leadership team. Additional pop-up programs will be available through Play CHQ. |
| Improve coordination with Special Studies and Department of Recreation on program offerings, timing and fee structures | Completed | Youth and Family Programs works closely on various projects and planning with Special Studies and Recreation. Recently this work with Recreation has included: establishing the CHQ Trail, waterfront operations, open basketball scheduling, and pickleball initiatives. With Special Studies, Youth and Family Programs leadership team are developing a pilot collection of courses on a wide variety of topics and ages specifically to address some program gaps within our offerings (i.e. families with kids under 3). |
| Create Y&FP offerings for children younger than 3 | Regularly Evaluating | Children’s School now accepts registration for children 2 years and 8 months old; we are piloting additional class opportunities to include children younger than 3 and Play CHQ offers pop-up programs for all ages. Programs for this age group are regularly being evaluated to identify additional needs and improvements. |
| Sustain traditional single-sex group structure at Boys’ and Girls’ Club | Regularly Evaluating | The registration structure of Boys’ and Girls’ Club remains single-sex groupings when possible. Program leadership regularly evaluate enrollment and staffing numbers to modify groups as needed to maintain ratios and quality programming. |
Youth Activities Center/Pier Club (Formerly College Club)
| Recommendation | Status | Notes/Details (if applicable) |
| Build out a program and program space for young people age 16–20 that parallels the YAC’s success • Re-establish “Pier Club Coordinator” position to drive this work • Coordinate with Department of Recreation on informal organized recreational activities targeted for this age group | Regularly Evaluating | During the 2022 season, a separate program was re-established for young adults. Following assessment of this pilot which included collecting feedback from the target demographic, event specific programming for this group will continue in 2023 which will include dances. The development and facilitation of Young Adult programs will continue development through a collaborative effort between YAC leadership and Play CHQ. |
| Improve social media outreach to youth • Establish internship position | In Progress | The Marketing and Communications team has added focused capacity for digital marketing and social media management which will support Youth and Family Programs. |
| Re-establish summer dances for 12–15 and 16–20 age groups | Completed | Regular YAC dances have been re-established middle – early high schoolers. Young Adult dances were held at the Double Eagle in 2022 and following this successful return will continue this season. |
| Extend hours for both the YAC and 16–20 program space, including weekends • Align hours for age 16–20 program space to be more appropriate for that age group | In Progress | The YAC is piloting activities, special events, and initiatives during times when the space and program are currently underutilized, Monday-Friday. YAC leadership is also active in development of programming for Young Adults. |
Chautauqua Institution
| Recommendation | Status | Notes/Details (if applicable) |
| Improve data gathering and extend to individual level | In Progress | Chautauqua’s Project 360 team has a specific project focus on data collection and analysis. |
| Conduct internal listening sessions to make better use of knowledge and expertise across the organization | In Progress | Institution continues to create and evaluate opportunities for cross-division communication and collaboration. An example of this work is the establishment of the Program Team which meets monthly Fall-Spring to support cross-division collaboration. |
| Develop equitable and accessible system for engaging community members in open dialogue | In Progress | Part of the work of the unified Community Relations team whom have implemented initiatives like the Sunday Activity Fairs and the staff tent on Bestor Plaza. |
| Create targeted fundraising campaign specifically for Y&FP program sustainability, annually and by building an endowment | In Progress | |
| Funds raised through Y&FP fundraising activities should be designated to support Y&FP | Completed | Fundraising is no longer a specific activity of Chautauqua’s youth programs. Money raised specifically to support Youth and Family Programs is restricted to Youth and Family Programs, and in accordance with donor agreements as applicable. |
| Create weekly informal “meet and greet” opportunity on Sundays for new and returning Y&FP participants and their families | Completed | This was implemented through youth program location open houses, Play CHQ activities on Bestor Plaza, and Sunday Activity Fairs. |
| Create Map of Grounds specifically geared toward accessibility | In Progress | Part of the work of the IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility) Office and a forthcoming accessibility audit |
| Include representations of people with disabilities in marketing collateral | In Progress | Marketing Office regularly assesses marketing assets for diversity of all kinds |
| Create programming that educates community members about people with (dis)abilities and special needs | ||
| Help facilitate access to resources such as aides and caretakers | Considering | The Youth and Family Programs team is working within the capacity of local resources to support this effort. |
| Develop “navigator” program to guide families with people with special needs | Considering |