RMYC Community Youth Crew and Regional Youth Crew Results 12-Month Follow up Study Summer Experiential Education Program 2021 Cohort

Assets for a Healthy Adolescence - Experiential Outdoor Service Learning (AHA-EOSL) Program, provided by Rocky Mountain Youth Corps-CO (RMYC), engaged 165 youth during summer 2021 in Youth Crews (ages 14-18) who worked together in 8-10 member for two or five weeks while performing meaningful conservation and service projects. RMYC focused on enhancing eight protective factors along with reductions in alcohol and marijuana use: 1. Planning and Decision Making, 2. Interpersonal Skills, 3. Peer/Social Support, 4. Resiliency, 5. Enhanced Self- efficacy, 6. Leadership, 7. Civic Engagement, and 8. Alcohol and Drug Expectations. This report summarizes the results of a 12-month follow-up study of the Summer 2021 cohort, using data collected during Summer 2022 from 64 participants. The Follow-up survey data consistently support that the initial gains made from Entrance to Exit across the seven subscales were maintained or showed enhancement 12 months later. While Alcohol and Marijuana use showed some increase, they were substantially lower than national projections for youth of similar ages. Clearly this report provides evidence that Rocky Mountain Youth Corps' experiential education program resulted in positive immediate and longer terms effects in strengthening positive youth assets.