DOCUMENT RESUME ED 052 050 24 SE 012 017 AUTHOR Rocchio, Richard TITLE Twin Owls Mountain Camp, A Summer Workshop for Colorado Young People. Final Report and Progress Report. INSTITUTION Center for Research and Education, Estes Park, Colo. SPONS AGENCY Office of Education (DHEW) , Washington, D.C. Bureau of Research. BUREAU NO BR-0-0794 PUB DATE Jun 71 GRANT OEG-0-70-5035 NOTE 301p. EDRS PRICE EDRS Price MF-$0.65 HC-$13.16 DESCRIPTORS *Behavior Change, *Environmental Education, Program Descriptions, *Projects, Reports, Resident Camp Programs, *Social Sciences, *Youth Programs ABSTRACT A progress report and final evaluation of the Twin Owls Mountain Camp - Summer Workshop for Colorado Young People are contained in this two-volume publication. Involved in the project was the operation of a summer camp for governmental/ecological education using a participative approach to the learning/teaching process. Also, it was to be determined if, through the summer experience and some follow-up work during the winter and spring, the attitudes and behaviors of young people toward their environment could be changed. The Progress Report of November, 1970, explains in detail the objectives of and preparation for the camp, recruiting of participants and staff, the problems encountered, and what was accomplished in the camp session, while the Final Report considers the follow-up work in the ensuing months. Final evaluation showed- that the majority of full-time workshop participants were able to apply at least a few of the skills and abilities and some of the knowledge to their living and working situations in the community. (BL) 79' ( FINAL REPORT Project No. 0-0794 Grant No. OEG-0 -70-5035 SCOPE OF INTEREST NOTICE The ERIC Facility has assigned this document for processing to: 5. In our judgement, this document is also of interest to the clearing- houses noted to the right. Index- ing should reflect their special points of view. TWIN OWLS MOUNTAIN CAMP A SUMMER WORKSHOP FORCOLORADO YOUNG PEOPLE Richard Rocchio Center for Research andEducation P.O. Box 1768 Estes Park, Colorado 80517 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATIONA WELFARE OFFICE OF EOUCATION THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEENREPRO- DUCED EXACTLY AS RECEIVEDFROM THE PERSON OR ORGANIZATIONORIG- INATING IT. POINTS OF VIEW OROPIN- IONS STATED DO NOTNECESSARILY REPRESENT OFFICIAL OFFICE OFEDU- CATION POSITION OR POLICY. June 1971 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, ANDWELFARE Office of Education Bureau ofResearch Final. Report Project No. 0-0794 Grant No. OEG-0-705035 TWIN OWLS MOUNTAIN CAMP A SUMMER WORKS9OP FOR COLORADO YOUNG PEOPLE Richard Rocchio Center for Research and Education P.O. Box 1768 Estes Park, Colorado 80517 June 1971 The research reported was performed pursuant to a grant with the Office of Education, U--S. Department ofHealth, Education and welfare. Contractors undertaking such projects under Government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their professional judgment in the conduct of the project. Points of view or opih- ions stated do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Of- fice of Education position or policy. U. S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE Office of Education Bureau of Research Table of Contents Page I. INTRODUCTION 1 II. SUMMARY 5 III. METHODS IV. RESULTS 9 Appendices A. PROJECT OBJECTIVES B. FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONNAIRES C. FOLLOW-UP LETTER D. DATA OBTAINED FROM FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONNAIRES :73 INTRODUCTION The increasing complexity of America's.social'and environmental problems Will demand a degree of maturity, intelligence, insight and strength from tomorrow's leaders unprecedented in the history of our country. The major purpose of the Twin Owls Mountain Camp, conducted by the Center for Research and Education in August 1970 at the H Bar G Ranch near Estes Park, Colorado, was to help prepare young people of Colorado to assume a role in the solution of their conununities' major social and environmental problems by developing responsible leadership and involvement. The camp session began with a group of 86 participants, rang- ing in age from 13 to 18: 45 young men and 41 young women--16 Mexican- Americans' 17 Blacks, 3 American Indians, 2 Korean and 1 Japanese American, 35 Anglo Whites and 6 Jews. They came from rural, suburban and urban localities and represented the full economic range from very rich to very poor. Some of them were leaders in their schools and others had serious probation backgrounds, etc. During the course of the four-week-session, 36 participants returned home. Some of these were asked to leave because of their unwillingness or inability to commit themselves to the learning and living goals of the Camp, and some left for personal reasons (usually associated with a situation at home.). The Progess Report dated November 1970 explains in detail the objectives of and preparation for the camp, recruiting of partici- pants and-staff, the problems encountered, and what was accomplished in the camp session. Therefore, it represents the major statement concerning the project. This Final Report is concerned with the follow-up activities listed in Section IX of the Interim Report: "Future Activities Planned for Next Reporting Period." Of the 50 young people who completed the camp session, about 20 'nave shown a continuing interest by becoming more actively in- volved in school and community affairs and by attending follow-up meetings. For the most part, these particular young people are white, upper middle-class. Admittedly, opportunity comes more easily to them. Some from minority groups, for instance, had had difficulties in branching out from their family traditions; and those under the jurisdiction of the probation courts have had limited means and op- portunity for follow-up activities. From our personal contacts with these young people, however, we feel that the camp provided several stopping stones--in the way of awareness and willingness--ps far as interpersonal relationships, at least, 'are concerned. A father of one of the Mexican American participants phoned one day'not long ago requesting that we not send any more correspon- dence from the camp office to his daughter. One can only conje.ct=e. 2 what has been happening in that household since the camp session. But here is a letter which she wrote us about her camp experience which we believe mirrors the changing attitudes of many of the par- ticipants even though they may not be able to actively associate with structured follow-up activities. March 1971 Dear Rich: You said you want a short article on what my :t experience at the camp was.Well, I'll sure try to 1 describe the most wonderful time I had. It might not be much but here goes. When I first heard of this camp I felt it would be a great place to go for the summer since there wasn't anything else to do. When we first received the pamphlet all I looked at was the part of having fun. So I got all excited about it thinking it would be just a place to do your own thing, go swimming, horse back riding, just anything you felt like doing. So on the day of leaving this is all I had in mind. But the big let down was when we got there, everything was arranged as a school. Wow. I was really mad because of all the thoughts grouped in my mind. Well, the following next two-days were gonna take some time to get arranged, so the third night we had a meeting, everyone with their own cabin group. 11 We were all given schedules to be followed. These schedules consisted of many classes to go to at dif- ferent times. I was never so mad, but in these classes I found I really enjoyed them. I loved to go to my Human Relations class, except sometimes because of everyone being personal, but I finally got used to it. Sure, often you had time to yourself. I found this out later. It wasn't just a place to go to school. But the good part of all, it gave you a great chance to know the people you were gonna live with for the next month. The part I most enjoyed was when Paul was able to give a sermon some nights. This was really a good experience to me. It was really something. There aren't words made to express how I felt toward this. On the day of leaving it really hurt me bad be- cause it's not easy to give up leaving people behind that you learned to live with.Especially if you live where I do. It consists of only Blacks and Chi- canos, and when I had the chance to live with Whites it was a great experience for myself because of this A 5 reason. There aren't words made up for this camp. IL's just a great and wonderful experience for people who feel the way I do. The most part that hurt was when we had a reun- ion, because I wasn't permitted to go because of my parents saying no. I've never really found out why, but maybe I will soon. T. hope you all had a wonder- ful time. And I really hope you get the money you need for this camp because a lot of young kids would really enjoy it. It's a great learning experience that you will always remember, because I know I will. Love, The following sections detail the follow-up activities and their results. SUMMARY The study involved the operation of a summer camp for environ- mental/ecological education using a participative approach to the learning/teaching process (see Progress Report, pp 33-36) and to de- termine if through the summer experience and some follow-up work dur- ing the winter and spring, the attitudes and behaviors of young peo- ple toward their environment could be changed.