Making Every Day Count - Teens

Conclusions and Implications 35Survey and attendance data reveal a picture ofteens who go to Clubs relatively frequently, evenas they transition from middle to high school.Importantly, even those who attend other out-ofschool-timeactivities feel connected to the Club.Attendance data indicate a relatively regular groupof Club attendees, though these data also show thatattendance lessens as youth move from middle tohigh school. Over the course of the study, just overhalf the youth (52 percent) attended more than122 days (roughly once a week), with almost a third(30 percent) attending 244 or more days (roughlytwo to three times a week) and close to 13 percentattending 366 or more days (roughly three to fourdays per week).Although the frequency of attendance was significantlylower, on average, for the youth when theyreached the ninth and tenth grades (11.8 days overJanuary to March 2008) compared with the frequencyof attendance over parallel months whenthese youth were in seventh and eighth grades (25.1days over January to March 2006), older youth werestill attending about one day a week on average(compared with about two days per week when theywere younger). Two thirds (67 percent) reportedhaving been to a Club in the four months prior tothe final survey, with 86 percent indicating they planto go back, even if they have not been in a while.Different teens reported using the Club in differentways. For some youth, their only out-of-schoolactivities were at the Club, while many combinedtheir Club activities with other pastimes. A commontheme described by participants was that, regardlessof how much they used the Club, they felt connectedto the Club and felt that even if they werenot using it right now, they could go back.Teens feel engaged by the Clubs’ activities, interpersonalrelationships and opportunities, and they feelsafe there. These are all aspects of the Club thatcome together to support the outcomes Clubs striveto achieve.Teens reported high levels of engagement in theClubs—as measured by their involvement in activitiesand leadership roles; their sense of belonging;and their view of the Clubs as fun places, with staffand youth on whom they feel they can rely andwhere they feel safer than in other places theyspend time. These are markers of Clubs’ successat providing a place where teens participate, andreturn to again and again.Teens reported participating in a wide range ofactivities at the Clubs and getting involved in leadershiproles there. Among those who had been tothe Club in the past four months, over half (56 percent)reported participating in either four or fivedifferent categories of activities (informal activities,athletic programs, academic programs, other formalactivities, and paid and volunteer work). Abouta third (36 percent) reported participating in specificleadership programming (such as Torch Club).In addition, 82 percent of those who had been tothe Club in the past year reported participating inat least one leadership role at the Club (such ashelping in the office, serving on a youth council orleading an activity) over that time, and half participatedin at least three or more such roles.Teens reported receiving high levels of supportand opportunity at the Clubs, enjoying the time to“hang out” at the Club, and valuing the friendshipsthey have there. Almost all youth reported thatthere was at least one supportive adult (96 percent)and peer (93 percent) at the Club; that at least oneadult at the Club was setting high expectations forthem (96 percent); and that the Club was a placewhere there was peer cooperation (95 percent),where there were opportunities to develop skills(90 percent), where they had fun (91 percent) andwhere they felt a sense of belonging (91 percent).Teens rated the Club safer in comparison to otherplaces where they spend time. Among youth whocompleted the final survey, 79 percent rated thelevel of safety at the Club as 8 or higher on a scaleof 1 to 10, where 10 is the most favorable. By comparison,only 54 percent rated the safety of theirschool this favorably, and only 38 percent had arating that high for the neighborhood surroundingthe Club.