This study confirmed the features of participant youth's competency change in order to assume what effect the wildlife adventure program of youth training activity has on youth growth and explore suggestions in future development of wildlife adventure...
This study confirmed the features of participant youth's competency change in order to assume what effect the wildlife adventure program of youth training activity has on youth growth and explore suggestions in future development of wildlife adventure program. The program set for this analyzed the features of participants' competency change by dividing to grade level, participation times, before and after the program focusing on the case of Gangeo Youth Center, Seoul Region having performed the program of the same topic titled [Wildlife Adventure-Baekdudaegan Walking Along] for a long time.
This study was conducted to total 152 people comprising the experimental group of 80 participants of wildlife adventure, and the control group of 72 general youths of elementary, middle and high schools.
The data was analyzed by divided as per grade level, program participation times using SPSS 19.0. As per participation times means exploring if there is any significant difference between students participating several times consecutively, and first time as youths grow as due to the feature of research subject program, it is a continuing event proceeding same format programs changing its place during summer and winter vacations every year, which was divided to first, 2 or 3 times, more than 4 times.
The findings of this study are as follows.
First, general satisfaction of wildlife adventure program was satisfactory as a whole (81%), and as to the question of re-participation at the camp, 50 (49%) responded they would re-participate.
Second, the result of exploring participant youths' competency level by grade level, participation times showed that the higher their grade becomes (to high school), the higher competency level becomes. Also it was confirmed through analysis by participation times that the activity competency of continuing participant youths is indicated to be higher than the competency average of high school students at level analysis by grade level.
Third, the result of analyzing the difference of youth activity competency for those participating and those not participating wildlife adventure, the competency of participating youths indicates the biggest change in self-competency.
Based on the findings of this study, two conclusions are reached.
The first conclusion is that in the change of activity competency revealing in the youths performing the wildlife adventure program, self-identity, self-efficacy, self-trust, and self-esteem, and self-esteem related self-competency were most highlighted.
The second conclusion is that the wildlife adventure activity can be most effective through consecutive participation, not one-time participation, which is confirmed by the picture participants form relation between juniors and seniors through continuing participation, and as they grow up, they participate as a leader and connect their activity.
Based on these findings, following suggestions were discussed in developing the future wildlife adventure activity program.
First, the wildlife adventure activity program should be focused on improving youths' confidence and self-esteem, not a meaning as a program to be more adventurous in planning the program or requiring more self-control.
Second, the wildlife adventure activity program needs to compose its programs with a connecting theme, rather than a one-time program, and boost participants' desire of re-participation.
Third, as shown in this study, a follow-up research is necessary as to if the substantial effectiveness of youth activity like the camping activity of adventurous development area is set at the program unlike empirical assumption, and aimed sub-competency is not immediately achieved, but is more related to basic competency like self-competency, and has a casuality connected to the improvement of activity competency.
Keywords : Youth activity, youth training activity, adventure development activity, wildlife adventure camp, camping activity, youth activity competency