At the beginning of any new program, it is important to determine how to measure program success. Program monitoring and evaluation with pre- and post-metrics are very helpful in demonstrating program achievements to leadership, families, partners, policymakers and funders. This supports long-term program sustainability.

Program Sustainability

In addition to evaluation, innovation is a great way to ensure program sustainability. Over the past six years, the Youth Outdoors Initiative YMCAs and public lands partners collaborated to serve their local communities and provide for sustainable future programming. For some, innovation led to adding YMCA locations or weeks of special programs. For others, it led to year-round opportunities and expanding the initiative to incorporate participants of other ages. Examples of new approaches include the following:

Each YMCA, NPS unit, and their park or conservation partner made specific changes, additions and improvements since 2015. These improvements built upon their early successes and set them up to sustain the Initiative into the future.