In Section 4: Program Delivery, you learned that having a warm and welcoming environment is a building block for programs. In fact, research shows that youth having a sense of belonging and security in programs has been linked with improved academic performance, increased levels of motivation, a strong willingness to learn, and decreased behavior problems (Faircloth & Hamm, 2005; Kauh, 2011; Marzano & Marzano, 2003). That said, the environment of the program is influenced greatly by the interactions among people within the program, so implementing activities that create a warm and welcoming environment will be critical to the success of your program.
Directions: Use (or adapt) these activity ideas during your program sessions. The activities below are split into different activity types, with different focus areas, and suggestions for using them during the session.