Resources & toolkits
» GetOut! guide to project planning by Steven R. Dang, Mark Gifford & Anka Raskin
» Impacts & lessons learned from GetOut! the pilot year by Juan G. Solorzano
» What makes a place “COOL”? by Thor Larson
» Initiating & sustaining participation by Steven R. Dang
» GetOut! Ideas Factory Reflective Practice Guide by Juan G. Solorzano
» Enhancing Aboriginal Youth Health by Thor Larson
» Risk, resilience & a role for recreation by Thor Larson
» Going “holistic” on health by Thor Larson
‹‹‹ Links to other resources...
The GetOut! Guide to Project Planning
by Steven R. Dang (Coordinator, GETOUT!). Mark Gifford (Vancouver Foundation). Anka Raskin (City of Vancouver Youth Outreach Team). March 2007
Here's a pretty good list of good questions to ask yourself about the WHAT? WHY? WHO? and HOW?'s of project planning and an order to ask them in. Answering these questions will help your team be sure that things run smoothly and responsibly... and that you're ready for those quick grant application deadlines.
» Download the guide (
pdf, 1Mb)
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Impacts & lessons learned from GetOut! the pilot year 2005-2006
by Juan G. Solorzano (Assistant Coordinator, GETOUT!). May 2006
Here's a good look at some of the impacts of the over 70 different GetOut! sponsored or developed projects, programmes and initiatives had in 2005 and 2006. Here also are some of the lessons learned for the future...
» Download the entire report ( pdf, 1Mb)
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What makes a place “COOL”?
Physical, emotional & symbolic considerations
by Thor Larson (Research Editor, GETOUT! Ideas Factory), October 19, 2005
Whether youth perceived a place to be ‘cool’, ‘safe’ or ‘boring’ place is key to the level of youth involvement in a facility or in a program. Programmers can design spaces & programs that are attractive to youth by creating the right mix of unstructured space for ‘hanging-out’ that feels safe & inviting to youth; some youthful & respectful supervision; and opportunities for engagement in activities that appeal to & reflect popular youth culture.
» Read entire story online
» Download entire story ( pdf, 88kb)
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Initiating & sustaining participation
Insights from the Vancouver Youth Week Survey
by Steven R. Dang (GetOut! Coordinator), July 28, 2005
Results from the Vancouver Youth Week Survey might have some important insights for youth programming: the potential of cultural & arts outreach, youth social networks, incorporating physical activity into arts & culture, and engaging friends & family. Report also includes the complete results of the Vancouver Youth Week Survey, conducted by Barb Hinton & the Vancouver Youth Week Organizing Committee.
» Read entire story online
» Download entire story ( pdf, 101kb)
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GetOut! Ideas Factory Reflective Practice Guide
by Juan G. Solorzano (GetOut! Assistant Coordinator), 2005
» Download the Guide ( pdf, 445kb)
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Enhancing Aboriginal Youth Health
Focus on staying in school, community involvement & family connections
by Thor Larson (Research Editor, GETOUT! Ideas Factory), July 26, 2005
Innovative programming to enhance health & resilience among Aboriginal youth build on protective factors: staying in school, community involvement & strong family connections. Key priorities for Aboriginal youth-serving agencies include sexual & physical abuse, emotional health issues, suicide, tobacco & marijuana use, racial discrimination, and violence.
» Read entire story online
» Download entire story ( pdf, 70kb)
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Risk, resilience & a role for recreation
Promoting positive youth development through assests-based programming
by Thor Larson (Research Editor, GETOUT! Ideas Factory), June 15, 2005
It is time for a break from traditional youth programming that aims at preventing specific problem behaviors. While not completely exclusive of preventive programs, assets-based programming is “characterized by [its] approach to youth as resources to be developed, rather than problems to be managed, and [its] efforts to help youth become healthy, happy, and productive by increasing their exposure to external assets, opportunities, and supports.”
» Read entire story online
» Download entire story ( pdf, 83kb)
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Going “holistic” on health
The message on youth health is mixed – better to focus on wellness, risks and resilience
by Thor Larson (Research Editor, GETOUT! Ideas Factory), March 21, 2005
New findings show a shift in the trend away from decreasing levels of physical activity among Vancouver’s youth... but while physical fitness among youth appears to be on the rise - its quality, scope and resilience are still in doubt. The frequency of obesity-related diseases among Canadian youth is still increasing and there is a strong suspicion that levels of fitness may be very different among Vancouver’s diverse communities of young people. Moreover, physical fitness is only one aspect of overall health and quality of life.
Measures of health need to consider other important, interconnected factors such as psychological, social, cultural and spiritual well-being. Youth who participate in their communities – who feel connected and safe at home, at school and in their city – are healthier and less likely to engage in risky behaviours. This holistic understanding of health as wellness and resilience refocuses efforts on promoting health through the active engagement of Vancouver’s youth in any of a diverse range of community activities such as sports, recreation, arts, culture, volunteering and activism.
By providing varied and innovative programes that appeal to less active and less resilient youth, Vancouver’s youth-serving community can enable young people:
- to identify and build on their unique interests, passions and talents;
- to connect with their families, schools and communities;
- to increase their resilience to life’s risks and challenges; and
- to pursue greater physical, psychological, social, cultural and spiritual health.
» Read entire story online
» Download entire story ( pdf, 528kb)
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