The Program
Project Venture (PV) is an evidence-based, culturally relevant, outdoors experiential youth development program developed in 1990 by McClellan Hall and his National Indian Youth Leadership Project, and its goal is to increase the resilience of American Indians and Alaska Native youth. The project’s curriculum involves in-school, after-school, and summer camp programming and includes:
- Community-oriented service learning.
- Outdoor adventure-based experiential activities.
- Classroom-based problem-solving and skill-building activities.
The program heavily relies on American Indian traditional values to help youth develop a positive self-concept, effective social skills, a community service ethic, an internal locus of control, and increased decision-making and problem-solving skills. Project Venture has been implemented in over 70 organizations across 25 states in the United States and nine provinces in Canada.
Intended Audience
This program is intended for middle school-aged American Indian and Alaska Native youth. Initially, it was designed and tested with adolescents in grades 5-9 in American Indian schools and community settings in rural and low socioeconomic areas. Project Venture has also been successfully implemented with high school-aged youth and other racial and ethnic groups.
Implementation
Project Venture is a yearlong program that can take place in school, after school, weekends, and summers (150-200 hours). The recommended staff to youth ratio is 1:25 in classrooms and 1:7-15 in community-based settings in addition to teachers and service staff. Program staff will require additional skills training in first aid, CPR, wilderness first responder, and/or other technical outdoor adventure skills.
Outcomes
Project Venture has been shown to:
- Lower youth suicide rates
- Lower youth drug and alcohol use
- Lower teen pregnancies
- Lower school drop-out rates
- Decrease bullying
- Build bonds between participating youth and staff
- Help youth develop healthy relationship skills
- Increase youth’s conflict management skills
- Improve youth’s emotional health
Evidence
Project Venture has collected 25 years of quantitative and qualitative evaluation data to prove its efficacy. In 2007, an experimental research study was published using the National Youth Survey to evaluate the program’s impact on 397 sixth graders. Following this survey, researchers found that participants in Project Venture had displayed reduced substance use behaviors in comparison to youth not enrolled in the program. In 2002, the National High-Risk Youth Study identified Project Venture as the most effective program serving American Indian and Alaska Native youth. Additionally, Project Venture is recognized by both the National Registry of Effective Programs and Practices (NREPP) and the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP).
Key Strategies to Implementation & Sustainability
Organizational Factors
Project Venture requires more resources, partners, staffing, and planning than most youth programs. Previous organizations found it important to take the time to research the program and carefully consider what is necessary to implement it, such as supplies, partnerships, funding requirements, and staff capacity. In a school setting, relationships with schools and staff are essential to the program’s success. This includes establishing a formal memorandum of understanding to implement the program in a classroom setting if it still needs to be established. Once this relationship is established, schools can share resources by providing equipment, using school facilities, and providing transportation. In a community-based setting, organizations should form partnerships with agencies, groups, and individuals to support community service-learning projects and resources for outdoor activities. An essential factor to consider is maintaining the program’s sustainability by seeking external grants. The trainer suggests that funders must invest for at least five years before the program can become self-sufficient. Funders are not typically attracted to programs primarily focusing on resilience like Project Venture. Therefore, it may be better to frame it as a prevention program focused on suicide, substance use, or teen pregnancy since it has been demonstrated to have made positive impacts in those areas.
Cultural Factors
Project Venture was developed by and for American Indians and Alaska Natives and integrates Indigenous culture into its curriculum. Its use of outdoor experiential learning and service learning through a strengths-based lens is grounded in Indigenous culture. The foundation of this program aligns with values within American Indian and Alaska Native culture, such as learning from the natural world, spiritual awareness, and service to others. Project Venture can be tailored to specific cultures through access to and partnerships with cultural experts and traditional leaders. This program’s model can also be adapted to specific native groups.
Adaptations
Adaptations for this program can include language, stories used, games and activities, and food. The experiential component must consider the local geography and adapt accordingly. For example, Lakota youth had to build their facilities because typical experiential activities were impossible due to the prairie landscape. Although Project Venture was intended to serve American Indian and Alaska Native youth, it has successfully been replicated in other racial and ethnic groups since it allows for the exploration of the group’s own culture.
Implementation Challenges and Solutions
Notable organizational challenges include funding, establishing school partnerships, and staffing. In addition to program facilitation training, staff are required to receive first aid training, CPR certifications, wilderness first responder training, and emergency medical technician training, which can be intimidating and costly. Procuring and maintaining outdoor equipment can also be expensive, but renting gear instead of purchasing it can be a better alternative.
School districts may also have conflicting standards regarding the program’s in-school components. To resolve this issue, aspects of the program can be adapted to serve as an after-school program instead.
Additional Resources
- Visit the Project Venture website.
- Learn more about Project Venture’s training.
- Contact Project Venture trainers.
- Check out a fact sheet about Project Venture.
- Read about Project Venture in NNEDLearn.
General Contact Information
Phone: (505) 554-2289
Email: info@niylp.org
Trainer and Developer
This program was developed by McClellan Hall, MA, Executive Director of the National Indian Youth Leadership Project.