Inspiring Courage in Girls: An Evaluation of Practices and Outcomes

Abstract

Adventure-based programs focusing on adolescent girls' development often claim that they cultivate courage in girls; however, very little research has examined whether they accomplish this goal or how they accomplish this goal. An evaluation was conducted on one such program, Passages Northwest, to examine the efficacy of adventure-based experiential education programs for girls. One hundred girls participated in the evaluation. Using a Likert-type scale and open-ended questions on pre- and post-program questionnaires, we examined (a) whether the girls increased their courage through their participation, (b) how the girls defined courage, (c) how the girls were courageous during their adventure program, and (d) how they planned to apply these skills to their everyday lives. The analysis of the data indicates that girls increased their physical and expressive courage and developed moral courage through their participation. Best practices used to inspire courage in girls are recommended.

Keywords

Courage Best Practices Girls Programming

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