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Waseca Community Education and Recreation Programming Needs Assessment Survey

Macy Whiteside
Minnesota State University, Mankato
November 15, 2014
Capstone Project

Waseca Community Education and Recreation Programming Needs Assessment Outline

Introduction
Problem Statement
Objective, Identified data sets, Intended Analysis, and Procedure
Introduction
WCER Programming Data
Survey Creation using Best Practice
Best Practice for WCER surveys
WCER Programming Survey Creation
Method of gathering survey questions
Survey Dispersal methods
5-6th grade Survey & Adult Electronic Survey
Conclusions & Recommendations
Results of survey for 5-6th grade students
Results of survey for Adults
Recommendations for future programming based off the results
Key Learning
Constant expansion of knowledge due to various types of programming
Effective ways of communicating to a variety of audiences
The great value of a needs assessment survey
References

Problem Statement
Since 2012 Waseca Community Education and Recreation participant levels have steadily
decreased among children starting around age 10 according to WCERs rschools data. Previous surveys
have been conducted to prioritize and add additional enrichment and recreational activities according
to the programming needs survey, but have not been performed since 2010 in Waseca, MN. In order to
increase participation levels among children ages 10-12 and adults ages 19-54 a programming needs
assessment survey will be created according to best practice and distributed through paper and
electronic format.
Objective: To increase participation rates of students in 5-6th grade and adults age 19-54 through the
creation of a programming needs survey developed by Macy Whiteside for use at WCER.
Identified data sets: Student enrichment data set of participants by age group report through rschools
data from Fiscal Year 2012-2014. Youth Recreation data set of participants by age group report through
rschools data from Fiscal Year 2012-2014. Class cancellation reports from Fiscal Year 2012-2014.
Described Analysis: Identify if there is a decrease in participation levels among 5-6th grade students
participating in enrichment and recreation programming. Determine if WCER is currently meeting the
programming needs of adults age 19-54. If so, make recommendations for programming adjustments
according to survey results and class cancellations lists with hopes of increasing participation among
these age groups.
Procedure: Examine rschools data and determine if 5-6th grade student and 19-54 adult participation
levels have been decreasing since Fiscal Year 2012. Provide literature centered on best practices for
survey creation. Next I will determine if WCER is currently meeting the needs of Waseca residents ages
10-12 and 19-54 through class cancellation data and then compare survey results to other Community
Education programs within a 90 mile radius for related programming. Finally, I will make
recommendations for program changes including enrichment classes, recreation activities, and general
ideas for the brochure.

Introduction
Community education refers to an organization's programs that promote learning and social
development work with individuals and groups in their communities using a range of formal and
informal methods (Wikipedia, 2014). Community Education prides itself on developing classes,
activities, and programs according to what their community members want and if there is a specific
need. All different types of programs are developed in order to increase the competency level of
individuals and groups of people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities in order to improve their quality
of life.
There are a great variety of survey construction methods available to businesses today. Waseca
Community Education and Recreation creates a variety of documents, policies, procedures, surveys,
and practices created through best practice. By using best practice you are utilizing a technique that
has consistently shown results superior to those achieved through other methods (Oracle, 2012). It is a process
of reviewing policy, or practices, alternatives that have been effective in addressing similar issues from the past
and can be applied to the current situation. WCER has many different best practices for a variety of programs
that are constantly evolving by making improvements to them once they are discovered.

WCER Programming Data


Since 2012 Waseca Community Education and Recreation (WCER) youth and adult enrichment
class participation levels have steadily decreased while class cancellations have generally increased
according to WCERs rschools data. There have been previous surveys conducted through the WCER
Department that had prioritized and added additional enrichment and recreational activities according

to the results of the programming needs survey, but have not been performed since 2010 in Waseca,
MN.
According to rschools data, participation levels among youth enrichment students in grades 6-8
has been decreasing since fiscal year 2012. Participation levels in 2012 for this age group were 54
students, in 2013 it went down to 33 students, and in 2014 at a low of 25 students (unduplicated
number of student registrations).

Percent of Class Cancellations


45%

41%

39%

40%
35%
30%
25%

25%

25%
20%
15%

17%

18%

15%

18%
12%

12%

10%

11%
7%

5%
0%
Youth Enrichment

Youth Recreation
2012

Adult Enrichment
2013

Adult Recreation

2014

Although class cancellation rates for adult enrichment were lower in 2013 as compared to
2012, the number spiked again in 2014 along with great reduction in the number of class offerings. For
this reason this category will be the focus of the 2014 WCER Programming Needs Assessment Survey.
According to rSchools data, WCER also saw a gradual increase in the number of cancellations amongst
youth enrichment classes, steadily increasing from 15% in 2012, to 17% in 2013, and finally up to 18%
in 2014. In order to increase the participation rates, thus lowering the class cancellation rates, among

children in grades 6-8 a programming needs assessment survey needed to be conducted for this group
as well. The table below highlights the areas of concern in bolded red.

WCER Class Cancellation Numbers(Percentage)


rSchools Data
Youth Enrichment
Youth Recreation
Adult Enrichment
Adult Recreation

Total
154
103
131
4

2012
Ran
131 (85%)
91 (88%)
78 (59%)
3(75%)

Cancelled
23(15%)
12(12%)
53(41%)
1(25%)

Total
208
90
96
58

2013
Ran
173 (83%)
79 (88%)
72 (75%)
48 (82%)

Cancelled
35(17%)
11(12%)
24(25%)
10(18%)

Total
223
112
49
118

2014
Ran
185 (82%)
104 (93%)
30 (61%)
105 (89%)

Cancelled
38(18%)
8(7%)
19(39%)
13(11%)

Although participation rates for youth enrichment have increased steadily from 2012 to 2014,
the participation level of children in grades 6-8 has been steadily decreasing. In 2012, there were 54
children registered for classes geared towards 6-8th graders, in 2013 it decreased to 33 students, and in
2014 the rate declined to 25 students. For this reason this category will also be the focus of the 2014
WCER Programming Needs Assessment Survey. According to rSchools data, WCER also previously
decreased the number of classes offered in the adult enrichment category due to the lack of
participation among adults ages 19-54. Along with the drastic decrease in class offerings, there was
also a decrease in the amount of adult participants in each class.

Number of Participants
400

196

191

200
100

293

262

300
124
54

33

90

108

95

110

25

0
Youth Enrichment, grade 6-8 Youth Recreation, grade 6-8
2012

2013

Adult Enrichment, 19 +
2014

Adult Recreation, age 19 +

In 2012 only 76% of adults aged 19-54 participated in programming, in 2013 it was 68% and in 2014
there was a slight rise to 71%. In order to increase the participation rates among adults aged 19-54,
lower the class cancellation rates, and increase class variety and offerings a WCER Programming Needs
Assessment Survey will be conducted to offer recommendations for change in programming. Among
children in grades 5-6 a programming needs assessment survey will also be conducted for this group as
well in order to increase participation levels and class offerings for children in grades 6-8. The table
below highlights the areas of concern in bolded red.

WCER Participation Rates


rSchools Data
Age Category
Youth Enrichment
Youth Recreation
Age Category
Adult Enrichment
Adult Recreation

Total
366
668

2012
Grade 6-8 Grade 9-12
54(15%)
3(1%)
124(19%) 23(3%)

Total
344
206

19-54
262(76%)
196(95%)

55 +
60(17%)
8(4%)

Total
369
593

2013
Grade 6-8 Grade 9-12
33(9%)
3(1%)
90(15%)
17(3%)

Total
444
726

2014
Grade 6-8 Grade 9-12
25(10%)
9(2%)
95(13%)
38(5%)

Total
280
110

19-54
191(68%)
88(80%)

Total
153
293

19-54
108(71%)
270(92%)

55 +
86(31%)
20(18%)

55 +
36(24%)
17(6%)

Survey Creation Using Best Practice


To provide excellent customer experiences WCER must listen to their customers and one of the
primary means they have of doing so is through customer surveys. Surveying your customers
periodically and in a variety of ways is a critical part of running a successful business. Surveys measure
satisfaction, or dissatisfaction, with your program and can determine critical needs while offering an
opportunity to communicate and build relationships with your customers (Oracle, 2012). An invaluable
way to build loyalty is when you take both praise and criticism to heart in order to fulfill the true needs
of your customers (Rogers, 2012).

This capstone project is a Community Education Programming Needs Assessment that focuses
heavily on the programming demands for 5-6th grade students and adult enrichment participants ages
19-54 in an effort to keep involvement levels high among adult participants and 6-8th grade
participants. The goal of this survey is to determine the type of recreation and enrichment classes
WCER should be hosting starting the summer of 2015.
Best practice for survey creation reminds us that we need to determine ahead of time who we
are surveying and why, and what we will ask. You must always keep your audience in mind when
writing questions, and create only questions whose answers will be relevant to that audience. The
more relevant the question, the more likely the recipient will be to respond to it (Oracle, 2012).
Questions need to be kept short, concise, and clear because respondents are less likely to answer your
question if it is too long or they do not understand how they should answer.
Survey questions need to be straightforward and impartial so the desired answer is not implied.
Because survey participants are likely to come from a variety of backgrounds, you need to use simple
language and relax your grammatical standards slightly (Oracle, 2012). Aside from survey questions
needing to be neutral, you must also realize that one of the most valuable parts of any customer
survey is the story. Make sure to include open-ended questions in any survey you create that allows
the customer to give you specific, actionable feedback. "It can be tempting to obsess over the rating
your customers give you on surveys, but scores alone are somewhat meaningless," says Jon Picoult,
founder and principal of Watermark Consulting, which specializes in customer experience (Rogers,
2012).
Neutral comments from your customers and clients are more useful than good feedback,
therefore, you should make sure the structure of your survey as well as the distribution method

promotes the flow of truly honest customer opinions. The point of surveying is to get honest reactions
so your surveys need to be constructed properly in order to keep bias from coming into your feedback
collection; otherwise you could draw incorrect conclusions. Because users are biased toward the first
answers they encounter in a survey question it is a good idea to guard against the behavior by
randomizing survey choices so that theyre presented in a different order to different participants
(Oracle, 2012).
You must take into account when people are most likely to receive and read your survey
invitations and requests and when theyre most likely to have time to respond to it. It takes time to get
to know your audience and understand when their downtimes and busy times are, but by testing and
reviewing your results you may be able to spot a trend. WCERs Facebook data has found that the most
common day and time users are online and are more likely to respond are on Tuesday and Thursday
evenings from 7:00-9:30 PM.
According to a Gartner report, although 95 percent of companies collect feedback, only 10
percent actually deploy and use it. Even fewer (less than 5 percent) tell their customers what they have
done with that feedback. Customers are much more likely to take a survey the next time you ask if they
know you actually did something with the data they provided the last time around. Research shows
that offers of free low-value merchandise, coupons, or even cash incentives dont go as far in
increasing response rates or building long-term relationships as simply communicating to customers
the actions that have resulted from their feedback (Rogers, 2012). Customers want to know that
someone is listening and that their next experience could therefore be improved. You have to be
careful about over-surveying your audience as well because it can reduce response rates and decrease
customers willingness to participate in future surveys. Ideally, you should survey your customers just

often enough to get the information you need but not so often as to annoy them. The frequency of
customer satisfaction surveys will depend on the frequency of your organizations interactions with
customers. Proofing the survey is extremely important so it is recommended that small focus groups
are used as a way to proof your survey before distribution in order re-evaluate the questions and make
any additions, corrections, or deletions. Make sure that your test group also evaluates the quality of
the questions, how long it took to complete the survey, and the flow of the survey and the overall story
that the survey is telling. It is critical that you learn from past results - if a survey question provided no
valuable insight, do not ask that question again.
WCER Programming Survey Creation
Two surveys were created, a paper handout for 5-6th grade students and an electronic survey
for adults to fill out on behalf of themselves and their children. In an effort to increase the amount of
participation among 6-8th grade students a survey geared towards children in 5-6th grade was created.
This survey was created based off of the 2013 Prior-Lake Community Education Needs Assessment
Survey, along with the advice of the Community Education Director, WCERs Program Coordinators, the
WCER Youth Advisory Group, and a small 4 child focus group comprised of 5 th and 6th grade students
from the School Age Care Program. The sheet paper survey comprised of 13 questions was handed
out to fifth and sixth graders at the Waseca Intermediate School during study hall classes by way of the
classroom teacher. This delivery method was chosen in order to increase the amount of survey
completion due to teacher encouragement of class participation.
With the same effort in mind to increase the amount of adult participants a survey geared
towards adults age 19-54 was created. This survey was created based off of the 2013 Prior-Lake
Community Education Needs Assessment Survey, along with the advice of the Community Education

Director, WCERs Program Coordinators, the WCER Advisory Council, and a small 4 person adult focus
group comprised of parent volunteers from recreation/enrichment programming through the use of a
classroom computer. An electronically formatted survey comprised of 10 questions was distributed
through family email, the Hartley Elementary School and Waseca Intermediate School Parent
Newsletters, along with WCERs website, and WCERs Facebook page. These delivery methods were
chosen in order to increase the amount of survey completion due to the large amount of dispersal
locations, the shortness of the survey, and personal requests for survey completion from various staff
and instructors.

Please Help! We need your opinion because it matters to us!


th

th

Waseca Community Education and Recreation Survey for 5 6 Graders.


Please return completed survey to your school office or the community education office at the Central Building
Grade: 5 6 7 8

Circle one:

Male Female

Please circle your response

1. How familiar are you with Waseca Community Education and Recreation? Very Mostly Somewhat A little Not at all
2. Do you know where your Community Education Office is located? Yes No
3. If youre looking at the classes being offered, where do you find them? Website Facebook CE Book Flyer Other
a.

Do you have a suggestion as to where we should be advertising? ______________________________

4. Do you like the classes/activities that are currently offered? Yes No I dont know what classes are being offered
5. Of the classes you have participated in, how would you rate them? Very Good Good
OK
Bad
6. When would you be more likely to participate in a class/activity? During the. (circle all that apply)
School Year: after school
Summers: morning

early evening

afternoon

non-school day

early evening

Saturday

Sunday

early out day

Saturday Sunday

7. What type of classes/activities would you and your friends participate in if they were offered?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
8. What do you think could be done to increase participation in community education?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
9. Have you or anyone in your home participated in Community Education Programs during the past 2 years? Yes No
If not, are any of these the reason why? (circle all that apply)
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.

Too busy
No way to get to the location of class/activity
Lack of skills to participate
My friend couldnt go with me
I dont like what is being offered
Lack of information about the programs
Cost of the class
Dont know where to register at

10. Do you have internet access at home? Yes No


11. From what you have heard or seen, how would you rate Wasecas Community Education Program?
a. Excellent
b. Good
c. Average
d. Just OK
e. Poor
12. In what ways could we improve? ____________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

13. Where should we post upcoming classes to make sure you see them so you can get registered?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Waseca Community Education Survey


1. How familiar are you with your Waseca Community Education and
Recreation (WCER) program? Please check all that apply.
Very familiar
Somewhat familiar
Not too familiar
Not at all familiar
We have participated in community education classes within the last 2 years
We have NOT participated in community education classes within the last 2 years

2. What grade is your child(ren) currently enrolled in?


Kindergarten

4th Grade

8th Grade

1st Grade

5th Grade

9-12th Grade

2nd Grade

6th Grade

3rd Grade

7th Grade

3. To what extent does each of the following considerations limit your (and
your family's) enrollment or participation in Waseca Community Education
programs?
A lot
Too busy
Availability of
transportation
Program
Location
Lack of child
care
Having the skills
to participate
Times and days
of the week

Somewhat

Not at all

A lot

Somewhat

Not at all

programming is
scheduled
Lack of interest
in programs
offered
Lack of
information
about the
programs
Registration
procedures
Program fees

4. Adults: How likely would you be to participate in


workshops/classes/activities offered during the following days and times?
Very likely

Somewhat likely

Not at all likely

Weekday
mornings
Weekday
afternoons
Weekday
evenings
Weekends

5. Adults: Please rate your interest in each of the following types of


workshops, activities, and programs.
Very interested
Arts and crafts
Business:
Professional
growth and
skills
Technology
education
Dance

Somewhat interested

Not at all interested

Very interested

Somewhat interested

Not at all interested

Film and foreign


language
Food and wine
Health and
fitness
Home and
garden
Money matters
Music
Online courses
Personal
interests and
hobbies
Photography
Real estate and
investments
Self-awareness
Stress
management
techniques
Travel
opportunities
TV and
broadcasting

Anything we missed?

6. Please let us know which of our programs/activities you were aware that
WCER offers and what you think of them.
Not aware Aware/excellent Aware/good
Adult
recreation,
health, fitness,

Aware/fair

Aware/poor

Not aware Aware/excellent Aware/good


aquatics
classes, and
activities for
those 55 years
and older
Adult education
classes
including arts,
crafts, general
interest,
finance,
technology, etc.
Adult education
including GED
and English as
a Second
Language
Speakers,
topics and
seminars for
parents
Early Childhood
Family
Education
(ECFE) offers
parent
education and
early childhood
classes (0-5
years)
Pre-school
screening
ECFE PreSchool classes
(3-5 years)
Year round
School Age
Care program
(3-11 years)
Summer
programs
offering
enrichment,
recreation,

Aware/fair

Aware/poor

Not aware Aware/excellent Aware/good

Aware/fair

Aware/poor

swimming
lessons, etc.
After School
enrichment and
recreation
activities such
as art, crafts,
cooking, etc.
$15 discount
per class
through South
Country Health
Alliance and
UCARE
Grants that
offer 50%
discounts on
youth classes

7. What types of field trips or activities would your child be interested in


attending by themselves or with a group of friends throughout the year?
Wow Zone

Indoor Rock Climbing

Indoor Water Parks

Movies

Snow Tubing / Skiing

Sky Zone

Zoo
Theater trips (Disney on Ice, Lion King,
etc.)

Three Rivers Park District - Chutes and


Ladders
Skateville (roller-skating)

Tween/Teen Dances
Other ideas we haven't thought of?

8. From what you have heard or seen, how would you rate the Waseca
Community Education Program?
Excellent

Good
Only fair
Poor
If you choose anything other than excellent, please tell us why?

9. What do you think could be done to strengthen interest or increase


participation in community education classes and activities?

10. What is your primary source of information about Waseca Community


Education classes and programs?
WCER brochure
Flyers
Facebook
WCER website
Word of mouth
Other
Done

Conclusion & Recommendations


Survey participation rates among 5th grade students were very high, there were a total of 113
returned surveys out of a class of 146, or a 77.4% response rate. Survey participation rates among 6th
grade students were above average, there were a total of 46 returned surveys out of a class of 142, or
a 32.4% response rate. Unfortunately due to the means of distribution of the electronic adult survey
there is no way to track the number of people it reached. However, survey participation was limited to
one user per computer and Facebook data alone sent the electronic survey to 1,714 pages through a
boosting method and recognized that there were 36 survey links clicked. There were 61 total adult
electronic surveys completed through email, newsletters, Facebook, word-of-mouth, and WCERs
website.
The survey results were analyzed, and recommendations were made to the Waseca Community
Education and Recreation Director and the WCER Advisory Council as to the types of activities and
classes that should be offered in addition to current popular programming, along with the times of day
and days of the week classes and activities should be held. Based off of best practices WCER should
conduct a programming needs assessment survey every two years and an individual short survey midway through each class or activity. Both adults and children should participate in the short surveys in
order to get programming feedback on a bi-annual basis and constant feedback on a monthly basis in
order to best serve all customers and allow for modifications in programming, staffing, and best

practices. Recommendations for WCERs programming follow the results from the child and adult
surveys below.

Survey results from SurveyMonkey (Adult-base survey)


1. How familiar are you with your Waseca Community Education and Recreation (WCER) program?
Please check all that apply.

Familiarity Level
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Very Familiar

Somewhat
Familiar

Not too familiar

Not at all
familiar

Have
participated

Have not
participated

Number of responses

Answer Choices

Very familiar

Somewhat familiar

Responses
47.54%
29
47.54%
29

Not too familiar

4.92%
3

Not at all familiar

0.00%
0

We have participated in community education classes within the last 2 years

24.59%
15

We have NOT participated in community education classes within the last 2 years
Total Respondents: 61

3.28%
2

2. What grade is your child(ren) currently enrolled in?

Student Grade Level


18

Number of Students

16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0

Answer Choices

Kindergarten

1st Grade

2nd Grade

3rd Grade

Responses
34.00%
17
18.00%
9
18.00%
9
12.00%
6

4th Grade

18.00%
9

5th Grade

18.00%
9

6th Grade

4.00%
2

7th Grade

8th Grade

6.00%
3
6.00%
3
20.00%

Answer Choices
9-12th Grade

Responses
10

Total Respondents: 50

3. To what extent does each of the following considerations limit your (and your family's) enrollment or
participation in Waseca Community Education programs?
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

A lot
Somewhat
Not at all

A lot

Somewhat

Not at all

Too busy

29.82%
17

59.65%
34

10.53%
6

Availability of transportation

Program Location

Lack of child care

Having the skills to participate

Times and days of the week programming is scheduled

Lack of interest in programs offered

Lack of information about the programs

17.54%
10
3.64%
2
9.09%
5
3.77%
2
33.33%
19
16.36%
9
5.45%
3

21.05%
12
25.45%
14
34.55%
19
18.87%
10
56.14%
32
49.09%
27
32.73%
18

61.40%
35
70.91%
39
56.36%
31
77.36%
41
10.53%
6
34.55%
19
61.82%
34

Registration procedures

0.00%
0

25.45%
14

74.55%
41

Total
57
57
55
55
53
57
55
55
55

A lot
27.27%
15

Program fees

Somewhat
36.36%
20

Not at all
36.36%
20

Total
55

4. Adults: How likely would you be to participate in workshops/classes/activities offered during the
following days and times?
50
45
40
35
30
Very likely

25

Somewhat likely

20

Not at all likely

15
10
5
0
Weekday
mornings

Weekday
afternoons

Weekday
evernings

Very likely

Weekends

Somewhat likely

Not at all likely

Total

Weekday mornings

3.51%
2

17.54%
10

78.95%
45

57

Weekday afternoons

5.36%
3

12.50%
7

82.14%
46

56

Weekday evenings

31.03%
18

58.62%
34

10.34%
6

58

Weekends

15.25%
9

67.80%
40

16.95%
10

59

5. Adults: Please rate your interest in each of the following types of workshops, activities, and programs.

Chart Title
50
40
30
20
10
0
Very interested

Somewhat interested

Not at all interested

Arts/Crafts

Business

Technology

Dance

Film/Language

Food/wine

Health/fitness

Home/garden

Money matters

Music

Online courses

Personal Interests/hobbies

photography

real estate/investments

Self-awareness

Stress management

Travel opportunities

TV/broadcasting

Arts and crafts


Business: Professional
growth and skills
Technology education
Dance
Film and foreign
language
Food and wine
Health and fitness
Home and garden
Money matters
Music
Online courses

Very interested
16 (8.5%)
5 (2.62%)

Somewhat interested
24 (6.05%)
26 (6.55%)

Not at all interested


15 (3.61%)
26 (6.27%)

7 (3.66%)
5 (2.62%)
4 (2.09%)

19 (4.79%)
23 (5.79%)
15 (3.78%)

30 (7.23%)
28 (7.25%)
36 (8.67%)

20 (10.47%)
22 (11.52%)
19 (9.95%)
7 (3.66%)
7 (3.66%)
9 (4.71 %)

23
31
22
25
18
21

13 (3.13%)
4 (0.96%)
15 (3.61%)
24 (5.78%)
30 (7.23%)
27 (6.51%)

(5.79%)
(7.81%)
(5.54%)
(6.3%)
(4.53%)
(5.29%)

Personal interests and


hobbies
Photography
Real estate and
investments
Self-awareness
Stress management
techniques
Travel opportunities
TV and broadcasting
Total Responses

13 (6.81%)

35 (8.82%)

6 (1.45%)

11 (5.76%)
5 (2.62%)

28 (7.05%)
15 (3.78%)

15 (3.61%)
36 (8.67%)

8 (4.19%)
15 (7.85%)

20 (5.04%)
23 (5.79%)

28 (6.75%)
19 (4.58%)

16 (8.38%)
2 (1.05%)
191

21 (5.29%)
8 (2.02%)
397

18 (4.34%)
45 (10.84%)
415

6. Please let us know which of our programs/activities you were aware that WCER offers and what you
think of them.

Individual Program Ratings


35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

Not aware

Not
aware

Aware/Excellent

Aware/Good

Aware/fair

Aware/poor

Aware/excellent

Aware/good

Aware/fair

Aware/poor

Adult recreation, health, 14.55%


fitness, aquatics classes,
8
and activities for those
55 years and older

18.18%

60.00%

7.27%

0.00%

10

33

9.09%

50.91%

18.18%

3.64%

18.18%

Total

55

Not
aware

Aware/excellent

Aware/good

Aware/fair

Aware/poor

Total

28

10

55

29.63%

18.52%

35.19%

12.96%

3.70%

16

10

19

30.19%

13.21%

24.53%

28.30%

3.77%

16

13

15

Early Childhood Family 5.56%


Education (ECFE) offers
parent education and 3
early childhood classes
(0-5 years)

46.30%

37.04%

9.26%

1.85%

25

20

7.14%

53.57%

32.14%

7.14%

0.00%

Pre-school screening

30

18

5.45%

52.73%

32.73%

7.27%

1.82%

29

18

10.34%

51.72%

24.14%

6.90%

6.90%

30

14

10.91%

40.00%

41.82%

5.45%

1.82%

Adult education classes 10


including arts, crafts,
general interest,
finance, technology, etc.

Adult education
including GED and
English as a Second
Language

Speakers, topics and


seminars for parents

54

53

ECFE Pre-School classes


3
(3-5 years)

54

56

55

Year round School Age


Care program (3-11
years)

58

Summer programs
offering enrichment,
recreation, swimming
lessons, etc.

Not
aware

Aware/excellent

Aware/good

Aware/fair

Aware/poor

Total

22

23

55

31.48%

38.89%

14.81%

1.85%

17

21

17.86%

16.07%

7.14%

12.50%

10

50.91%

12.73%

23.64%

3.64%

9.09%

28

13

After School enrichment 12.96%


and recreation activities
7
such as art, crafts,
cooking, etc.

54

$15 discount per class 46.43%


through South Country
26
Health Alliance and
UCARE

56

Grants that offer 50%


discounts on youth
classes

55

7. What types of field trips or activities would your child be interested in attending by themselves or
with a group of friends throughout the year?

Bus Trip Choice


Response
41

40
33

36

37
30
25
9

Answer Choices

Responses

78.85%

Wow Zone

41

76.92%

Indoor Water Parks

40

63.46%

Snow Tubing / Skiing

33

69.23%

Zoo

36

71.15%

Theater trips (Disney on Ice, Lion King, etc.)

37

17.31%

Tween/Teen Dances

27

26

27

Answer Choices

Responses

48.08%

Indoor Rock Climbing

25

57.69%

Movies

30

51.92%

Sky Zone

27

50.00%

Three Rivers Park District - Chutes and Ladders

26

51.92%

Skateville (roller-skating)

27

8. From what you have heard or seen, how would you rate the Waseca Community Education Program?

Responses
45
40
35
30
25
Responses

20
15
10
5
0
Excellent

Answer Choices

Good

Only fair

Poor

Responses

Answer Choices

Responses

22.03%

Excellent

13

66.10%

Good

39

10.17%

Only fair

1.69%

Poor

Total Respondents: 59

9. What do you think could be done to strengthen interest or increase participation in community
education classes and activities? (19 responses)
Just keep offering a wide variety of classes to a wide variety of ages - more classes for children
under the age of 5 would be wonderful!
Sometimes I don't get the brochure, so I don't know what is offered.
More advertising
Better times. After 5:30 start for people who have jobs
Offer classes more than just once, if the class does not go the first time, try again
More adult options
Advertise the classes or courses in the local paper or add an insert, newsletter about the next
quarters classes that are available in the shopper, for young adult programs and events announce in
the daily announcements
a lot more opportunities for classes, activities, trips for adults. Cheaper fees
Improve the gymnastics program!
More evening activities
advertising needs to be more extensive. Stop cancelling so many classes - I know it is due to low
enrollment, but find out if that class would even have a chance of running in the first place somehow.
Advertise in schools
reduced rates, more activities for young boys, especially ages 2-5
Send notes home through teachers
More classes in evening as working families aren't able to attend the day classes but would like to
participate
offer more activities for the younger kids
Some classes have too much of an age gap

Provide transportation from school to after school activities - would be a huge plus. Offer more
weekend times for classes or a little later then 6pm for adult classes
I'm not sure what else you could do - but i will definitely be taking a look at the books more often!
Make times after parents get off work

10. What is your primary source of information about Waseca Community Education classes and
programs?

Responses
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Responses

WCER brochure

Flyers

Facebook

49

WCER website Word of mouth


11

Answer Choices

Responses

84.48%

WCER brochure

49

10.34%

Flyers

3.45%

Facebook

18.97%

WCER website

11

10

Answer Choices

Responses

17.24%

Word of mouth

10

Total Respondents: 58

5-6th Grade Paper Survey Results


1. How familiar are you with Waseca Community Education and Recreation?

5-6th Grade
Very

Mostly

Somewhat

39

A little

Not at all

36

32

29

Very

Mostly

Somewhat

26

A little

Not at all

2. Do you know where your Community Education Office is located?

5th Grade

6th Grade

100

30

80

25
78

60
40
20

35

27

20
Yes

15

No

10

19

Yes
No

5
0

0
Yes

No

Yes

No

3. If youre looking at the classes being offered, where do you find them?

5-6th Grade
73

36
30
16

9
WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

BROCHURE

FLYERS

OTHER

Do you have a suggestion as to where we should be advertising?


a. 5th = Instagram, Billboards, Commons, Twitter
b. 6th = Twitter, Facebook, an app

4. Do you like the classes/activities that are currently offered?

5-6TH GRADE
Yes

No

I don't Know

97

43

7
Yes

No

I don't Know

5. Of the classes you have participated in, how would you rate them?

60

56
51

50
40

30
30
20
10

0
Very Good

Good

OK

Bad

When would you be more likely to participate in a class/activity? During the.

5-6TH GRADE SCHOOL YEAR


80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0

Number of Responses

after school

early
evening

non-school
day

Saturday

Sunday

early out

73

34

44

28

11

57

5-6TH GRADE SUMMER


80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Number of responses

mornings

afternoons

early evenings

Saturday

Sunday

42

70

26

25

17

7. What type of classes/activities would you and your friends participate in if they were offered?

5th grade = extreme Frisbee, sewing, drawing, social time, kickball, video gaming, golf
6th grade = cooking, volleyball, football, welding, woods, boxing, track, talent-show, singing, DIY
Both grades = art, soccer, archery, music lessons, acting/plays

8. What do you think could be done to increase participation in community education?


a. 5th grade Adult class-kids in for free, contests & free class as the prize, banner downtown,
better instructors, tournaments, monthly prize drawings for participants, scrimmages
b. 6th grade free-bees, drawings for free classes, bake-sale, classes in each school building,
c. Combined Advertise at schools/in announcements for upcoming classes, discounts for 2+
classes
9. Have you or anyone in your home participated in Community Education Programs during the past 2 years?

5-6th grade
100
80

88

60

68
Yes

40

No

20
0
Yes

No

If no, then why?

5-6th Grade Data


5-6th grade
45

17

15

No ride

25

10
0

too busy

21

Lacking
skills

2
No friends Didn't like
offerings

Lack of
info

Cost

10. Do you have internet access at home?

Register
at?

160

148

140
120
100
80
60
40
20

0
Yes

No
5-6th Grade Student Response

11. From what you have heard or seen, how would you rate Wasecas Community Education Program?

5-6th Grade Student Responses


80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Number of responses

Excellent

Good

Average

OK

Poor

35

72

27

11

12. In what ways could we improve? Run the classes/activities at each school building, cheaper, family activities,
better baseball and football program, special needs classes, kickball, book studies, better coaches, advertising
done by kids, free participation day, more 6-8th grade classes, explain to people what CE is, longer class times
for summer rec & enrichment (longer & more sessions)

13. Where should we post upcoming classes to make sure you see them so you can get registered? Commons,
SAC, school announcements, district homepage, edline, flyers at schools, twitter, instagram, snapchat,
facebook, send flyers home in backpacks, send information to teachers in email

Recommendations for enrichment and recreation classes at Waseca Community Education and
Recreation
Based off the results of the two surveys WCER the following recommendations have been made to the
Waseca Community Education Director and Advisory Council to increase participation rates among
community members and users of the WCER Department.

Location, number of sessions, and times


For children ages K-3rd grade enrichment and recreation some classes should be held at Hartley
Elementary School, some classes held for children ages 4-6th grade at the Waseca Intermediate School,
and some classes for 7-12 graders at the Junior/Senior High School to ease the burden of
transportation for families during the school year only. If space is not available transportation needs to
be advertised heavily and then provided. Classes should be 15-30 minutes longer and have an average
of 2-3 more class sessions and should be held during the afternoons, evenings and on weekends.

Additional class offerings to increase participation


Offer special needs classes and more programming for children ages 2-5 years old (preschool)
throughout the entire year. Children were very interested in woodworking, sewing, music lessons,
video gaming, DIY classes, art, drama/plays/acting year round, archery, bus trips, kickball, and soccer.
Increase the amount of 6-8th grade programming (or extend the cut off age of 6th grade to 8th grade).
To increase participation in recreational sports, children would like a format that includes
skills/practice/scrimmages/games. Some people expressed frustration with the amount of classes that
are cancelled on a regular basis, so use caution.

Advertising
Awareness of what Community Education is needs to increase (people need to know where the CE
office is located, how to register, and what is being offered). A great way to do this is through
advertising in flyers posted throughout the three school buildings and on school announcements.
Twitter, instagram, snapchat, facebook, the district homepage, and edline were also mentioned as
possible advertising sources. Other possibilities to increase awareness include monthly prize drawings
for participants, contests located in schools where the winners get a free class, daycare being provided
for adult classes or offering the equivalent of an adult class for the child (more family classes).

Suggestions of specific class offerings for the summer of 2015.

Adult or 55+
- RSVP Bone Builders. Free program for all adults 55+ for reversing osteoporosis and improving balance.
Exercise class.
Classes are ongoing and are being offered: (various locations in Waseca
around 9:00AM). Registration is free and can be done at the class.
- Grandparents Night. A special time for grandma/grandpa to get to have 'Holiday' fun with their
favorite
young person. Come in 'certain clothing' to enjoy special evening of fun. Crafts, songs, story and
snack. Children ages 2 1/2 to 1st grade are welcome! $9.00/child. One day per holiday,
6:15-7:30pm.
- Wills, Trusts, and Probate Avoidance. This discussion will cover wills and probate, and also probate
avoidance methods including trusts, life estates, transfer on death deeds, and pod bank accounts.
Issues that arise during life can be thornier than problems at death. For that reason, you'll discuss
powers of attorney, guardianships, and planning for medical assistance. 1 day. 6:30-8:30pm.
$9.00/person.
- Self Defense Class. Once a week for 3-4 weeks, 6:30-7:30pm. $50.00/person

9-12th Grade
- CAST 'College Ambitions Start Today - (prep for all students for their post-secondary endeavors.
Financial literacy activities about paying for college, scholarship searches, personal and career
inventories, college searches, college visits, academic support, and special guest speakers and
fieldtrips) cost?
- Prairie Fire Children's Theatre - a Christmas Carol. 5 sessions, Ages 7-16. Rehearsal schedules, after
school, show on Saturday. Monday-Saturday Nov. 17-22, 3:30-7:45pm. $40.00/$35/$30. Tickets $4.00
adult, $2.00 ages 4-16.
5-8th Grade
-Non-School Day Field Trips (Grades 4-8) Snow tubing/skiing, indoor water parks, Wow Zone, Movie
theater trips. Cost according to package deal, chaperones, non-school days, early-out days, during the
summer, Saturdays.
- Science Fair Workshops (WIS students). Let us help you prepare your student for the science fair.
These Science Fair Workshops are designed to help parents, along with their students, work through
the process of preparing a science fair project from start to finish. Four open house style workshops
cover.... Each workshop will be staffed with adults who have previous experience with the science fair
including teachers, judges, parents, scientists, and engineers. A parent or guardian must attend with
their student. School Commons area from 9:00-12:00 on the following Saturdays (4 days). Free.

- Skating School. Skating classes for all levels ages 3+. Students progress at their own pace. Classes will
run consecutively, with testing done when the student is ready. 30 minute sessions. Saturdays or
evenings. 2 Sessions. Saturdays Sept 6 - Oct. 11, Saturdays Nov. 1 - Dec. 13. $35.00/1st skater,
30.00/2nd skater.
- Prairie Fire Children;s Theatre - a Christmas Carol. 5 sessions, Ages 7-16. Rehearsal schedules, after
school, show on Saturday. Monday-Saturday Nov. 17-22, 3:30-7:45pm. $40.00/$35/$30. Tickets $4.00
adult, $2.00 ages 4-16.
- Archery (Beginning or Intermediate). 6 sessions, Grades 4-8. Tuesdays Sept. 23-Oct. 28, 4:30-5:30pm.
$40.00/person
- Woodworking. For students 3rd - 7th grade. Make a bat house, squirrel lounger, book holder, etc.
Make, paint and take home 4 different projects while learning the rudiments of craftsmanship.... No
power tools. July 28th, 9:00-12:00 Monday-Thursday, 4 sessions. $124.00.
K-4th Grade
- Non-School Day Field Trips (Grades K-4) Wow Zone, Indoor Water Parks, Zoo, Theater trips, Movie
theater trips. Cost according to package deal,
chaperones, non-school days, early-out days, during the summer, Saturdays.
- Skating School. Skating classes for all levels ages 3+. Students progress at their own pace. Classes will
run consecutively, with testing done when the student is ready. 30 minute sessions. Saturdays or
evenings. 2 Sessions. Saturdays Sept 6 - Oct. 11, Saturdays Nov. 1 - Dec. 13. $35.00/1st skater,
30.00/2nd skater.
- Prairie Fire Children's Theatre - a Christmas Carol. 5 sessions, Ages 7-16. Rehearsal schedules, after
school, show on Saturday. Monday-Saturday Nov. 17-22, 3:30-7:45pm. $40.00/$35/$30. Tickets $4.00
adult, $2.00 ages 4-16.
- Archery (Beginning or Intermediate). 6 sessions, grades 4-8. Tuesdays Sept., 23-Oct. 28, 4:30-5:30pm.
$40.00/person.
- Woodworking. For students 3rd - 7th grade. Make a bat house, squirrel lounger, book holder, etc.
Make, paint and take home 4 different projects while learning the rudiments of craftsmanship.... No
power tools. July 28th, 9:00-12:00 Monday-Thursday, 4 sessions. $124.00.

Preschool
- Build with Dad. Ages 2 1/2 to K. Calling all Dads, Grandpas or Dad-like friends! Bring your favorite
young person to an evening of fun together time. We provide the supplies and you do the building. We
will have fun using hammers, nails, glue, sandpaper, and paint as we build a cool '.....?....'. We will also
sing some songs and have a snack. 1 day class, 6:15-7:30pm. $9.00/child.
- Skating School. Skating classes for all levels ages 3+. Students progress at their own pace. Classes will
run consecutively, with testing done when the student is ready. 30 minute sessions. Saturdays or

evenings. 2 Sessions. Saturdays Sept 6 - Oct. 11, Saturdays Nov. 1 - Dec. 13. $35.00/1st skater,
30.00/2nd skater.

Family
- Pizza Bingo (bingo, prizes, and pizza in a school cafeteria. Fridays 6:00-8:00pm. 6-7 times over the
course of a school year) $10.00 / $6.00 staff
- Family Clay Days (Holiday weekend clay day - Saturday after black Friday, 2:00-4:00 pm. Ages 5+.
Create your very own handmade ornaments. Children 5-15 must be accompanied by an adult
participant). $15.00/person

General CE
- HELP WANTED - Now hiring lifeguards and water safety instructors (located in numerous sports
throughout the brochure)
- HELP WANTED - Adult and Youth Instructors (located in numerous sports throughout the brochure)
- Puppy Obedience Training. Wednesdays 6:00-7:00pm, Sept 17-Nov. 5) $99.00
- Dog First Aid - American Red Cross. 1 session ages 11-18. Perhaps dog CPR as well? Treating wounds,
injuries, etc. 1 Session, Saturday, 8:00-12:00. $40.00
- Community Ed Needs you... to teach a class! Share your interests, talents or hobbies with your
neighbors by teaching a class through community education. Call or email...
- Registration Page. Easy ways to register - Use your mobile Device: Download the free app for your
mobile (search for qr reader) and you can scan this image to take you directly to the registration
website. You don't even have to leave the breakfast table!
- Candy Corn Guessing Contest. Guess how many candy corn pieces are in our jar!!! The closest guess
without going over wins 1 free youth class voucher for any of our youth classes! Winners need not be
present to win. One guess per participant. Please include your name, phone #, and guess. Contest
begins Oct. 1st and winner will be announced November 1st. Please check Facebook for results!
- New class offering: First 5 people to sign up automatically receive a 10% discount on the class! (any
variety of discounts/sign ups)
- Volunteer Opportunities: Create and manage a volunteer program for participants 13 years and older
as a way to engage the community, build partnerships, and increase networking capabilities. To foster
inner-generational programming it is suggested that certain classes or activities have volunteers of
opposite age categories when practical.
- Special Thanks: Add an entire page thanking WCER participants and families for taking the time to
complete the Programming Needs Assessment Survey and make references to new classes, times,
extra sessions, days, or any other programming changes that happened due to this survey.

Key Learnings
My knowledge will forever grow and develop due to the wide variety of projects, activities, and
opportunities I will be presented with, contribute to, and have a background in. All Community
Education Directors have a variety of tools and methods they utilize in order to figure out the different
types of enrichment and recreation programs to offer. Class offerings should be based off of your
communitys needs because every community I will have the pleasure of working with will never be the
same. By instituting my community education departments best practices I can ensure survey success
by proper question formation, correct execution and delivery, and designing the metrics that will
enable me to quantify my results. Through these methods I will also increase my chances of high
response rates and obtain useful results.
Communication to various types of audiences has to be appropriate and sent in a variety of
ways such as email, text, Facebook, phone calls, letters, face-to-face communication, etc. to get as
many responses back as possible in order to suit the types of class offerings and activities to fit my
community. In order to ensure my results tell a story, I need to share my results in a formal report by
presenting data that highlights key points, describes the expected results, and outlines action steps.
I understand the process and importance of any type of needs assessment and the value it has
on a community and its Community Education Department. In order to make sure my Community
Education Department follows best practices I need to educate myself and keep the document alive by
adding to and removing practices that no longer apply or become outdated. In order to ensure my
departments success I must realize that it is my job as a future director and educator to provide myself

with the best education possible so I am able to pass that knowledge on to my colleagues, staff, peers,
and clients.

References
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Boyer, S., Stron, M. (2012). Best Practices for Improving Survey Participation. Redwood Shores, CA: World
Headquarters.
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, (2014). Improving Community Education. Retrieved from
http://www.mott.org/FundingInterests/programs/pathwaysoutofpoverty/improvingcommunityeducation
Community Education Park & Rec. (2014). Fall 2014 NRHEG Brochure. Retrieved from The City of New Richland
Website http://www.cityofnewrichlandmn.com/index.asp?SEC=1E67312C-5099-4E87-910A613C0D716C30&DE=530A3A88-CD50-41E9A16A-B0236B1B321E&Type=B_BASIC.
Decision Resources, LTD. (2013). Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools Community Education Study. Survey. February
2013.
Faribault Community Education (2014). Faribault Community Education, Fall 2014. Retrieved from the Faribault
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Henderson, A.T., & Mapp, K.L. (2002). A New Wave of Evidence, The Impact of School, Family, and Community
Connections on Student Achievement. Retrieved from sedl.org
Mankato Community Education and Recreation (2014). Community Education and Recreation, Fall 2014.
Retrieved from the Mankato Public Schools website http://www.mankatocer.com.
Owatonna Community Education and Recreation (2014). Celebrating Life and Learning. Retrieved from
http://www.owatonnaoce.portal.rschooltoday.com.
Rogers, J.L. (2012). Customer Surveys: 5 Things You Need To Know. Retrieved from
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n1263811.html
Waseca Community Education and Recreation (2014). excite. engage. experience. Fall 2014. Retrieved from the
Waseca Public Schools website https://ssl.dwebsite.com/secure2/ce_isd829/php/public.php.
Wikipedia (2014). Community Education. Retrieved November 1, 2014 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Communityeducation
Yoskovitz, B. (2014). How To Write Great Surveys with Actionable Data Results. Retrieved from
http://www.instigatorblog.com/how-to-write-great-surveys/2009/10/27/.

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