Evaluating the Effects of the Wendigo Lake Expedition Program on Young Offenders

Abstract

This study reports an evaluative case study of Wendigo Lake Expeditions (WLE), a continuous intake, open custody program for young offenders that uses a positive youth development approach. Four objectives guided the case study: (a) describe and illustrate WLE's approach to working with adjudicated youth, (b) identify and report perceptions of the program and process, (c) assess changes in their well-being utilizing the Youth-Outcome Questionnaire (Y-OQ), and (d) track postprogram recidivism rates. Results indicated a significant improvement in youth well-being indicated by significant score reductions on the Y-OQ. Of the 40 youths contacted at the follow-up assessment, 21 (53%) had been charged with a criminal offense during this period, including those charged for administrative offences such as breaching conditions of probation, whereas 19 (47%) had not been charged. Implications of positive youth development programming for adjudicated youth are discussed.