Planning - Excite to Involve

Involving Youth in the Planning Process

9 Planning Steps

Creating Successful Projects

- Age Appropriate Practices
- Connecting with Youth
- Tips for Success

STEP 6 9 PLANNING STEPS - STEP 6

Develop a Plan

Steps for this plan could include:

Collect information. Understand the context of the issue and realistic solutions.
Brainstorm alternative solutions.
Evaluate potential solutions based on a cost/benefit analysis, relevance, youth interest and engagement, urgency, importance, and efficacy
Create a planning document. This might include the issues and opportunities, vision, a complete goal statement, existing conditions, the planning process, and the proposed solutions.

Example	Ways To Involve Youth	Considerations
Plan a conservation project that will include interpretive signs for a nature trail.	Collect GPS data Research natural history information Observe people using the trail – where do they stop? What questions do they have?	Match the activity with the appropriate age group and developmental level. Seek partners for assistance with technical equipment and methods training, if needed.
Evaluate design alternatives, such as: Solution “A” presents minimum action/change to existing conditions. Solution “B” presents maximum action/change to existing conditions. Solution “C” presents no action/change to existing conditions.	Host a planning charrette with youth Assign an essay that includes an analysis of alternative solutions Create maps, graphic novels, or stories that address different solutions Assign teams to research and present different parts of the issues	Include discussions about how good ideas may be changed by community realities.
Select a design alternative based on how it relates to their original vision, goals, and other factors.	Consult youth about the Solutions. Invite youth to public meetings, focus groups, school vote or class vote. Do the proposed alternative solutions address their issues, visions and goals? Did anything get left out?	Do you have to go to where youth are or will they come to your meetings. Demonstrate youth input has been heard and represented in all solutions How will you come to consensus on the vision?