ABOUT US


 

Watch how we use adventure programming to change lives.

 

The
History of
Youth Odyssey

Created in 1997, Youth Odyssey is a 501 (C) (3) non-profit based in Corpus Christi, Texas driven to address the rising tide of juvenile crime and violence. Youth Odyssey is on a mission to inspire, engage, and empower disadvantaged and underprivileged youth through leadership development, life skills, and outdoor adventure. We target youth ages 10-17 through teaching basic life skills.  Those skills are: communication, teamwork, problem-solving, goal-setting, leadership, trust, empathy, mindfulness, self-confidence, and positive coping skills. These are taught through adventure activities that include teambuilding sessions, ropes challenge courses, kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing, bouldering, hiking, backpacking, camping, and more. Since our establishment, Youth Odyssey has provided approximately 15,000 at-risk and disadvantaged youth with life changing opportunities; 800-900 youth annually. We have longstanding partnerships with many agencies here in the Coastal Bend; and programming is free of cost to the youth and their families.

Our
Partners

  • Texas Parks and Wildlife, Community Outdoor Outreach Program, since 1998
  • Corpus Christi Independent School District, since 2002
  • Prospera Housing Community Services, since 2002
  • Housing Authority of Corpus Christi since 2002
  • Corpus Christi Park and Recreation, Community Youth Development, since 2000
  • Nueces County Juvenile Justice Center, since 2006
  • Homeschoolers United of Texas, since 2011
  • Foster Angels of South Texas, since 2015
  • GROW Local and Downtown Farmers Market, since 2015
  • Foster Angels of South Texas (since 2015)
  • Majesty Outdoors, since 2016
  • Gregory-Portland ISD (since 2018)
  • Corpus Christi Deaf and Hard of Hearing Center (since 2022)
  • Justice Courts Pct. 1, Pl.1., Nueces County (since 2022)
  • Who’s next?

Our
Goals

Youth Odyssey’s overall goal is to effect social change in at-risk youth by providing youth development programming that increases their resilient attributes and decreases at-risk factors such as gang violence, drugs, alcohol, and teen pregnancy through appealing healthy adventure challenges.

  • To improve participating youth’s life skills, including leadership, self-confidence, communication, problem-solving, team building, and trust;
  • To increase the perception of healthy life styles and a sense of purpose and future;
  • To provide at-risk youth with adult mentors that hold healthy beliefs and clear standards;
  • To provide activities that allow at-risk youth to be successful in building social and behavioral skills;
  • To provide at-risk youth with activities in a caring and supportive environment;
  • To provide at-risk youth with opportunities to participate in activities that produce a sense of usefulness and responsibility; and
  • To provide at-risk youth with clear and attainable goals.

Corpus Christi Independent School District reports that youth who participate in our programs have:

  • Decreased Dropout Rates
  • Decreased Disciplinary Action
  • Increased Grades
  • Increased Attendance
  • Increased State Testing Scores

Evaluation
Tools

The youth served by Youth Odyssey will show a minimum increase of 75% in the
development of six core life skills desire to live a healthy lifestyle, and
participate in outdoor activities. Our programming will assist at-risk youth in
acquiring and improving the six key life skills demonstrated to be the most
effective assets to change juvenile delinquent behavior.

Youth Odyssey utilizes pre and post participation surveys to evaluate the
effectiveness of all programming. The survey is given at the beginning and the
end of each program. The assessment of each program is also measured through the
following evaluations:

  • Staff and volunteer observations
  • Youth pre/post Surveys
  • Referring Youth Agency Evaluation
  • Volunteer Evaluation
  • Parent / Guardian Evaluation

Objectives
and expected
outcomes

Each year we exceed these goals

  • To have 75% of at-risk youth participating show an increase in their self-confidence;
  • To have 75% of at-risk youth participating show and increase in leadership;
  • To have 75% of at-risk youth participating show and increase in problem-solving skills;
  • To have 75% of at-risk youth participating show and increase in team building and trust;
  • To have 80% of at-risk youth participating show a desire for future participation in healthy alternative activities that discourage risky behaviors.

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