The CCV Way

How has this idea enhanced your club's operation, etc.?

A positive approach to creating proper behavior

Some adult members and staff find junior member’s behavior inappropriate and the initial response we hear is wanting to discipline the kids, tell them to stop what they are doing, or remove them from the facility. This creates a negative interaction and can make junior members feel unwelcome, resulting in lower participation for the whole family.

Our club wants junior members to feel welcome and to enjoy being at CCV, so a clear guideline of expectations was created and shared with youth to teach them how to act as members at the club. It doesn’t mean they can’t have fun, it just shares with them the proper behavior no matter where they are.

The Youth Code of Conduct is a set of expectations for the junior members of the club; not a list of rules, but a guideline for proper behavior. It’s based on the approach of talking about what you can do, not what you can’t do. The Youth Code of Conduct empowers all members, staff and youth to create a community that is responsible for junior members’ behavior and functions together to create a positive culture with agreed upon expectations.

How was this idea implemented, and what have been the club members' reactions?

Instead of a list of rules and consequences, “The CCV Way” is a set of expectations for junior members to use as a guide for proper behavior. This is a community-based approach involving junior members, staff, and adult members working together to create a culture through recognition and positive reinforcement. The Youth Code of Conduct has been integrated into staff training to give managers and front-line staff the appropriate tools to address junior members in a reassuring manner that reinforces positive behavior and encourages junior member participation.

“The CCV Way” is incorporated into daily operations by using specific vocabulary in programs and events, as well as addressing behaviors. Staff are trained and encouraged to recognize and reinforce good behavior, while addressing or redirecting unwanted behaviors. Due to the clear and consistent expectations, our junior members are responding by making better choices and having a better club experience.