NSG 3323
Independent Learning Activity : Windshield/ Walking Survey
Windshield or walking surveys are one of many tools that CHN’s use to gain a better
understanding of the communities they work in. For this assignment, you are asked to take a
walk and/or maybe a drive in the neighborhood you are living in.
Step 1: Identify your neighborhood – what are the parameters you will consider. Discuss with
your community teacher.
Step 2: Should I do a walking or driving windshield survey?
Step 3: Attached is a thorough list of categories and questions that are normally considered in a
Windshield or Walking survey. Read the list and try to answer the questions. Have you seen
your neighborhood this way before? What do you know about this neighborhood? What
information are you missing?
Step 4: Do your walking/ windshield survey. Maybe take a few pictures. Please remember it is
not professional or courteous to take photos of people without their permission.
Step 5: Complete the questions – with brief observations.
Step 6: Reflect upon what you have learned from this activity. Did you see the neighborhood
different, when looking through a professional CHN lens?
Step 7: Share with your team in the group meeting discussions –as guided by your community
instructor.
For more information on doing Windshield surveys, consult the community toolbox:
https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/assessment/assessing-community-needs-and-
resources/windshield-walking-surveys/main
For more information on your neighborhood, you can also go to the Ottawa Neighborhood
Study at: https://www.neighbourhoodstudy.ca/
Other interesting sources of information:
Ottawa Police Crime Mapping Tool: https://www.ottawapolice.ca/en/crime/Crime-
Mapping-Tool.asp
Statistics Canada Census Tract Data: https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-
recensement/2011/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E (enter your postal code into the
search box and hit search. When the results appear scroll down to ‘census tract” and
click on the number to launch the statistics about this neighborhood)
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