Institution
American Camp Association
About: American Camp Association is a based out in . It is known for research contribution in the topics: Positive Youth Development & Recreation. The organization has 9 authors who have published 35 publications receiving 862 citations.
Topics: Positive Youth Development, Recreation, Context (language use), Outdoor education, Leadership development
Papers
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TL;DR: The study highlights the particular strengths of camp as an educational institution and social movement and suggests that different variations of summer camp can provide potent developmental experiences.
Abstract: Three thousand, three hundred and ninety-five families, whose child attended one of 80 different day or resident summer camps for at least one week, completed customized questionnaires that measured growth from precamp to postcamp in four domains: Positive Identity, Social Skills, Physical & Thinking Skills, and Positive Values & Spirituality. Parents, children, and camp staff reported significant positive change in these four domains; more than would be expected by maturation alone. Most gains were maintained or showed additional growth six months later. Few of the camp's structural elements correlated with growth, nor did striking gender, age, or ethnicity differences emerge. The study highlights the particular strengths of camp as an educational institution and social movement and suggests that different variations of summer camp can provide potent developmental experiences.
237 citations
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TL;DR: The authors explored the outcomes of a 1-week or longer camp experience from the perspective of parents and found statistically significant gains from precamp to post-camp in 10 youth development constructs with the highest effect sizes related to adventure/exploration, independence, making friends, positive identity, and peer relationships.
Abstract: Every summer more than 10 million children attend day or resident (sleep-over) camps sponsored by churches, not-for-profit youth agencies, and independent operators. This study explored the outcomes of a 1-week or longer camp experience from the perspective of parents. A national sample of almost 2,300 parents responded to pre-, post-, and follow-up surveys about their children's growth experiences at camp. Parents perceived statistically significant gains from precamp to postcamp in 10 youth development constructs with the highest effect sizes related to adventure/exploration, independence, making friends, positive identity, and peer relationships. Additional gains from the precamp to the 6-month follow-up were noted for leadership. Parents also described what their children learned at camp and what changes they perceived occurred as a result of their child's camp experience.
127 citations
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TL;DR: Some of the developmental outcomes that occur at camp based on developmental theories that underlie camp programs and the research that has been conducted are described.
106 citations
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TL;DR: Some of the trends that have occurred in camp research are summarized and suggestions for future directions to assure that camp experiences continue to "enrich lives and build tomorrows" are offered.
72 citations
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TL;DR: This article examined experiences and associated meanings of 38 family groups participating in developed camping and found that the most common associated meanings are restoration, family functioning, experiencing nature, special places, self-identity, social interaction, and children's learning.
Abstract: This study examines experiences and associated meanings of 38 family groups participating in developed camping. The analysis is guided by discursive social psychology in which expressed meanings reflect interpretive frames campers use to explain experiences. Key elements of camping experience include nature, social interaction, and comfort/convenience. The most common associated meanings are restoration, family functioning, experiencing nature, special places, self-identity, social interaction, and children's learning. Comparing these experiences and meanings to findings from the 1960s and 1970s suggests that meanings associated with experiencing nature, social interaction, and family have evolved to reflect their greater discursive importance in contemporary society.
67 citations
Authors
Showing all 9 results
Name | H-index | Papers | Citations |
---|---|---|---|
M. Deborah Bialeschki | 19 | 59 | 1507 |
Barry A. Garst | 17 | 85 | 1031 |
Laurie Browne | 8 | 26 | 257 |
Margery M. Scanlin | 4 | 4 | 197 |
S. Buxner | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Marge M. Scanlin | 1 | 1 | 215 |
Phillip Lovell | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Deb Bialeschki | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Alli Faricy | 0 | 2 | 0 |