Quality Youth Development and the Camp Experience: Results from a Program Improvement Process

Many camp professionals find themselves challenged by their funders, boards, and parents to address the issue of quality of the experiences they offer to youth. Within the larger youth development community, this issue Is receiving critical attention with more evaluations including an assessment of program quality and incorporating setting-level measures in their designs. At the practice level, organizations are looking for tools to help document effective practice and allow practitioners to assess, ·reflect on, and improve their programs (Yohalem, Wilson­Ahlstrom, Fischer, & Shinn, 2007). The purpose of this paper is to describe the results of a program improvement process the American Camp Association (ACA) and Youth Development Strategies, Inc. (YDSI) implemented to increase the quality at the setting level of the camp of developmental opportunities through the camp experience. The specific research questions were: 1) does the process result in change in campers\u27 perceptions of the supports and opportunities needed for positive youth development? and 2) what camp characteristics seemed most aligned with positive change

Optimal Experience among Campers in a Resident Camp Setting

The purpose of this exploratory study was to assess optimal experience, also known as flow and quality of experience, in a resident camp setting. Campers from a private coeducational children\u27s camp in the southeastern United States were asked to record descriptions of their involvement, attitudes, and feelings during randomly selected times during two camp sessions in 1991. The research questions addressed were: How do experiences associated with a quality of experience and flow occur in the resident camp setting? How frequently do they occur? What implications does an understanding of flow have for providing better camp experience.,? Based on this exploratory study which consisted of data from 910 experiences from 47 campers, several conclusions were drawn

Measuring Positive Youth Development at Summer Camp: Problem Solving and Camp Connectedness

While research on summer camps has generally supported the benefits of organized camping for youth, increasing pressure exists for camps to document outcomes to stakeholders and to base their practices on evidence. This paper discusses the theoretical and empirical development of two measures relevant to these needs: Problem Solving Confidence and Camp Connectedness. The process of scale development included reviewing conceptual and theoretical literature as it related to camp settings. Items based on the relevant content domains were then generated, reviewed by experts, and pilot tested with 557 campers. Evidence from this pilot study suggests that both measures may be reliable and valid measures of their respective constructs. Implications for use and ties to the extant literature are discussed

The Status of Evaluation in ACA Accredited Camping Programs

The purpose of this descriptive evaluation project was to determine the current status of evaluation in American Camping Association accredited camps. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected from a systematic random sample of camps. The results showed that camp directors placed emphasis on evaluations for helping them improve various aspects of the camp related to staff, program, facilities, and/or administration

Trends and Issues in Not for Profit Camping

The purpose of this study was to examine in­fluences on not for profit agencies involved in camping programs to determine critical trends and issues related to organized camping. The American Camping Association (ACA) Not for Profit Forum and Council funded this study. The project consisted of three data collection phases: 1) an extensive literature review; 2) a survey sent to a random sample of camp directors and their not for profit agency executives; and 3) focus groups conducted at a national ACA con­ference. This descriptive research study uses information from the second phase of this pro­ject to present quantitative data about percep­tions of the trends and issues in not for profit camping

Creating Inclusive 4-H Environments for People with Disabilities

The purpose of a 4-year 4-H Inclusion Project conducted in North Carolina was to create intentionally inclusive 4-H environments and engage communities to address the needs of people with disabilities. In year one an experiential curriculum, Shine Up and Step Out, was developed for youth ages 9 to 12 years. In the next 3 years, selected counties used the curriculum and developed training and resource opportunities. A summative evaluation showed how the county projects were successful and offered recommendations about the curriculum, statewide inclusion opportunities, program and policy, community involvement, and ongoing implementation and evaluation

Outcomes of Camping: Perceptions from Camper Focus Groups

The Recreation and Leisure Studies De­partment at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) and Morry\u27s Camp are working together to develop an evaluation re­search plan that blends appropriate measurement tools with assessing desired outcomes. Several methodological techniques are in place to gather qualitative and. quantitative longitudinal data from Morry\u27s Camp. This paper, however, will focus on one set of qualitative results gathered from three exploratory focus groups conducted with campers. The purpose of this paper is to describe the match between the camp\u27s objec­tives and the valued aspects of the camp experi­ence as articulated by the campers. Our intent is to offer camps interested in validating outcomes an example of one method of qualitative data collection, analysis, and interpretation. The paper also relates the Morry\u27s Camp findings to the professional literature surrounding youth from at-risk communities, resiliency, protective fac­tors, and youth developmen

4-H Programs with a Focus on Including Youth with Disabilities

Youth with disabilities often have limited opportunities for integration within their communities. The mission of Intentionally Inclusive 4-H Club Programs, a 4-year pilot project, is to purposefully create accessible 4-H environments and engage communities to address the needs of people with disabilities. During year one, a collaborative team developed an experiential curriculum for 9 to 12 year-old youth entitled Shine Up and Step Out. In year two, selected counties used the materials and developed specific training and resource opportunities. A formative evaluation showed how 4-H staff are raising awareness and involving youth and volunteers with disabilities in community programs

Children\u27s Perceptions of an Environmental Leadership Program: Camp 2 Grow

Nature-deficit disorder has been highlighted as a concern for today\u27s children. Organized camps for children have traditionally been associated with nature-based opportunities. However, the role that camps have in developing an appreciation for the outdoors and environmental stewardship has not been documented. The purpose of this study was to evaluate youths\u27 perceived connections to nature resulting from a pilot test of a leadership and environmental stewardship program (i.e., Camp 2 Grow) undertaken at organized resident camps during the summer of 2009. Qualitative analyses of personal reflection journals were used. Campers recognized through this program that having the freedom to enjoy the outdoors also meant having a responsibility for environmental stewardship. Camp efforts can be focused on promoting nature abundance for children

Editors\u27 Introduction and Acknowledgements

An introduction to the journal Research in Outdoor Education, volume 6 is presented by the authors on behalf of the Coalition for Education in the Outdoors (CEO) Research Committee