Participation In Summer Camp Research Articles

Empathy in an ecosystem: A longitudinal study examining contributions of summer camp and school experiences to empathy during early adolescence

This study utilized data from a national longitudinal study of 277 early adolescent summer camp participants to examine the iterative links between youths’ experiences in two contexts – summer camp and school – and empathy over two years. Using a cross-lagged panel model, the authors examined how the quality of youths’ developmental experiences within each context, defined as a combination of supportive relationships and engaged learning opportunities, were related to youths’ empathy over time. Results showed that 1) higher quality developmental experiences in each context uniquely predicted improvements in empathy; 2) youths’ developmental experiences at camp and school were mutually reinforcing over time; and 3) school experiences partly mediated the effects of camp experiences and vice versa. Results illustrate the value of out-of-school-time contexts for supporting empathy, the importance of developmental experiences across settings, and the need for researchers and practitioners to attend to the ecosystem of social development.

Changes in Daily Step Counts and Health-Related Fitness After a Sports-Based Residential Summer Camp in Boys

Several schoolwide initiatives have been created to combat the rate of obesity in adolescents. However, despite programs showing an ability to advance health-related fitness during the academic year, the summer months contribute to the most accelerated weight gain and health-related fitness (HRF) losses in school aged youth. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of a residential summer camp on health-related fitness markers in adolescents. The participants were 100 male campers aged 10–14. Campers performed body mass index (BMI) and various physical activity assessments aimed to evaluate health-related fitness levels prior to and following their participation in summer camp. Physical activity levels were assessed throughout the summer using pedometers. MANCOVA results revealed significant pretest to post-test improvements on health-related fitness areas of BMI, aerobic fitness, muscular strength and endurance, and flexibility. The results of this study offer preliminary indications that participation in summer camp programing can promote and maintain health-related fitness levels in adolescents over the summer.

The role of behavioral loyalty in youth development at summer camp

Behavioral loyalty, or consistent participation in summer camp, may impact how and in what ways young campers develop. Specifically, this study examines how two factors of behavioral loyalty, dosage (e.g., weeks at last camp) and developmental progression (e.g., transitioning from camper to camp employee), are associated with youth development attributed to the camp experience. Campers categorized as core participants (i.e., those reporting higher dosage and further developmental progression) were compared to fringe participants (i.e., those who reported lower dosage of camp and less developmental progression). As hypothesized, there were significant differences in development for core and fringe participants based on both dosage and developmental progression. Although both core and fringe participants benefited from camp, core participants reported greater development of measured outcomes such as relationship skills, appreciation for diversity, and self-identity. These findings offer insight into the benefits of increased behavioral loyalty in summer camp participants.

Summer Camps from the Perspective of Participants and Organisers

Abstract Introduction . Summer camps are the most important form of organised leisure activity for children and adolescents, and their popularity has been increasing year after year. Providing tourism services for this group of recipients constitutes a big challenge for the organisers because they have to satisfy the expectations of not only the participants but also their parents. Hence, the aim of the study was to obtain data making it possible to estimate the degree of convergence between the needs of summer camp participants, their parents’ needs, and the tourism product, that is summer camp. Materials and methods . The study involved one hundred participants of a summer camp, aged 11-17 years. A diagnostic survey carried using direct interviews and questionnaires. The data have been processed and analysed statistically by means of Excel and Statistica v.12; a significance test was used for comparing two proportions at the significance level α = 0.05 (with p < α indicating the presence of statistically significant differences and p ≥ α indicating a lack of statistically significant differences). Results . The children of educated mothers participated in summer camps significantly more often than children of mothers with vocational education (p = 0.0115) and secondary education (p = 0.0422). When selecting the summer camp, most respondents (44.57%) paid attention to the degree of correspondence between the programme and their interests. The camps that were the most popular were sport summer camps (41.30%). Boys chose survival summer camps more often than girls (p = 0.0360) whereas girls preferred active and sailing summer camps (p = 0.006). The most attention in a summer camp was paid to the staff. Conclusions . When choosing a summer camp, children and parents pay special attention to whether or not the programme is rich in attractions; however, it is the staff that conditions positive emotions of the participants as well as their good memories. Organisers know how important the staff are and that they are the warrant of the summer camp’s success. The results presented confirm that preparing a summer camp offering requires much work and involvement because one must satisfy the expectations of both participants and parents, who use different criteria of camp evaluation.

The effect of participation in summer camp of Boy Scout on IKIRU CHIKARA (zest for living), leadership and self-esteem

The effect of participation in summer camp of Boy Scout on IKIRU CHIKARA (zest for living), leadership and self-esteem

A multisite evaluation of summer camps for children with cancer and their siblings

ABSTRACTSummer camps for pediatric cancer patients and their families are ubiquitous. However, there is relatively little research, particularly studies including more than one camp, documenting outcomes associated with children's participation in summer camp. The current cross-sectional study used a standardized measure to examine the role of demographic, illness, and camp factors in predicting children's oncology camp-related outcomes. In total, 2,114 children at 19 camps participated. Campers were asked to complete the pediatric camp outcome measure, which assesses camp-specific self-esteem, emotional, physical, and social functioning. Campers reported high levels of emotional, physical, social, and self-esteem functioning. There were differences in functioning based on demographic and illness characteristics, including gender, whether campers/siblings were on or off active cancer treatment, age, and number of prior years attending camp. Results indicated that summer camps can be beneficial for pediatric oncology patients and their siblings, regardless of demographic factors (e.g., gender, treatment status) and camp factors (e.g., whether camp sessions included patients only, siblings only, or both). Future work could advance the oncology summer camp literature by examining other outcomes linked to summer camp attendance, using longitudinal designs, and including comparison groups.

An Exploratory Study of 4th, 5th, and 6th Grade Summer Camp Participants’ Attitudes and Intentions Towards Physical Activity

Physical inactivity is a growing problem among children, particularly schoolaged youth. Research suggests children are especially prone to inactivity in the summer months when access to structured school-time and extra-curricular activities is reduced. Community programs like residential summer camps offer an excellent environment for engaging children in enjoyable physical activities while also helping them learn to be more physically active when they return home. Pre-existing attitudes often influence how much change a program inspires in an individual. The purpose of this study was to explore 4th, 5th, and 6th grade summer camp participants’ attitudes towards physical activity. Results of this study indicate that youth have a fairly neutral, though positive, attitude towards physical activity and that parental support of physical activity is still extremely important, even at this age. Campers also indicated relatively high intentions to remain physically active in the two weeks after the camp ended.

Technology Integration With Teacher Candidates in a Summer-Camp Setting

Many districts have implemented one-to-one technology initiatives, where students have access to computers or tablets for use in and out of school. Teachers participating in these initiatives may lack knowledge about ways to integrate technology into classroom practices (Pilgrim and Bledsoe, 2012); therefore, teacher preparation programs must prepare teachers for work in technology-rich environments (U.S. Department of Education, 2010). In order to model technology integration, teacher educators at a small university in Texas implemented a one-to-one iPad initiative in a summer-camp setting. Preservice teachers worked with middle school students for 1 week during the summer camp setting, engaging the participants in research and technology applications. The purpose of this article is to share preservice teachers’ responses to the iPad initiative, student-centered interaction with the summer-camp participants, and technology integration, in an effort to prepare teachers for the 21st-century classroom.

Summer camp participants in rural Arkansas ő dietary and lifestyle findings (811.9)

The epidemic of obesity and health risks for children affect those in rural as well as urban areas. Nutrition education efforts in the rural Delta during 2007‐2010 involved a partnership between the Delta Obesity Research Prevention Unit (DOPRU) and Phillips County, Arkansas to bring a summer camp program to this impoverished area. Camp included access to food and focused on nutrition, physical activity, and social/behavioral sessions conducted by DOPRU trained student interns. Dietary intake and physical activity data were collected at beginning and end of camp. Over the course of the 4‐year period, 483 children participated (39% male) with a mean age of 9 (age range 5‐14 years). Approximately 37% were classified as either overweight or obese. While improvements in diet were seen during the camp as a result of exposure to fruits and vegetables and whole grains, 24‐hr recalls only showed a trend for increased vitamin C (49mg to 65mg) and decreased sodium (3236mg to 2723mg) from baseline to end of camp (p=.10 and p=.09, respectively). In 2009‐2010, magnesium intake increased from 136mg at baseline to 182mg by camp end (p=.01). There were few changes in physical activity, and notably more than 60% of children reported having a television set in their bedroom, a high percentage given that this is a high poverty area. Despite small changes with positive results, Delta children continue to have poor nutrient intakes and engage in fairly sedentary activities. Interventions to increase awareness of healthy diets which include family participation are desperately needed, along with efforts to increase physical activity.Grant Funding Source: Supported by USDA/ARS 6251 5100 008 00D

Summer Camps as a Means to Recruit Prospective College Students

Recent literature has revealed summer camps, as educational and scientific events, can be used as an effective tool to recruit prospective college students in engineering, nursing, and some science disciplines. The purpose of this study was to test six research questions regarding the relationships between summer camp participants' satisfaction level and their intention to attend the camp again, intention to recommend the camp to others, intention to attend other camps hosted by the same academic program, intention to attend other camps hosted by the same university, intention to apply to the host academic program after high school, and intention to apply to the host university after high school. Fifty-eight campers from a Fashion Camp and a Native American Camp participated in this study. Quantitative data analysis with one-tail Pearson's correlation helped answer the research questions and confirmed the relationships between variables exist. Practical implications, limitations, and agenda for future studies are discussed.

Effectiveness of Previous Mumps Vaccination During a Summer Camp Outbreak

Mumps is a vaccine-preventable disease that may cause outbreaks. In July 2005, an outbreak of mumps occurred during a children's summer camp in upstate New York. An investigation was initiated to describe the cases and evaluate vaccine effectiveness. A retrospective cohort study was conducted among 541 children from the United States and abroad who attended a 1- or 2-month overnight summer camp. Patients with mumps were interviewed; serologic analysis was conducted for 6 case patients. Vaccine effectiveness was calculated by retrospective review of immunization records for 507 attendees who were eligible for vaccination and had verified immunization history. Thirty-one camp attendees were identified as having mumps (attack rate: 5.7%); 5 (83%) of 6 patients tested had positivity for mumps immunoglobulin M. Of the 507 participants (including 29 patients) with available immunization history, 440 (including 16 [87%] patients) were 2-dose recipients of mumps vaccine (attack rate: 3.6%); 46 participants (including 4 [9%] patients) were 1-dose recipients (attack rate: 8.7%); and 21 (including 9 [4%] patients) were unvaccinated (attack rate: 42.9%). Vaccine effectiveness was 92% for 2 doses and 80% for 1 dose. Outbreaks of mumps in settings such as summer camps can occur despite high vaccination rates. Vaccine effectiveness for 2 mumps vaccinations was greater than vaccine effectiveness for 1 mumps vaccination. Therefore, recommendation of 2 mumps vaccinations for summer camp participants continues to be appropriate. Control of mumps disease relies on broad vaccination coupled with correct clinical diagnosis and strict control measures.