Camps provide a substantial opportunity for youth to develop important life skills. Identifying and training staff on critical competencies are essential to achieving the desired outcomes for camp participants. The purpose of this study was to determine the most critical competencies of the 4-H residential camp staff for achieving high staff…

Rising levels of generalized anxiety among LGBTQ+ youth during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic suggest a need for understanding effective interventions for reducing anxiety, as well as factors influencing youth's risk perceptions and trust pertaining to mental health-focused programming. The current survey-based study captures generalized anxiety,…

This study investigates the effectiveness of the "Power of Camp Inclusion" program in enhancing social skills among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in an integrated educational environment of a camp. Caregivers, who received pedagogical training on disability issues, evaluated the program. The study involved 22 individuals…

Research on sport camps for visually impaired youth is limited. The purposes of this study were to examine if visually impaired campers' self-perception of their perceived competence and independence changed as a result of attending a one-week sports camp. Forty visually impaired campers ranging from 10-15 years of age, who attended a one-week…

Amid growing concerns about students' declining interest and proficiency in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics [STEM] subjects, this study underscores the urgent need for innovative educational interventions. It does so by investigating the impact of week-long residential STEM summer camps on the career interests of middle and high…

Summer camp programs provide adolescent counselors with opportunities to work alongside adult staff, aiming to develop critical skills such as communication, responsibility, independence, and teamwork. Growing research supports the value of camp-based developmental relationships through youth-adult partnerships. However, tensions often arise as…

Students in grades 3, 4, and 5 participated in a monthlong experiential program conducted at a residential camp. The children were deemed "at risk" due to one or more of the following concerns: poor academic performance, behavioral issues, and extremely low self-esteem. The program consisted of tutoring in social issues and academic…

In Health and Physical Education (HPE) of the "New Zealand Curriculum," Outdoor Education (OE) is one of the seven key areas of learning. It has been taught in various forms because it includes a whole range of outdoor adventure activities and leisure pursuits. To better understand/interpret its nature and value in a New Zealand…

Groups of children often transition between activity spaces in both academic and recreational settings. In schools, children may be asked to walk as a group between the classroom and spaces such as a cafeteria and playground whereas summer camps similarly use different spaces for separate activities throughout a scheduled day. Interdependent group…

We explore the integration of Media Literacy in the 2-year Russian language STARTALK program, "How Words Shape People: Understanding Business Russian Through Proverbs." Given the current geopolitical climate, particularly the ongoing war in Ukraine, fostering critical engagement with media has become more essential than ever. By…

Phones have become pervasive in many teenagers' lives, and outdoor educators are increasingly faced with making decisions regarding technology. This case study sheds light on the complex relationship between teenagers, phones and residential outdoor environmental education by exploring the experiences of participants at a phone-free summer camp in…

The camp community understands that participation in camp produces a variety of impacts; what is less understood are the causal mechanisms leading to outcomes. In the past, research on the camp experience treated causal mechanisms as monolithic; this commentary argues that a weakness in existing camp research is the assumption that…

American summer camps employ over one million individuals every summer. However, little research has been conducted evaluating the experiences and outcomes for the camp staff. In particular, research efforts have done little to examine the subset of staff members working in formal leadership positions at summer camps. Often college-aged emerging…

This article describes the author's experience as a specialist working at a nature-based sleepaway camp for children and their families in Antalya Geyikbayiri. The camp was organized by a psychotherapist and three expert instructors to enhance the connections between parents and children, other children and parents present, and with the natural…

Many researchers have debated potential differences between male and female students' mathematical performance. One important factor that can impact performance is perception of the content. The purpose of the study is to investigate factors that impact high-ability male and female students' perspectives of mathematics. Participants (n = 12;…