"Family learning vacations" 5-10 day summer residential programs for families with deaf children, are described. Guidelines for establishing such a program are given concerning rationale, physical plant, eligibility, scheduling, parent activities, children's activities, and evaluation. (Author/DB)

A British educator discusses the summer he spent as an American camp counselor. Discovers that in combining the roles of activity center, holiday resort, and place of learning, over 8,000 summer camps are an important part of educational process and significant formative influence on a large proportion of this nation's young. (NEC)

Over a 3-year period, the National Inclusive Camp Practices (NICP) project examined camp practices and youth outcomes at 14 resident camps and outdoor schools that fully integrate youth with disabilities into their programs. These outdoor programs were predominantly 1 week long. Data on camp practices and on 742 participating youth with and…

Describes the summer camp program in visual arts offered to elementary and secondary students at the Interlochen (Michigan) Center for the Arts, focusing on the participants' daily schedule. (SJL)

Describes features of the Frost Valley YMCA Wellness Camp for Young People. Self-responsibility, nutritional awareness, physical fitness, stress management, and environmental sensitivity are stressed. Settings such as school camps and nature trips provide opportunities for the counselor to interrupt, intervene, and influence, essential in…

The author identifies eight factors as essential to the success of a school camping program: enthusiastic staff, curriculum developed around unique outdoor experiences, instruction stressing "doing" rather than "telling," a schedule allowing flexibility, student input in planning, inservice for staff, use of trained counselors, and community…

Camping Unlimited for at-risk youth, which originally ran from 1969-76, was recently revived at Blue Star Camps (Hendersonville, North Carolina) with 150 youth from southern Florida. The one-week stay, funded by several partnerships and organized by youth programs in the home county, included all regular camp activities. Increased staff and…

Shooting sports teach discipline and responsibility, permit universal participation, and are popular with campers, yet are declining because of certification, cost, and safety issues. BB guns and air rifles are safer and quieter, need less space, can be used indoors, and are inexpensive compared to small-bore rifles. New target systems reduce…

Wilderness programs have earned a well-respected niche in the continuum of care for troubled youth and families by providing quality counseling and education in an outdoor environment. Research substantiates claims of program effectiveness. Outdoor therapeutic programming can be dissected into identifiable techniques and approaches, which have…

A study examining outcomes of a free camp for low-income families in Oregon surveyed 19 participant families. Enjoying the outdoors, spending time together as a family, and meeting new people from their communities were significant outcomes. A 5-month follow-up survey found positive program outcomes that continued after the experience. (TD)

The Hancock field station (Oregon), owned by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, offers programs for children (age 6-13) which stress development of scientific observation and investigation skills, through field work in such areas as fossil hunting with professional paleontologists as well as other outdoor activities. (DB)

Describes results of study to discover what camping experiences most affect campers' self-concept (Cowin, 1988). Examines assessments by female campers, grades 5-11, of activities affecting them positively and negatively. Shows self-concept is enhanced through opportunities offered by camp programs. Older campers placed more emphasis on…

Focuses on one developmentally disabled child's experiences at a summer camp for nondisabled children. Describes the strategies implemented at Lourdes Camp (New York) to provide individualized support. Discusses the benefits to nondisabled children of normal interactions with a disabled child. Includes six references. (SV)

A survey of 1,293 camps with boating programs examined affiliation and type of camp, water sites used, boating programs and participants, boats used, instructor training, and number of boating accidents. Most camps indicated a need for curriculum materials, particularly instructor materials. (LP)