Interracial attitudes and behaviors of 196 disadvantaged children aged 8-12 years were studied during a series of week-long sessions at summer camp. Each living unit had a black and a white counselor and equal numbers of black and white campers. (JB)

Investigated whether a specific outdoor education program had any measurable impact on campers' environmental attitudes. Reports that all participants (N=613) had a positive experience but that the experimental treatment did not significantly influence attitudes. Includes the attitude instrument in the appendix. (ML)

Many factors go into selecting a camp. Location, cost, and health facilities are all important considerations. The musical development and objectives of the child and the camp's particular instructional, emotional, recreational, physical, and geographical requirements are all important in the selection process. (CS)

A mother of a gifted teenager reflects on her son's development as she awaits a letter from the son who is attending the West Virginia National Youth Science Camp. (DB)

Examined friendship formation and dissolution among 216 children, ages 8-15 years, over the course of a residential summer camp experience. Analyses suggested that friendship formation and duration were coherent, independent dimensions of individual differences and distinct from the overall extensivity of involvement in friendships. (MDM)

Briefly described are four award winning summer programs including a Massachusetts Girl Scout camp which mainstreams girls with disabilities; a New York camp serving siblings of children with disabilities; a Texas camp which utilizes volunteers to serve disabled children who may have serious medical conditions; and a California camp offering…

The mother of a physically disabled child encourages the participation of such children in mainstream camping programs. Suggestions to maximize the benefits of the camping experience are offered. (DB)

Relates how campers and staff at a camp in Iowa managed during the flood, initiated clean-up efforts, and attempted to secure aid to pay for over $100,000 in damage to camp facilities. Following a visit, singer Billy Ray Cyrus donated concert ticket revenues to help pay for flood damages. (LP)

Staff at a residential camp for high-risk youth dealt with campers eating potentially lethal hallucinogenic mushrooms by eliminating the mushrooms instead of confronting the group and thereby jeopardizing the relationship between staff and campers. Analyzes the situation and provides suggestions for handling similar incidents in the future. (LP)

An intensive three-day program at the Pines Catholic Camp, followed by weekly support meetings, aim to prevent Dallas teens from turning to gang participation. Program components include personal goal setting, commitment to a code of conduct, and physical activities that promote group unity and positive peer pressure. (SV)

Customer service can help increase camp enrollment, set the camp apart from competition, and improve camper retention. Strategies include encouraging parent and camper feedback; using proper telephone etiquette; handling complaints professionally; increasing parent contact; and surprising families with gifts, discounts, and other special offers.…

It is important to start planning for children's summer camp activities long before summer arrives. This paper presents advice from the American Camping Association on asking the right questions of the camp director when looking at different camps. It also discusses the importance of knowing one's options in regard to summer camps. A sidebar…

Christian camps claim to create spaces where children and youth are more likely to encounter God and experience spiritual living, and yet contemporary camp ministries in the United States struggle to distinguish their environments from the cultural contexts in which their campers usually reside. This article reflects on the practices of 23 diverse…

A workshop on outdoor education, funded by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Title V, was held to develop guidelines for a residential program for urban disadvantaged youth. Participants came from various educational and other disciplines. Resource speakers and leaders were also involved. Tentative guidelines and objectives were produced…

This handbook represents an attempt by UNESCO to give a broad picture of the kinds of out-of-school activities that are designed to engage the participation of young people in different parts of the world. Out-of-school activities, as used in this publication, refers to educational activities undertaken or done outside the formal teaching periods…