Comparing Three Overnight Summer Camp Experiences for Marginalized Middle School Students: Negative, Neutral, and Positive Results

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  • Additional Information
    • Availability:
      SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://sagepub.com
    • Peer Reviewed:
      Y
    • Source:
      21
    • Education Level:
      Junior High Schools
      Middle Schools
      Secondary Education
      Elementary Education
      Grade 7
      Grade 8
      Grade 6
      Intermediate Grades
    • Subject Terms:
      Resident Camp Programs; Summer Programs; Youth Programs; Racial Bias; Ethnicity; Socioeconomic Status; Social Bias; African American Students; Hispanic American Students; Middle School Students; Program Effectiveness; Recreational Activities; Summer Schools; Experiential Learning; Disproportionate Representation; Grade 7; Grade 8; Grade 6
    • Subject Terms:
      Wyoming; Texas
    • Accession Number:
      10.1177/10538259211030529
    • ISSN:
      1053-8259
    • Abstract:
      Background: Summer camps can promote positive youth development. Unfortunately, racial, ethnic, and economic disparities contribute to inequities in camp participation and related research on marginalized youth. Consequently, it is not clear what types of camping programs work best for marginalized youth. Purpose: To conduct a quasi-experimental comparison of three summer camps described as experiential education camp (EEC), recreational camp (RC), and integrated didactic and experiential camp (IC). Methodology/Approach: Black and Latinx middle schoolers completed summer camps with the support of a community organization that also provided social-emotional learning classes during the school year. Findings/Conclusions: Dependent sample t tests and effect size comparisons on self-report collected before and after the camp showed that the EEC had small negative effects, the RC had neutral or mixed effects, and IC had positive effects. Implications: Overnight summer camp interventions can have a range of effects based on the type of activities and procedures. Outcomes may be improved by integrating didactic lessons with experiential education. Other explanations, such as positive behavioral supports and relationships with adults on the trip, could also account for differences in outcomes. Further research is needed to establish best practices for overnight camps to support the positive development of marginalized youth.
    • Abstract:
      As Provided
    • Publication Date:
      2022
    • Accession Number:
      EJ1341986