A three-year study examining the effects of 15 resident camp programs on over 2,000 disabled campers ages 7-21 indicates that campers made notable achievements in both affective and recreational skills, that positive gains in personal development carried over to the home and community settings, and that increased independence was the predominant…

Describes how one camp partners with local corporations to establish corporate day camps. Presents advantages for corporation, families, and camp. Gives detailed explanation of the nine elements of the partnership proposal package: cover letter, table of contents, camp description, addressing regulations, biography of principal supervisors,…

Homesickness is a normal response of campers to the stress of being separated from their families. Suggestions for interventions include preparing children and parents for the camp experience, educating staff concerning child development and homesickness, developing a plan for the child who has adjustment problems, and following-up with campers at…

Presents a model of integrated residential camping, providing a resource for other models. The model program creates an inclusionary environment responsive to the needs and interests of children with and without disabilities. Parental responses, anecdotal information on interactions, and descriptions of changes in attitudes are included. (SM)

Describes Korea's Camp Gonee for mainstreaming disabled children, based on American continuum-of-services approach to therapeutic recreation. Describes camp's systematic design, planning, objectives, program development, and volunteer training. Describes campers' experiences, progress, and relationships with volunteers. Discusses implications of…

Describes the efforts of two camps administered by the Brandeis-Bardin Institute (Brandeis, California) in implementing water and energy conservation programs, involving recycling, composting, and landfill savings. Programs were successful in eliminating excess waste and teaching campers to care more about their environments at home and at work.…

Determined the effects of a highly structured and intensive 10-day camp program incorporating behavior modification techniques on 111 boys and 16 girls, ages 6-12, with severe behavior problems. Results of pre- and posttesting indicate that brief, intensive, and specialized camping programs can significantly increase these children's self-esteem.…

For camps to be successful, management should empower camp staff to be heroes (leaders). This is based on three rules: campers look for heroes; heroes build successful camps; and successful directors build heroes. Being a hero implies being the best one can be and always attempting to improve the example communicated to others. (LP)

A survey of 44 secondary level students who attended a summer camp for gifted/talented youth analyzed reasons that campers did not enroll in certain course offerings, ideas for future course offerings, occupational areas of interest, the extent of racism in the schools, and the amount of drug use in the schools. (JDD)

Techniques for supervising day camp staff so that they develop responsibility include holding daily morning meetings with the entire staff, taking the "open door" to staff, encouraging information sharing, managing by walking around, ending the day with a short assembly, and observing staff at the end-of-the-day dismissal and other major…

Mountain School, run by North Cascades Institute, is a camp in North Cascades National Park, Washington, where elementary school students spend 48 hours living and learning about science and the environment. In addition to science and nature, responsibility and teamwork are taught. Describes innovative instructional methods used, such as…

A study of 743 disabled and nondisabled youth in inclusionary outdoor programs at 12 resident camps and 2 resident outdoor schools found that disabled youth significantly increased their social interactions with peers and their active participation in the program. Youth without disabilities improved their social interactions and developed greater…

A camp serving the New York City area provides year-round support and educationally based experiences for economically disadvantaged children. Evaluations indicate that campers and parents were aware of the psychological, social, and physical benefits of camping; parents and the community benefitted from children's camping experience; and setting…

A study explored the influence of experiential adventure activities on nine girls with emotional and behavioral disorders at a residential wilderness camp. New members found the activities exciting, but did not relate them to treatment. Established members began to see connections to treatment issues. Advanced members understood the relevance of…

This directory lists organizations actively involved in outdoor experiential education. Outdoor experiential education includes some or all of the following elements: (1) active involvement in solving outdoor problems; (2) verbal reflection following the experience; (3) introduction of a level of stress or challenge in completing the outdoor…