THE CONTRIBUTION OF A SUMMER CAMPING PROGRAM TO PARTICIPATION ASPIRATIONS FOR A YOUTH’S USE OF LEISURE TIME
Open Access
- Author:
- Rubenstein, Brandon S
- Graduate Program:
- Youth and Family Education
- Degree:
- Master of Science
- Document Type:
- Master Thesis
- Date of Defense:
- May 30, 2008
- Committee Members:
- Jacklyn A Bruce, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
Constance A Flanagan, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor - Keywords:
- low income
camp
quantitative
leisure time
children
youth
underprivliged
income
awesome - Abstract:
- Summer camps promote many positive developmental outcomes for the youth who attend them, including exposure to a wide variety of positive activities that result in an eagerness to try new activities. This outcome may be particularly beneficial to certain at-risk populations who choose to spend their out-of-school leisure time participating in activities associated with negative outcomes (e.g., youth of low socioeconomic status; SES) or show a developmental decline in leisure time activity participation (e.g., post-pubertal girls). Youth, especially high-risk populations, need education in the form of exposure to positive leisure time activities that promote positive, meaningful outcomes. Summer camps can provide this exposure because campers participate in a wide variety of activities during the summer. The aim of the present study was to examine whether the summer camp experience is associated with an increase in aspirations to participate in positive leisure time activities during year-round leisure time. Participants (N=249) included a diverse SES sample of campers attending an overnight, coed summer camp in Pennsylvania. Pre- and post-test assessments were given to campers ages 11 to 15 years at the beginning and end of the camp session. Paired sample t-tests were used to compare reported participation in organized activities before camp with aspirations to participate in organized activities after camp. Statistically significant increases in activities that were emphasized during the camp program were found for the entire population, and the following specific groups: girls, low-income girls, and youth of high SES. The findings suggest that summer camps can provide education about positive uses of leisure time to youth, and camp programs should therefore intentionally emphasize and foster positive uses of leisure time by their campers.