The ACA Research Forum is an opportunity for researchers and camp professionals to share and discuss new research related to campers, camp staff, camp programs, and a wide variety of other camp-related topics. Studies are blind, peer-reviewed, and accepted based on their relevance to the camp field and the rigor of their methods, and presented both orally and in a poster session each year at the ACA National Conference.
Submissions from 2015
2015, Camp Research Forum Book of Abstracts, American Camp Association
Cit Program Improvement Project, Troy Bennett and Amber Pedersen
Making A Case For University-Based Camp Work As A “High Impact Practice”, Laurie P. Browne and Jeff C. Heiser
Development Of A Competency Model For A State 4-H Camp Counselor Program, Hannah Epley, Theresa Ferrari, and Graham Cochran
An Evaluation Of Appreciation, Possibility, And Friendship Skills At A Camp For Youth With Serious Illness, Ann Gillard and Mark F. Roark
More Than Just Seriousfun: The Impact Of Camp On Resilience For Campers With Serious Illness, Kelsey M. Graber, Shauna L. Tominey, Steven Southwick, and Linda C. Mayes
A Mixed-Methods Evaluation Of A Psychosocial Camp Program For Children Living With Hiv In Vietnam, Sarah Hiller, Thuy Ngo, and Thomas Novotny
Assessing Creativity Via Divergent Thinking In Residential Camp Settings, Myles Lynch, C. Boyd Hegarty, Nathan Trauntvein, and Jonathan A. Plucker
Exploring The Use Of Structured Counselor Journals As A Camp Implementation Evaluation Tool, Tracy Mainieri and Breida Hill
An Exploratory Study: The Relationship Between Developmental Outcomes And Summer Camp Activities, Megan Owens
A Peer Paradox: Adults’ Roles In Supporting Youth To Learn From Each Other, Cole Perry
Camp’S Sneaky Potential: Life Skills Wrapped In Community, Gwynn Powell and Kabelo Malefane
Tracking Participant Gains In Problem Solving Confidence, Responsibility, And Teamwork Over A 32-Week Program, Mark F. Roark, David E. Rosenberg, Kirsti Christensen, and Joan Lindsey
Effects Of A Structured Reading Program On Children’S Attitudes About Reading In Academic And Recreational Settings, Mary M. Rogers
Assessing Camper Outcomes And Program Quality With Aca Tools: Data And Implications From 2014, Jim Sibthorp, Troy Bennett, and M. Deborah Bialeschki
What Keeps Us Out Of The Outdoors? Girl Scouts Speak Out On Barriers To Outdoor Participation, Kallen Tsikalas, Karyn L. Martin, and Vicki Wright
Measuring Outcomes Of Girls’ Experiences At Camp, Anja Whittington and Jeff Aspelmeier
2016, Camp Research Forum Book of Abstracts, American Camp Association
Submissions from 2016
A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words: Understanding Campers’ Experience Of Nature At Camp Using Photovoice, Stacie Baker, Cass Morgan, and Laura Santurri
What Do Engaged Camp Staff Say, Feel, And Do?, Laurie Browne, Melissa D’Eloia, and Chase Michelotti
11 ©2015 American Camping Association, Inc. Benefits Of Long-Term Participation In Camp Experiences For Military Youth, Theresa M. Ferrari and Quinn Bailey Dybdahl
Parental Anxiety Causes And Consquences: Perspectives From Camp Program Providers, Barry A. Garst and Ryan J. Gagnon
Relationships Between Life Skills, Youth Development, And Antecendents Of Change In Camp Alumni, Barry A. Garst and Ryan J. Gagnon
Does A 45-Minute Staff Training Session On Camper Friendship Skills Make A Difference To Camper Outcomes?, Ann Gillard
Outcomes Of Camp Travel And Leadership Programs: Assessing Independence, Exploration, Family Citizenship And Teamwork Using The Youth Outcomes Battery, Colie Haahr and Nate Trauntvein
Program Outcomes At Adventure-Based Camps For Youth With Disabilites, Alice Hall, Jerri Kropp, John Peden, and Dan Mathews
4-H Camps Meeting Parents’ Expectations: Educational Effectiveness Of Camps In Building Life Skills, Joe Long
Social Capital And Attitudes Towards Physical Activity In Youth At Wilderness Summer Camps: Environmental Awareness And Personal Development As Mediating Factors, Julian F. P. Macnaughton, Earl P. Walker, Steven E. Mock, and Troy D. Glover
Using Counselor Implementation Journals To Explore The Processes At Work In Two Girl Scout Camps, Tracy Mainieri
“Living 10 Months For 2:” The Social Impact Of Summer Residential Camp On The Development Of The Self In Preteen And Teen Girls, Alexandra Mautner
Camper Perceptions Of Counselor Social-Emotional Learning Behaviors And Actions, Megan Owens
Promoting Positive Youth Development At Residential Summer Sport Camp, Victoria Povilaitis and Katherine A. Tamminen
Summer Camp Counselors’ Self Perceived Competency Prior To, And Following Staff Training, Zachary Wahl-Alexander, Steven M. Howell, and Kathleen Donahue
The Effect Of Goal-Setting With Pedometers At Summer Camp On Youth’S Physical Activity And Enjoyment, Cait Wilson, Jim Sibthorp, Elliott Fraughton, and Timothy Brusseau
2017, Camp Research Forum Book of Abstracts, American Camp Association
Submissions from 2018
Defining Ecological Identity: A Girl Scout Camp Case Study, Stefanie Argus
Sport For Development Theory In Practice, Zachary Beldon
Investigating Perceptions Of Change In Friendship Skills Across Camper Gender And Type Of Camp, Troy Bennett
Career And College Readiness Through Cit/Lit Leadership Opportunities, Deb Bialeschki, Jim Sibthorp, and Michael Riley
Minding The Gap: An Exploration Of Camp Researcher And Camp Practitioner Approaches To Assess Parent Perceptions Of Developmental Outcomes, Ryan Gagnon and Barry A. Garst
Tough Decisions In Medical Specialty Camps: Exploring The Relationship Between Camp Dosage, Changes In Diabetes Management Behavior, And Scholarship Provision, Ryan Gagnon, Barry A. Garst, and Stephen S. Mabry
Efficacy Of Online Training For Improving Camp Staff Competency, Barry A. Garst, Ryan Gagnon, and Alice M. Brawley
Healing Homesickness? The Impact Of Cell Phone Use On Summer Campers’ Reports Of Homesickness, Allison Herskovitz
The Impact Of University Day Camps On Youth: Program Assessment Using The Aca Youth Outcome Battery, Eddie Hill, Abigail Evans, Tyra Rounds, and Lena Midgette
How Theming Leads To Greater Retention, Satisfaction, And Promotion, Andrew Lacanienta, Gary Ellis, Allen Taggart, Jenny Wilder, and Mark Carroll
How Summer Camp Influences Boys’ Expectations Of Toughness And Expression Of Weakness, Joseph D. LaLiberte
Girls Only: Challenge Seeking Behaviors And Self-Efficacy Growth In The Outdoors, Karyn L. Martin and Melissa Mason
An Estudio Project Developed To Provide Additional Opportunities For Campers’ Connectedness Through A Digital Landscape, Corliss Outley and Yi-Ju Wu
Camper Leaders’ Work-Related Experiences For Social-Emotional Learning, Megan Owens and Amanda Wahle
A Systematic Reviw Of The Literature On Camps For Youth With Childhood Onset Chronic Illnesses, Mya Sendak, Clarissa Schilstra, Eitan Tye, Samuel Brotkin, and Gary Maslow