The Heart of Camp: Belonging, Relationships, and Growth of Character and Skills

Authors

• Alecia Moser, Foundation for Jewish CampFollow
• Nila Rosen, Foundation for Jewish CampFollow
• Maurice Elias, Rutgers University - New Brunswick/PiscatawayFollow
• Sarah R. Sprayberry, University of KentuckyFollow
• Andrea Vest Ettekal, Texas A&M UniversityFollow

Abstract

This study examined how campers’ experiences of belonging, counselor support, and new close friendships relate to life skill and character development in North American Jewish youth. Residential summer camps are relational settings that promote positive youth development. Although belonging and supportive relationships are theorized to drive such development, few studies have tested these camp features in current camper populations, and less is known about how friendship formation and perceptions of counselors distinctly interact with belonging to shape development. In this study, end-of-summer surveys were administered to middle- and high-school-aged campers at five Jewish residential summer camps. Measures included assessing belonging, new close friendships, perceptions of counselors, and developmental outcomes attributed to their camp experience: life skills and character strengths. Findings showed that belonging significantly predicted life skill development, and their counselors’ promotion of kindness moderated this effect. A second analysis examined how belonging and life skill development were associated with growth in specific character strengths, revealing three patterns of association. Results suggest that belonging and relationships are important mechanisms of life skill and character growth. Specifically, counselors may mitigate the negative consequences of experiences of low belonging, while new peer relationships may expand opportunities for growth. Camps may strengthen camper outcomes by training counselors to foster belonging and model kindness, while also creating environments that encourage new close friendships and proactively address issues of inclusion. Future research should connect specific camp experiences to youth outcomes and employ longitudinal designs to examine whether these outcomes persist across contexts.

Recommended Citation

Moser, Alecia; Rosen, Nila; Elias, Maurice; Sprayberry, Sarah R.; and Vest Ettekal, Andrea (2026) "The Heart of Camp: Belonging, Relationships, and Growth of Character and Skills," Journal of Youth Development: Vol. 21: Iss. 2, Article 19.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.34068/jyd.21.02.19
Available at: https://open.clemson.edu/jyd/vol21/iss2/19