A Concept Map of Campers’ Perceptions of Camp Experience

Abstract

Camp programs are a popular medium for providing children and adolescents with opportunities for growth and development. Specialized camps may provide powerful contextual support for campers with disabilities and families with limited resources, but knowledge of what constitutes an effective camp experience is limited. Further, family counseling practice principles seem relevant to camp programming, but research is absent in this area. Present study applied concept mapping to capture the quantitative and qualitative dimensions of 173 campers’ experiences to examine its implications for the practice of family counseling. Seven thematic concepts emerged consistent with previous research confirming the positive and transformative nature of camp. The current study advances the knowledge base of camp programming for family counselors and helps improve future family counseling practice and research.