Residential summer camp for youth with special needs: A longitudinal approach to investigating differences in social skills

Occupational Therapy and Accessibility in the Outdoors and Summer Camps

“…The variables discussed in both the body of literature not mentioning disabilities and those that specifically mention disabilities were fairly consistent. Benefits in peer relationships, social participation, quality of life, and related aspects of PYD were found to be just as prevalent in these studies (Bandino et al, 2014;Clark & Nwokah, 2011;Devine et al, 2015;Flynn et al, 2019;Furtado et al, 2017;Goodwin et al, 2011;McCarthy, 2015;Moola et al, 2014). Additional themes were found in the disability-specific research including connectedness and a sense of community (Goodwin et al, 2011;McCarthy, 2015;Moola et al, 2014).…”

“…Among the several articles providing evidence for PYD and camp experiences, many made no mention of children with disabilities. However, there was a large contribution of research that specifically discussed children with disabilities and their camp experiences (Bandino et al, 2014;Clark & Nwokah, 2011;Devine et al, 2015;Flynn et al, 2019;Furtado et al, 2017;Goodwin et al, 2011;McCarthy, 2015;Moola et al, 2014). The variables discussed in both the body of literature not mentioning disabilities and those that specifically mention disabilities were fairly consistent.…”

“…Within the domain of PYD, several researchers determined peer relationships and social participation to be among the most positive outcome associated with camp experiences (American Camp Association, 2005;Boyd et al, 2008;Buskirk-Cohen, 2015;Clark & Nwokah, 2011;Devine et al, 2015;Dworken, 2001;Flynn, et al, 2019;Garst et al, 2011;Goodwin et al, 2011;Hanscom, 2014;Henderson, 2012;Henderson et al, 2007;McCarthy, 2015;Moola et al, 2014;Siperstein et al, 2009a;Siperstein et al, 2009b). While each study reviewed social participation as a PYD measure, individual factors such as peer bonding, making friends, and "social skills" were amongst the most commonly looked at in terms of social participation.…”

“…The overwhelming body of literature supporting social participation benefits for those youth engaging in camp experiences cannot be denied. Peer relationships and social participation proved to have the strongest backing in terms of PYD and camp experiences, with several bodies of research providing evidence of the benefits (American Camp Association, 2005;Boyd et al, 2008;Buskirk-Cohen, 2015;Clark & Nwokah, 2011;Devine et al, 2015;Dworken, 2001;Flynn et al, 2019;Garst et al, 2011;Goodwin et al, 2011;Hanscom, 2014;Henderson, 2012;Henderson et al, 2007;McCarthy, 2015;Moola et al, 2014;Siperstein et al, 2009a;Siperstein et al, 2009b). As these benefits of the camp experience are understood, the value of promoting these experiences for youth of all abilities is further validated.…”

“…Largely influential components of the experience of individuals with disabilities are environment and context (Cosco & Moore, 2009;Furtado et al, 2017;Goodwin et al, 2011;Hanscom, 2014;Marshall et al, 2016;Papaioannou et al, 2013;Pfeiffer et al, 2017;Walker et al, 2010). Several studies have discussed the role of disability-specific residential camps in providing environments and contexts of social acceptance for these populations (Bandino et al, 2014;Clark & Nwokah, 2011;Devine et al, 2015;Flynn et al, 2019). Furthermore, Boyd et al (2008) identified a lack of research analyzing the opportunities for children with and without disabilities to interact outside of school settings, and subsequently researched the effects of a camp program to address this need.…”