Tough decisions in medical specialty camps: Relationships between camp dosage, outcomes, and camper attendance

Cultivating Youth Affinity for College Within the Context of Campus-Based Summer Camps

“…The study findings supported the relation between affinity for college and increases in the SEL outcomes of BPN (i.e., autonomy, relatedness, and competence), effects that were positively correlated but non-significant. This positive correlation between CUB camp participation and SEL outcomes supports Fields' ( 2009) and Gee's (2018) discussion of the role of affinity spaces (e.g., CUB camps) in fostering positive youth outcomes, and further validates research suggesting camp experiences may enhance BPN (Gagnon et al, 2019;Hill et al, 2015). While this study supports research suggesting BPN-type outcomes may result from CUB camp participation (Bourdeau et al, 2014;Fields, 2009), the non-significant SEL findings may point to the salience of other (non-SEL) outcomes.…”

“…Research supports the positive relation between BPN and social-emotional and behavioral functioning (Saeki & Quirk, 2015;Tarbetsky et al, 2017), with BPN serving as a mediator between youth engagement and SEL (Saeki & Quirk, 2015). In addition, BPN has served as a conceptual and methodological scaffold for studies of camp experiences (Gagnon et al, 2019;Hill et al, 2015). The possible influence of CUB camp involvement on BPN is bolstered by studies suggesting CUB camps can increase youth competence and autonomy (Bourdeau et al, 2014;Fields, 2009).…”

“…Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration (BPNSF) SEL outcomes associated with CUB camp experiences were measured using the Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction and Frustration Scale (BPNSF). Informed by Chen et al (2015), the 24-item BPNSF scale measures outcomes (i.e., psychological need for autonomy, relatedness, and competence) influenced by the summer camp experience (Gagnon et al, 2019). These outcomes were measured on a 5-point Likert-type scale from 1 (completely untrue) to 5 (completely true) from the perspective of a youth's sense of satisfaction (i.e., BPN-S; their need was met) or frustration (i.e., BPN-F, their need was not met) with the CUB camp experience.…”

Analysis of a Year-Round Mentoring Program for Youth with Physical Disabilities Attending a Medical Specialty Camp

“…Moola et al (2014) conducted a systematic review of the psychological and social impact of health condition-specific camps on clients with chronic illnesses finding short-term gains yet little evidence confirming any sustained long-term impact. Similarly, Gagnon et al (2019) found that attending a diabetes specific camp for one session (year one) provided the same benefits as compared to attending multiple years. Odar et al (2013) conducted a meta-analysis on 31 camps for youth with health conditions showing only a small effect size for camp attendance and self-perceptions at the end of camp and in the months directly following.…”

“…The intent of the program was to provide year-round social support and connection through upward positive social comparisons with the mentors and lateral comparisons with peer campers; both of which are not readily available to the adolescents with physical disabilities in their integrated home communities. The year-round support program was created to specifically target the extinguishing effects highlighted in previous studies (Dawson, 2017;Gagnon et al, 2019;Knapp et al, 2015;Plante et al, 2001) while also following recommendations from similar research (Dawson et al, 2018;DuBois et al, 2002;Raghavendra et al, 2013;Shpigelman et al, 2008).…”