I am always thankful when I am able to continue to learn how to improve myself and the program area that I serve. I am passionate about camp and the positive impact it can have on children. Youth Professionals interested in camp and specifically condition-specific camps can gain additional insight from Military REACH’s review of Impacts of a Resident Camp Experience on the Lives of Military-Connected Youth and other research articles. Camp Corral serves children of injured, Ill, or fallen service members. Camp Corral is an example of a Condition-specific camp. Condition-specific camps are ones that serve a targeted group as opposed to the whole community.
A key finding from the Camp Corral (CC) study (study mentioned above) was that “children who had attended CC for 3+ years generally reported greater connection with peers and coping skills compared to children attending CC for the first or second time” (Military REACH, 2021). This leads me to consider the value of providing consistent support and opportunity for teens to attend condition-specific camps for several years as opposed to providing priority to those who have not attended the camp previously.
Further, a literature review by Clary and Ferrari (2015) indicated condition-specific settings such as a military camp have positive outcomes for military-dependent children’s growth. They found that military youth attending a military-dependent camp experienced an increase in self-esteem and social skills post-camp. They also found that camps provide a safe place to explore oneself. Perhaps most relevant for military families and children, camps are effective for bringing people together who share similar situations. Youth are able to talk to other kids who “get it”. “Condition-specific” camps might provide more positive change than attending a catch-all residential camp (Clary & Ferrari, 2015). Further, the Clary and Ferrari (2015) research on military-dependent “condition-specific” camps found gains in independence, responsibility, teamwork, self-confidence, pride for parent service, and a more positive outlook regarding deployments.
Additional research has been conducted on condition-specific camps for children with Autism, at-risk populations, and other groups. As we consider our audience and their needs it might be time to offer a targeted program, so youth can create a network of people “who get it” and develop a trusting relationship with a caring adult.
I would love to learn your thoughts related to condition-specific camps. If you have any research articles or personal stories please share them at laurwalt@uga.edu.
Continued Learning:
REACH Research Summary Link: https://militaryreach.auburn.edu/DetailResult?resourceid=c0ca2f8f-2d04-4e32-b335-120ab5e9bc13&resType=resSum
Christy D. Clary, & Theresa M. Ferrari. (2015). Communication, Coping, and Connections: Campers’ and Parents’ Perspectives of Self-Efficacy and Benefits of Participation in Deployment Support Camps. Journal of Youth Development, 10(2), 31–54. https://doi-org.proxy-remote.galib.uga.edu/10.5195/jyd.2015.407
Carpio de los Pinos, C., Soto, A. G., Martín Conty, J. L., & Serrano, R. C. (2020). Summer Camp: Enhancing Empathy Through Positive Behavior and Social and Emotional Learning. Journal of Experiential Education,43(4),398–415. https://doi-org.proxy-remote.galib.uga.edu/10.1177/1053825920923382