Jun 13, 2016
by: Kristen Whiteman, Research Intern It’s the first day of camp and the campers are all getting settled in and learning about what camp has to offer. They have many opportunities ahead of them in the coming days at camp, lots of choices to make about what they will do and what they will learn. They do not know that what they will be learning will be much more than a new skill or a love for the outdoors. They will be gaining autonomy, building resilience, fostering self-esteem, and building confidence through this experience; and it’s all by design. One of the philosophies we use in working with the kids we serve is Positive Youth Development (PYD). In the past, programs for at-risk youth have focused on prevention, aimed at keeping youth from engaging in unsafe and precarious behavior. While a program implementing PYD principles also does this, the focus is more on teaching youth that they have strengths that can not only benefit each youth individually but also their peers, family, and community. PYD gives youth an opportunity to partner with those around them to become a resource for themselves and others. Youth.gov explains PYD this way: “Positive youth development involves youth as active agents. Adults may set the structure, but youth are not just the recipients of services. Youth are valued and are encouraged to bring their assets to the table.” This is a different way of looking at the youth involved and changes the way they view themselves. One study (Sanders et al, 2015) conducted to ascertain whether this approach leads to better outcomes for at-risk...
May 31, 2016
by Kristen Whiteman, Research Intern The effects of poverty, especially in regards to children, have been identified, studied and researched extensively as societies have sought ways to overcome this hardship. In a recent article in Academic Pediatrics (Chaudry & Wimer, 2016), the authors defined children living in poverty, in many cases, as “suffering the deprivation of basic needs by which to grow and come of age, facing diminished opportunities for success, and limited chances for full participation in their society’s growth and development.” Children of poverty not only have to contend with limited material resources, but they often face developmental and social challenges as a result of their circumstances also. As research on poverty and children has progressed, many prevention strategies for ameliorating the negative effects of economic hardship have surfaced. One such strategy was discovered in a study (Abelev, 2009) conducted to determine the factors that contributed to resilience in 48 African American academically successful adults who had been considered “at-risk” youth. This study found that 46 of the 48 study participants had benefited from a material resource provided by a mentor, allowing these individuals to succeed in educational, and ultimately for many, professional pursuits. Many of the mentors were coaches, teachers or school administrators who were able to provide connections to resources that individuals were not aware of. Others were family members, family friends, work and school associates, and concerned members of the community who provided access to academic and career opportunities. Almost all of these study participants had been helped in some way by at least one person taking the time to care and teach, allowing...
May 23, 2016
by Kristen Whiteman, Research Intern Many youth experience traumatic events as they grow up. Some live in extreme poverty, some witness acts of violence in their homes or communities, while others may endure physical, emotional or even sexual abuse. These are known as Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs. Research on ACEs indicates that these experiences can cause many health risks in adults such as obesity and alcoholism, and also delinquent and promiscuous behavior in adolescents. One known strategy for mitigating negative effects like these is fostering resilience. This is why nurturing resilience in the youth we serve is one of our primary goals at Camp Colley. In understanding how we nurture resilience, it is important to first understand what resilience is. Resilience is a character quality that helps an individual cope with stress or trauma like those listed above. It is a strength that comes from working through challenges while gaining perspective and confidence in the process. Resilience is really problem-solving that is triggered by either danger or opportunities that can lead to personal growth (Brendtro & Strother, 2007). When a child engages in a challenging activity in a reassuring, trusted environment, the risk and stress that is associated with the challenge can be managed, allowing for the growth of resilience in an optimal setting. This is the type of environment and activities we provide at Camp Colley. The first step in becoming resilient is to increase self-esteem. Studies show that attendance at a summer camp can provide this growth. One study (Merryman, Mezei, Bush & Weinstein, 2012) found that youth attending summer camps increase in positive identity and...
May 16, 2016
by Kristen Whiteman, Research Intern Summer camps have been around for at least 130 years. One source states the first camps were established in1880. From the very beginning, organizers of summer camps were concerned with not only socializing a child, but providing an experience that allowed a child to engage in activities that were different from what they regularly experienced. While summer camps have evolved from a rustic, ecological experience, becoming more all-encompassing, the original goals have not changed. Summer camp is still a place where an individual can learn by experiencing previously unknown interests and by engaging in challenging situations that can cause that individual to grow socially. Camp Colley has these same goals. These objectives guide the programming at Camp Colley. We want youth to have opportunities to participate in challenging activities to help them realize that they are strong, they can excel at new endeavors, and they can learn from one another through interaction and cooperation. Camp Colley uses the guiding principles that have been studied and shown to facilitate pro-social change in youth who participate in camp programs. Research confirms change can and does take place in individuals that participate in these programs. One study (Wilson & Lipsey, 2000) found that delinquent youths who participated in a wilderness challenge program had lower recidivism rates than a comparison group. This finding indicates that outdoor programs foster opportunities for growth and personal mastery. This same study also found that even short programs where a youth is able to work with a group to solve challenging problems and is given opportunities to conquer increasingly difficult physical tasks, help...
May 9, 2016
by Kristen Whiteman, Research Intern Home & Family Hobbies & Recreation Education & Career Community & Service The Grand Canyon, beautiful sunsets and saguaro cactus all make Arizona a beautiful place to live. On the other side of the coin, unfortunately, Arizona has the dubious distinction of being ranked the third worst state in poverty with 21.2 percent of all Arizonans at or below the poverty line, while the national average is 14.8 percent. There is nothing positive about poverty. In fact, experiencing economic hardship while you are young can be linked to unhealthy risk factors in adults such as alcoholism, drug abuse and severe obesity. Economic hardship is just one of several Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs, that a child may suffer that can cause lifelong damage. In a study conducted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Kaiser Permanente, results indicated that the more ACEs an individual experiences as a youth, the greater the risks are for negative well-being and health problems, such as those listed above. Economic hardship is the most prevalent ACE in Arizona but others include divorce, living with someone who abuses alcohol and either witnessing or being a victim of violence. Camp Colley can help ameliorate the negative impact that comes from ACEs by providing opportunities for at-risk and underserved youth to become more confident and resilient as they participate at Camp. The Kids at Hope philosophy embodies the program goals of Camp Colley, “Every youth can succeed; no exceptions.” Sometimes youths face challenges due to poor choices or unfortunate circumstances but Kids at Hope teaches that these youth can...
