ACA wants to help busy camp professionals remain current on the research around "hot topics" that may affect our programs and practices or may be helpful with grant applications or key messages around the importance of the camp experience. "Briefing Papers" and "CARE Packages" are resource sites that continue to be developed and updated. We welcome additional contributions! If interested, please contact Deb Bialeschki at dbialeschki@acacamps.org [1].
The "Briefing Papers" are short summaries of the current research on a particular topic. They provide key findings from camprelated research as well as research from other related fields such as sociology, psychology, social work, health sciences, and recreation. A bibliography is included for each topic for further followup.
- Adjustment to Separation and Camp [2](PDF)
- Challenging Activities and Camps [3] (PDF) REVISED 1-'13!
- Decision-Making and Camps [4] (PDF) REVISED 1-'13
- Emotional Safety and Camps [5](PDF) REVISED 1-'13
- Family Camp Experiences ( [6]PDF) REVISED 1-'13
- Learning and Camp [7] (PDF)
- Peer Relationships and Camps [8](PDF) REVISED 1-'13
- Physical Activity and Camps [9] (PDF) REVISED 1-'13
- Self-Determination Theory [10] (PDF)
- Staff Practices of High Quality Youth Programs [11] NEW!
- Teamwork and Camps [12](PDF) REVISED 1-'13
- Workforce Skill Development in Camp [13] (PDF) NEW!
"CARE Packages" are condensed research projects that offer direct applications to the camp environment. These two page summaries focus on what the research findings mean for camps with recommendations for ways camp professionals can apply the information.
For additional briefing papers produced by the Sequor Youth Development Initiative (located at Texas A&M University), please visit their website: http://ydi.tamu.edu/youth-development-resources [14].