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In the spring of 2007, ACA religiously-affiliated
(RA) (n=89) and secular camps (n=214) from
across the country participated in
a study entitled “Is There Common
Ground?” conducted by ACA, the Search
Institute, and the National
Collaboration for Youth. The ACA focus
in the project was to explore the core
competencies of staff working in both types
of camps as well as their interests in
and concerns about working together. The
camp sample included a diverse set of camps,
representing resident camps (64 percent);
day camps (16 percent); and both resident
and day camps (19 percent). Christianity
was the most common religious affiliation
of RA camps. Secular camps tended to be “independent
nonprofit camps” (39 percent); “agency
camps” (33 percent); or “independent
for-profit camps” (22 percent).
Key Findings
- When asked to rank dimensions of child
development (social, emotional, cognitive,
physical, and spiritual) on a 5-point
scale where 5=most emphasis, camp directors
overall placed the highest emphasis on
social development (4.31) and emotional
development (3.90). Cognitive development
(3.07) and spiritual development (3.14)
were the lowest priority for the overall
sample.
- Respondents from secular camps selected
social development (64 percent) and
emotional development (35 percent)
as their top priorities. However,
respondents from RA camps selected
spiritual development (78 percent)
and social development (37 percent)
as their top priorities.
- Respondents were asked to identify
the essential competencies for camp staff.
- The top five were: developing positive
relationships and communicating with
youth (86 percent); demonstrating the
attributes and qualities of a positive
role model (85 percent); identifying
potential risk factors in the program
environment and taking measures to
reduce those risks (70 percent); enhancing
youth’s moral and character development
(66 percent); and working as part of
a team and showing professionalism
(63 percent).
- The greatest differences between
secular camps and RA camps in the essential
competencies were in the areas of:
helping youth to develop spiritually
(85 percent for RA camps compared with
23 percent for secular camps); respecting
and honoring cultural and human diversity
(49 percent for RA camps compared with
64 percent for secular camps); and
interacting with and relating to youth
in ways that support asset building
(41 percent for RA camps compared with
57 percent for secular camps).
- Respondents were asked to identify
the competency areas for which they were
most interested in receiving training.
- The top five were: involving and
empowering youth (69 percent); enhancing
youth’s moral and character development
(67 percent); developing positive friendships
and communicating with youth (66 percent);
providing youth with experiences that
are novel, stimulating, and challenging
(66 percent); and adapting, facilitating,
and evaluating age appropriate activities
with and for the group (62 percent).
- The greatest differences between
secular camps and RA camps were in
the areas of: involving and
empowering youth (62 percent for RA
camps compared with 72 percent for
secular camps); helping youth to develop
spiritually (66 percent for RA camps
compared with 47 percent for secular
camps), and respecting an honoring
cultural and human diversity (38 percent
for RA camps compared with 55 percent
for secular camps).
- By comparing priorities, interests,
and current competencies, a measure of “felt
need” (Roehlkepartain, Artman,
Garza, Garst, & Bialeschki, 2007)
was calculated. The top five areas
of need for professional development
for youth workers at camp (based upon “felt
need” of the entire sample) were:
- Developing positive relationships
and communicating with youth
(70 percent)
- Demonstrating the attributes and
qualities of a positive role model
(58 percent)
- Enhancing youth’s moral and
character development (51 percent)
- Involving and empowering youth
(51 percent)
- Identifying risk factors in the
program environment and reducing
those risks (43 percent)
Recommendations
The key findings from this survey, as well
as from the larger Common Ground results,
suggested the following opportunities
to increase learning and collaboration
across secular and religiously-affiliated
camps.
- Build relationships, share knowledge,
and communicate openly about their needs.
Although their youth development goals
may differ, they can work toward shared
understanding and ends.
- Create a shared framework for moral
and spiritual development and train staff
to be better prepared to facilitate this
type of growth in youth.
- Integrate the discussion about staff
qualifications and preparation by creating
a common language, clearly defining successful
work with youth, and strengthening our
understanding of staff core competencies
and professional development.
- Develop practical tools to support
training across religious and secular
camps.
- Conduct additional research to learn
more about youth workers professional
development needs and to explore the
relevance of contexts, particularly nature-based
settings.
Garza, P., Artman, S., Roehlkepartain,
E. Garst, B. & Bialeschki, D. (2007). Is
There Common Ground? An Exploratory Study
of the Interests and Needs of Community-Based
and Faith-Based Youth Workers. National
Collaboration for Youth and Search Institute.
The detailed report is titled, Is There
Common Ground? An Exploratory Study of
the Interests and Needs of Community-Based
and Faith-Based Youth Workers. The project
report (PDF
- 460k) and an associated Appendix (PDF
- 2MB) may be downloaded at no
cost from ACA.
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