Please consider sharing your camp-related research at the 2026 Camp Research Forum, held in conjunction with the American Camp Association National Conference, February 17-20, in San Diego, CA. Research Forum submissions will remain open until September 30, 2025.
Please carefully read the guidelines and requirements information below!
Camp Research Forum Submission Details
The purpose of the Research Forum is to share new knowledge with professionals as well as fellow researchers. We welcome abstracts of interdisciplinary studies completed by faculty, students, researchers, and camp professionals. An identity-hidden peer-review process will be utilized to examine all abstracts. Appropriate research designs and rigor are vital; equally important is that the presentation of findings be practitioner-friendly and emphasize the application of the findings to facilitate evidence-based practice in the camp profession.
The expectation is that the research abstract includes a minimum of preliminary results from completed data collection at the time of submission. Presenters are expected to report on findings, not on proposed or in-process research. The study reflected in the abstract should not have been previously exactly presented at another conference or published as an abstract elsewhere.
Typical abstract format and sections (1,200 words).
- Introduction (background research, theoretical foundation for the study, positionality statement as appropriate (i.e., how the authors’ identities relate to the topic and/or participants - particularly race, ethnicity, gender, and ability where applicable), need for the study, research question(s))
- Methods (participants, including relevant information about study participants (e.g., race, socioeconomic status, gender, ability), data collection, data analysis)
- Results
- Discussion and Conclusions
- Implications for Practice
- References (included in the word count)
The submission of research abstracts is an online process and allows uploading a Word document of the abstract. Proposals should be NO LONGER THAN 1,200 words (including references), with 12 pt Times New Roman font, single spaced. Identifying author information should not be included on or within the Word document. Graphs and charts may be included, but should be limited because they are part of the word count. Abstracts will not be edited; content that exceeds the 1,200 word count will be deleted before sending to reviewers.
The Camp Research Forum consists of two possible presentation formats: Ignite Session and Poster Session. All abstract submissions undergo the same identity-hidden peer-review process and will be grouped according to broad topical areas or themes. For the review process, no distinction is made regarding the requested presentation format.
- Ignite Session: The ignite session is a collection of 10-minute verbal presentations from researchers about their study with a focus on the results and implications for practitioners. After each presentation will be a 2-3 minute opportunity for audience questions. There will be 4-5 ignite presentations per session, grouped according to topic or theme (e.g., staff training, youth outcomes, summer learning, management). After the ignite presentations, the session moderator will invite general questions from the researchers about the topic. All Ignite presenters will also be expected to create a poster.
- Poster Session: The poster session is an open format session that lasts between 1-2 hours. The poster session is typically set up near the exhibit hall (or another open space in the conference). Conference attendees, including camp professionals and researchers, will come by the poster session to walk around and learn more about camp research projects. If you prefer to present a poster (only) rather than an Ignite (verbal) Presentation, select the Poster Session (only) option on the online submission form.
Please Note: While the Camp Research Forum abstract proposals should include the traditional research details for the review process, the presentations should focus on applications and implications – a large percentage of attendees of the Camp Research Forum sessions are non-academic camp professionals.
Review Expectations
Abstracts will undergo review by a review team with scholarly expertise in camp and youth development research. Abstracts may be unable to be accepted to either an Ignite (verbal) presentation or a poster presentation due to underdevelopment of the project summary, gaps in the study design, unclear practice applications, or time and space limitations. More specifically, ACA Research Forum proposals will be reviewed according to the following criteria, which were adapted from the Journal of Youth Development:
- Significance of topic: Abstracts should address topics that are relevant for and important to camp practitioners. They should address key issues of camp practice and/or research.
- Originality: Abstracts should introduce new and innovative work and ideas. They should add to existing knowledge of best practice, research, or theory.
- Theoretical foundation: Research questions should be theory-predicated.
- Methodological rigor: Abstracts should meet high standards of methodological rigor, using credible, valid, and reliable methods that align with theory-predicated research questions. Include limitations of the study such as those related to generalizability.
- Coherence of writing: Abstracts should be clear, organized, and well-developed. They should make sense, be well written, and easy for camp audiences to understand.
- Application for practice: Following the guidelines around evidence-based practice, abstracts should have clear implications for practice that are useful, realistic, and relevant for camp professionals’ consideration.
- I.D.E.A.S. framework (Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, Access, and the Supports needed) – Abstracts should show evidence that authors have considered issues of inclusivity, diversity, equity, access, and supports needed throughout the research study processes.
Once the review process is complete and abstracts have been selected for presentation at the Camp Research Forum, determinations will be made to the grouping of the abstracts. The submissions selected for presentation as ignite or poster sessions will depend on the way the submissions group together, and space limitations at the conference. Please note that all accepted presenters will be expected to create a poster for their project.
Presenter Expectations – All Formats
After acceptance, all presenters are required to provide a revised 3-page abstract and a one-slide PowerPoint file to be posted on the ACA research website for wider distribution. The slide will serve as the poster to be displayed in/near the Exhibit Hall. Poster formatting requirements will be sent after notice of acceptance. The Poster Session will be held in/near the exhibit hall for a 1-2 hour time block during unopposed program time. Presenters are expected to be present during the designated Poster Session time period. In addition to the designated time period, posters will be displayed during Exhibit Hall hours and available for viewing by conference attendees. Posters will be printed by ACA and made available to presenters at the conference.
Presenter Expectations – All Formats
All presenters (Ignite or Poster) are expected to attend the conference (using the reduced speaker registration fee) to fulfill their presentation obligation. People presenting their research at the conference are expected to register for at least one day. We appreciate the contributions made by researchers through their participation in the Camp Research Forum and the conference in general.
Presenters are entitled to a special discounted registration rate of $320 for the full conference registration if they wish to attend the full conference or receive a free registration for the day that they are speaking. If you are speaking at the conference, it is required that you register as a participant. All related expenses for registration, travel, hotel accommodations, and meals will be at the presenter's expense. *Note: All students who are members of ACA receive complimentary registration for the conference.
Marge Scanlin Outstanding Student Research Award
Graduate students who submit an abstract for consideration as part of the ACA Research Forum have the option to submit their project for consideration for the Marge Scanlin Outstanding Student Research Award. This award is presented each year to a deserving student who has contributed to the camp research body of knowledge. The purpose of the award is to encourage students to undertake camp research and facilitate the sharing of their findings at the annual ACA national conference. Selection is based on the quality of the abstract as well as the overall contributions the student and the research project has made to the camp movement. To be eligible for the Scanlin Award, students must be the sole or first author on the abstract.
The student who is selected for the Scanlin Award is expected to attend the ACA National Conference to present their research. The award includes funding intended to help defray conference expenses. The student selected must be an active ACA member at the time the award is given. All student members receive complimentary registration for the conference. View more information on the Scanlin Award or contact Dr. Ann Gillard at [email protected].
Research Forum Submission Deadline and Timetable
- September 30, 2025: Deadline for abstract submissions
- November 15, 2025: Notification of acceptance/rejection (on or before)
- December 31, 2025: Deadline for revised abstracts and posters
- February 17-20, 2026: Camp Research Forum Presentation at ACA National Conference
We hope you will submit your research for consideration and look forward to offering a premier Forum for camp-related interdisciplinary research. Please help spread the word by sharing this information with other interdisciplinary researchers and evaluators, including faculty, students, researchers, and professionals.
Camp Research Preconference
In addition to the Camp Research Forum, we are excited to announce that we will once again have a preconference gathering for camp researchers on Tuesday of the conference week to (a) build community, (b) share ideas, and (c) enhance research skills. More information will be available in the coming months, and we hope that you will join us. Please sign up if you are interested in receiving the information about the Camp Research Preconference once it is available.
Please address any questions about the Camp Research Forum to Dr. Povilaitis and Dr. Seward at the following email addresses:
Victoria Povilaitis, Ph.D.
ACA Camp Research Forum Co-Coordinator
Director, Program Innovation, Tim Horton Foundation Camps
[email protected]
Miray Seward, Ph.D.
ACA Camp Research Forum Co-Coordinator
Director of Research and Evaluation, American Camp Association
[email protected]
