Research 360

Read the latest blog posts on ACA's strategic focus in research.

Interested in contributing to the research blog? Contact research@ACAcamps.org.

 

The Curious Friendship Between Logic Models and Theory of Change
August 25, 2020

This blog post discusses the differences between logic models and the theory of change, and how they work together to inform research and outcomes.
camper in wheelchair doing virtual camp activities
Measuring Camper Impact (Virtually)
August 10, 2020

Camp Twin Lakes (CTL) serves campers who have medical illnesses, disabilities, and other life challenges at two year-round camp locations in Georgia. CTL operates as a partner model camp, serving over 60 partner organizations each year. CTL’s... Read More

Camp research
Camp Research in the Age of COVID-19
July 27, 2020

Research is a big thing right now.  Of course it is — people seek certainty when things are uncertain, as they certainly are amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Research brings certainty, right?
camper coming down water slide
2020 Sites, Facilities, & Programs Study Findings for Day Camps
July 13, 2020

You’ve probably gathered by now that, here in the research wing of ACA, one of our favorite pastimes consists of developing surveys, studies, and evaluations that help us expand the value and visibility of the camp experience.
Community as the Foundation for Camp Program Quality
June 22, 2020

This Research 360 blog post provides an update on some of ACA's current research, including how the research projects have been adapted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
woman hugging a tree
Feed Your Trees: How to Evaluate Virtual Camp Programs
April 27, 2020

Hello camp friends, and thank you for taking a moment to think about evaluation during a time when evaluation seems less critical than the other big challenges you are likely facing right now. We know from previous blog posts that the evaluation... Read More

Young girl using a tablet
What to Evaluate in Virtual or Alternative Programs
April 13, 2020

Hello camp friends, and welcome to the second in our short Research 360 series focusing on evaluation during the time of COVID-19. In our first blog we suggested that, like trees, your evaluation systems might contract as you focus on the health... Read More

old tree in the middle of the woods
Trees and What They Can Teach Us about Evaluation in Uncertain Times
March 30, 2020

Picture this: You notice that a small sapling you planted a while ago is at last large enough that it no longer requires stakes to stay upright. It takes two hands to wrap around its now-sturdy trunk, and the branches, in midsummer, provide shade... Read More

Pages