A qualitative study of inclusion at a residential summer camp

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand the inclusion process at a Project Rainbow affiliated camp. Project Rainbow is a non-profit organization which promotes inclusion into children's camps in Ontario. This study was completed in order to provide stakeholders of the camping industry insight on how inclusive techniques can be implemented in residential camps. The researcher observed one camp's inclusion techniques for six days. The researcher observed three campers with disabilities and the camp staff and campers that interacted with them on a daily basis. While the researcher was at the camp, she interviewed nine staff members. The staff members consisted of the camp director, the inclusion coordinator, four camp counsellors, and three inclusion counsellors. An additional interview was conducted after arriving home from camp with the manager from Project Rainbow. The qualitative analysis program NVivo was used to help organize the analyzed data. The researcher found that in attempting to build a culture of inclusion, two important concepts are necessary. First, mutual leadership involved the camp director and Project Rainbow working together as a team to facilitate the inclusion process. Second, power of supportive relationships focused on inclusion being the responsibility of everyone, teamwork, and creating a welcoming environment. Hints at some potentially serious problems related to staff training, teamwork, and attitudes of non-disabled campers pointed to future research and policies which focus on the Ontario and Canadian Camping Associations' role in inclusion, in addition to camp in this study and Project Rainbow.

Camp Niagara, with a historical sketch of Niagara-on-the-Lake and Niagara Camp (1906)

Historical sketch of Niagara on the Lake and Niagara Camp.

Lake View House, Ontario Methodist Camp Ground : the Chautauqua of Canada, Grimsby, Ont. (1885)

Contains information about the campground, the hotel, church services and includes advertisements.

Becoming Peer Health Leaders: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of a Youth Leadership Camp Preparing Peer Leaders for Participation in a Health Promotion Initiative.

Youth are critical partners in health promotion, but the process of training young people to become meaningfully involved is challenging. This mixed-methods evaluation considered the impact of a leadership camp in preparing 42 grade seven students to become peer health leaders in a ‘heart health’ initiative. The experiences of participants and their sense of agency were explored. Data were collected from pre and post camp surveys, focus groups, student journals and researcher observations. Findings indicate that relationships with peers and adults were key to agency development, and participants appeared to broaden their perspectives on the meanings of ‘health’ and ‘leadership.’ Significant changes on two sub-scales of the Harter Perceived Competence Scale for Children were also found. Suggestions for practice and further research are provided.

Photograph - Glen Bernard Camp July 1946

A photograph of the female campers of July 1946 at Glen Bernard Camp on Lake Bernard. The group includes a wide range of ages and the girls are outside among the trees. The camp was started in the 1920s and became very popular. The photograph includes Anne McCordick, daughter of E.F. McCordick.

Impact of a Youth Development Camp on Participants’ Skills, Attitudes, and Views Towards Science and Scientific Inquiry

This mixed-methods research study sought to determine the impact of an informal science camp—the Youth Science Inquiry Development Camp (YSIDC)—on participants’ science inquiry skills, through self-assessment, as well as their views and attitudes towards science and scientific inquiry. Pre and post data were collected using quantitative surveys (SPSI, CARS), a qualitative survey (VOSI-E), interviews, and researcher’s observations. Paired sample t-tests from the quantitative surveys revealed that the YSIDC positively impacted participants’ science inquiry skills and attitudes towards science. Interviews supported these findings and provided contextual reasons for these impacts. Implications from this research would suggest that informal and formal educational institutions can increase science inquiry skills and promote positive views and attitudes towards science and scientific inquiry by using non-competitive cooperative learning strategies with a mixture of guided and open inquiry. Suggested directions for further research include measuring science inquiry skills directly and conducting longitudinal studies to determine the lasting effects of informal and formal science programs.

Photograph - Governor General's Body Guard at Camp Niagara

Black and white photograph, mounted on board, 18 ½ cm. x 23 ½ cm. of the G.G.B.G. [Governor General’s Body Guard] on horseback at Camp Niagara.

Camp Niagara Field Site States Forms from July to October 1916

A set of forms which was held together by a string. The title page is brittle and crumbling. Each page is dated and signed either by the Colonel or Lieutenant Colonel A.A.G. [Assistand Adjutant General] Niagara.

Souvenir of Niagara Camp

Camp Niagara, in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, was used as summer training grounds for the Second Division of the Canadian Expeditionary Force at the start of World War I in 1914. In 1917, the Camp was used to train a group of expatriate Poles and Polish Americans who were recruited to serve in the war. Over 22, 000 volunteers of the Polish diaspora from across Canada and the United States trained at Camp Niagara, known to them as Camp Kosciuszko.

Special Orders No. 18 of the Office U.S. Army Hospital, Camp Parole

Special Orders No. 18 of the Office U.S. Army Hospital, Camp Parole, near Annapolis, MD., March 14, 1865 to W.K. Cleveland assigning him to duty as pathologist and consulting surgeon for the hospital. This is signed by W. Stewart, Surgeon U.S. Vol’s, in charge, March 14, 1865.

Drawing of Dr. Cleavland's Quarters at Camp Parole

Drawing of Dr. Cleaveland’s quarters at the Camp Parole Hospital by Robert F. Roche. This picture is slightly stained, but this does not affect the image, May 20, 1865.