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Parental feedback in the evaluation
of a camp for disadvantages children: The
Camp Limberlost project
Belknap, L., Rickards, W., Belknap, P.
Paper presented at the American Camping
Association National Convention (San Diego,
CA February 27-March 3, 1984).
Purpose:
Examine camper changes resulting from the
camp experience, solicit feedback from parents,
identify areas for camp improvement, determine
the effectiveness of various methods of
data collection.
Sample:
Data collected from parents of 155 over
a two-year period. Camp Affiliation: Camp
Limberlost, a residential camp for disadvantaged
children sponsored by the Bloomington Kiwanis
and managed by Illinois State University.
Methods/Instruments:
Instruments: Audio and video tapes of camper
interactions, daily camper reports, camper
activity preference surveys, and parent
follow-up surveys, and interviews conducted
6 weeks after camp.
Method: Post card surveys sent home to
parents 6 months after the 1982 camp season
and one month after the 1983 camp season.
Results:
- Camper reports and activity preference
surveys failed to suggest any concrete
change in camper behavior as a result
of the camp experience.
- Results of post card surveys showed
a positive trend in parent response in
terms of feelings regarding the camp experience.
Parents remarked that children displayed
more independence, maturity and initiative.
- Recommendation: structure surveys to
address topics as they are perceived by
parents, collect feedback soon after campers'
return from camp, and use survey techniques
that minimize response tasks for parents.
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