Bearpaw Youth Camp is a non-profit summer sports camp that is a service component of a major southern University. Bearpaw provides a 3-week residential camp experience for approximately 50 10-13 year old boys. The majority of the boys attending camp have been identified by their school districts and the camp administration as being economically disadvantaged/underprivileged. Campers attend at no cost to their families, and upon completion of four continuous summers of camp, have the opportunity to attend this University via scholarship provided through the camp. The purpose of this study/collaboration was to determine if empirical findings could be applied by our camp staff to maximize opportunities and experiences of the participating campers.
Method:
Bearpaw Youth Camp and the Department of Health and Kinesiology’s Sport Pedagogy program entered into an agreement whereby the Pedagogy faculty and graduate students would conduct research at the camp site. Initial research protocol was established to determine campers initial motivations and perceptions related to activity and instruction undertaken at the camp. Agreements were secured via University protocol and included permission from the university, camper stakeholders, and the camp’s Board of Trustees who provide oversight for the Youth Camp.
Analysis/Results:
The analysis and results of the conducted research projects are being shared with Bearpaw Youth Camp administration. The hope is that the research will promote a better understanding of the benefits of physical activity and fitness among the participants. Preliminary results suggest less focus on competitive activities and a greater focus on activities that foster greater perceptions of autonomy, competence, and relatedness support. Perhaps the implementation of co-operative activities such as initiative games could be added to the curriculum. Declines in identified and intrinsic self-regulation during the camp experience is a concern that must also be addressed.
Conclusions:
Results of this collaboration point toward the implementation of teaching/coaching strategies that can more effectively facilitate positive perceptions of physical activity among our campers. In addition, there should be enhanced recognition on the importance played in providing quality instruction and methodology to the instructors/coaches of the camp program.
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