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The Harvard Family Research Project separated from the Harvard Graduate School of Education to become the Global Family Research Project as of January 1, 2017. It is no longer affiliated with Harvard University.

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Program Description

Overview These residential camping programs across the state of Wisconsin are intended to promote life skills development (i.e., ability to communicate, make decisions, work with others in a group, plan and carry out activities) for youth participants and life skills and leadership development experiences for teen camp counselors.
Start Date June 2003
Scope state
Type summer/vacation
Location rural (campers and counselors come from urban, suburban, and rural locations)
Setting privately and publicly owned camping facilities
Participants elementary through high school students
Number of Sites/Grantees 72 counties
Number Served approximately 3,000 youth campers and 700 teen counselors
Components Camps do not follow a core curriculum. Common camp programs feature nature study, recreation, arts/crafts, campfire songs, and skits. The camps are planned by teen counselors, adult volunteers, and 4-H Youth Development faculty to meet the needs and interests of campers from their county. Some camps have paid resident staff who work with county-level counselors/volunteers/staff. Campers range in age from 1st to 8th grade, with counselors typically coming from 9th to 12th grades.
Funding Level Not available
Funding Sources County, state, and federal government; participant fees


Evaluation

Overview The evaluation examined the leadership development impacts of the summer camp program on teenage camp counselors.
Evaluator Katy Forsythe, Robert Matysik, and Karen Nelson, Department of Youth Development, University of Wisconsin–Extension
Evaluations Profiled Impact of 4-H Camp Counseling Experience

Evaluations Planned None
Report Availability Forsythe, K., Matysik, R., & Nelson, K. (2004). Impact of 4-H Camp Counseling experience. Madison: University of Wisconsin–Extension.


Contacts

Evaluation Kathleen T. Forsythe
Associate Professor
4-H Youth Development Agent
227 1st Street West
Altoona, WI 54720
Tel: 715-839-4712
Fax: 715-839-6277
Email: katy.forsythe@ces.uwex.edu
Program Heather H. Boyd
Evaluation Specialist
University of Wisconsin–Extension
617 Extension Building
432 North Lake Street
Madison, WI 53706
Tel: 608-263-0857
Fax: 608-262-9166
Email: heather.boyd@ces.uwex.edu
Profile Updated June 21, 2006

Evaluation: Impact of 4-H Camp Counseling Experience



Evaluation Description

Evaluation Purpose To examine what camp counselors learn from their counseling experience and their perceptions of their training/orientation.
Evaluation Design Non-Experimental: Survey data were collected from 44 of the 72 counties offering camps (62%). Surveys were gathered from 274 of the 390 teen counselors from the participating counties, resulting in a 70% response rate.
Data Collection Methods Surveys/Questionnaires: The survey included open-ended questions to determine whether counselors could identify ways in which the skills they had learned could be transferred to other settings. In addition, the survey asked questions related to how the camp counseling experience helped youth develop and learn specific leadership skills in four areas: teamwork, communication, decision making, and planning and organizing.
Data Collection Timeframe Data were collected in 2003.


Findings:
Formative/Process Findings

Satisfaction More than 90% of counselors found their experience to be fun and enjoyable.
Staffing/Training Eighty-six percent of counselors reported receiving training before beginning their counseling experience. The most helpful things learned during counselor training were dealing with emergencies and with camp and camper situations, counselor expectations and skills development, and specific camp program components.


Summative/Outcome Findings

Community Development Over 93% of the respondents identified at least one thing they learned that they would use in a leadership role in their community. One counselor stated, “I’m a better leader in my club and school. And I mentor kids at my school so it helps me out.”

When counselors were asked what they learned as 4-H camp counselors that they would use in leadership roles in their local communities, the top responses were working with children (27%), leadership and taking charge (20%), communication/listening (13%), teamwork/working together on a goal (12%), and planning and organizing (11%).
Workforce Development Over 96% of the respondents identified at least one thing they learned that would help them in a future job. One counselor noted, “I plan to go into elementary education. Working with campers really gives me an idea of the leadership experience I would need to be a teacher.

When counselors were asked what they learned that might help them in a future job, the top responses given were communication skills (19%), working with others to succeed (17%), leadership skills (16%), planning/organization/being prepared (15%), and how to work with/deal with kids (11%).
Youth Development The top areas identified by counselors as skills they learned through their counseling experience were leadership (36%), people skills/working with youth (27%), communication (19%), patience/tolerance (18%), responsibility (17), teamwork (15%), problem solving (11%), and planning and organizing (11%).

In the communication skills area, counselors indicated that they learned things such as how youth listen, interpersonal problem solving, direction giving, the value of communication, and an understanding of child behavior. One counselor stated, “I was forced to communicate ideas and directions to not only fellow counselors, but to the campers as well. I learned that you have to adapt to others and their way of following and receiving directions.”

In the planning and organizing skills area, counselors indicated that they learned things such as the importance of having a back-up plan and how to manage their time. One counselor stated, “I learned that you have to really think about everything you do before doing it.”

In the teamwork skills area, counselors described learning that they accomplished more together than alone and learning the value of cooperation. A counselor said, “You really need teamwork when working in a group or even with one other person. Without it, the thing you’re working on will fall apart.”

In the decision-making skills area, counselors stated that they learned of the need to get campers’ input in making decisions.

When asked what was unique about being a 4-H camp counselor, the top responses were understanding and working with children (25%), responsibility (22%), and role modeling (11%). One counselor stated, “I never had to be the leader of a group for three days and two nights [before]. The kids always looked up to me for direction and support. It taught me more responsibility than I ever had before.”

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Published by Harvard Family Research Project