TY - JOUR
T1 - Residential summer camp for youth with special needs
T2 - A longitudinal approach to investigating differences in social skills
AU - Flynn, Rachel M.
AU - Ricker, Ashley A.
AU - Dolezal, Curtis
AU - Kunin, Mike
AU - Mellins, Claude A.
PY - 2019/1
Y1 - 2019/1
N2 - Differences in social skills for youth with special needs were examined following participation in a residential summer camp. The data were collected between 2007 and 2013 from participants ages 3 to 22 (N = 1,392) at a summer camp in the Northeastern region of the United States. Mixed effect linear regression models were used to evaluate differences in social skills during a camper's first year as well as across multiple years of camp, and investigated age as a moderator as the camp served a wide age range. After one year of camp, participants of all ages showed significant increases in relationship building, self-control, self-help, communication, and positive attitude. Further, sustained improvement from year-to-year for those who attended multiple years was demonstrated. Finally, children who attended multiple summers had greater overall improvements than those who attended one year. The findings provide positive evidence that summer camps focused on improving social skills can be effective service programs for special needs populations and that these improvements can continue with multiple years of camp.
AB - Differences in social skills for youth with special needs were examined following participation in a residential summer camp. The data were collected between 2007 and 2013 from participants ages 3 to 22 (N = 1,392) at a summer camp in the Northeastern region of the United States. Mixed effect linear regression models were used to evaluate differences in social skills during a camper's first year as well as across multiple years of camp, and investigated age as a moderator as the camp served a wide age range. After one year of camp, participants of all ages showed significant increases in relationship building, self-control, self-help, communication, and positive attitude. Further, sustained improvement from year-to-year for those who attended multiple years was demonstrated. Finally, children who attended multiple summers had greater overall improvements than those who attended one year. The findings provide positive evidence that summer camps focused on improving social skills can be effective service programs for special needs populations and that these improvements can continue with multiple years of camp.
KW - Community-based program
KW - Longitudinal
KW - Social relationships
KW - Social skills
KW - Summer camp
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85058168928&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85058168928&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.10.036
DO - 10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.10.036
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85058168928
VL - 96
SP - 354
EP - 363
JO - Children and Youth Services Review
JF - Children and Youth Services Review
SN - 0190-7409
ER -