Striking A Balance: An Exploration of Staff-Camper Relationship Formation
Previous research highlights a range of positive developmental outcomes associated with attending summer camp. Close staff-camper relationships likely contribute to positive development, but little is known about how these bonds are formed. The current study utilized constructivist thematic analysis...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Clemson University Press
2018-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Youth Development |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://jyd.pitt.edu/ojs/jyd/article/view/537 |
| _version_ | 1797330556055191552 |
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| author | Rachel O. Rubin Matthew Hagler Samantha A. Burton Jean E. Rhodes |
| author_facet | Rachel O. Rubin Matthew Hagler Samantha A. Burton Jean E. Rhodes |
| author_sort | Rachel O. Rubin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Previous research highlights a range of positive developmental outcomes associated with attending summer camp. Close staff-camper relationships likely contribute to positive development, but little is known about how these bonds are formed. The current study utilized constructivist thematic analysis of interviews with campers (n = 8) and staff members (n = 7) at an overnight summer camp to examine the factors and processes that promote or inhibit close staff-camper relationship formation. The main themes identified were striking a balance, level of experience, and relationship-promoting behaviors. Staff members experience apparent paradoxes in their roles (e.g., relating to campers while also exerting authority), but navigate these tensions by using relationship-promoting behaviors and through increased experience. These findings suggest that staff training and supervision should emphasize relationship-promoting behaviors, continue throughout the summer, and be informed by campers’ perspectives. Additionally, camp administrators should capitalize on accrued experience by prioritizing staff retention. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T07:21:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-89a0034adc094f4f8b7cea3872b4f460 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2325-4017 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T07:21:27Z |
| publishDate | 2018-04-01 |
| publisher | Clemson University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Youth Development |
| spelling | doaj.art-89a0034adc094f4f8b7cea3872b4f4602024-02-02T23:26:56ZengClemson University PressJournal of Youth Development2325-40172018-04-01131-2446110.5195/jyd.2018.537484Striking A Balance: An Exploration of Staff-Camper Relationship FormationRachel O. Rubin0Matthew Hagler1Samantha A. Burton2Jean E. Rhodes3University of Massachusetts BostonUniversity of Massachusetts BostonUniversity of Massachusetts BostonUniversity of Massachusetts BostonPrevious research highlights a range of positive developmental outcomes associated with attending summer camp. Close staff-camper relationships likely contribute to positive development, but little is known about how these bonds are formed. The current study utilized constructivist thematic analysis of interviews with campers (n = 8) and staff members (n = 7) at an overnight summer camp to examine the factors and processes that promote or inhibit close staff-camper relationship formation. The main themes identified were striking a balance, level of experience, and relationship-promoting behaviors. Staff members experience apparent paradoxes in their roles (e.g., relating to campers while also exerting authority), but navigate these tensions by using relationship-promoting behaviors and through increased experience. These findings suggest that staff training and supervision should emphasize relationship-promoting behaviors, continue throughout the summer, and be informed by campers’ perspectives. Additionally, camp administrators should capitalize on accrued experience by prioritizing staff retention.http://jyd.pitt.edu/ojs/jyd/article/view/537summer campyouth-adult relationshipsmentoringqualitative |
| spellingShingle | Rachel O. Rubin Matthew Hagler Samantha A. Burton Jean E. Rhodes Striking A Balance: An Exploration of Staff-Camper Relationship Formation Journal of Youth Development summer camp youth-adult relationships mentoring qualitative |
| title | Striking A Balance: An Exploration of Staff-Camper Relationship Formation |
| title_full | Striking A Balance: An Exploration of Staff-Camper Relationship Formation |
| title_fullStr | Striking A Balance: An Exploration of Staff-Camper Relationship Formation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Striking A Balance: An Exploration of Staff-Camper Relationship Formation |
| title_short | Striking A Balance: An Exploration of Staff-Camper Relationship Formation |
| title_sort | striking a balance an exploration of staff camper relationship formation |
| topic | summer camp youth-adult relationships mentoring qualitative |
| url | http://jyd.pitt.edu/ojs/jyd/article/view/537 |
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