Camp and College Parallels: Crucibles for Transition-Linked Turning-Points

• Published in: Journal of youth development (Online) 2018-04, Vol.13 (1-2), p.126-143
• Main Authors: Olsen, Lisa K.-P., Powell, Gwynn M., Garst, Barry A., Bixler, Robert D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2325-4017; 2325-4017
• DOI: 10.5195/jyd.2018.558

This conceptual paper explores how the system of experiences that children encounter in a traditional, residential summer camp setting parallel traditional, residential, college setting for first-year students. Camp is a complex system in the sphere of youth development programs (YDP) because of the expectation for rapid adjustment by the camper to a novel physical and social environment. Many YDPs have a moderate to high level of connection with the child’s normal life, defined as similar to school or home environments and the activities in which youth regularly participate. A traditional residential summer camp offers a different degree of novelty than most other YDP settings. This paper offers a list of physical elements present in a camp setting that parallel the college setting and considers common camp-college parallels to articulate connected physical, social, emotional, and intellectual domains. This integration of ideas illustrates how the socio-physical novelty of the camp experience serves as a crucible for rapid adjustment and multi-dimensional growth in a way that is uniquely different from many other youth development settings.