Inclusionary practices - survey of mainstream camps serving youth of all abilities

Camping Magazine, Jan-Feb, 1997 by Steve Brannan, Joel Arick, Ann Fullerton, Joyce Harris

A nationwide survey of mainstream camps serving all youth

There is a strong movement in the United States to fully include people of all abilities in society. Although most past research has been conducted in the public schools, inclusion needs to be studied in all settings where people with and without disabilities share activities. Camp professionals widely agree on the benefits of residential camp but until lately little empirical research has been conducted to substantiate these beliefs.

The American Camping Association, in conjunction with the Institute for Career and Leisure Development, conducted a nationwide survey of mainstream camps. The survey was designed to determine the extent that campers with and without disabilities jointly attend and participate in camp sessions and program activities, the disabilities and needs of mainstream campers, and camps' interest in evaluating and participating in related research.

Procedure

The camps selected to participate in the survey were chosen from accredited residential summer camps that mainstream children and youth with disabilities. ACA mailed surveys to 162 camps nationwide to learn about the mainstreaming practices they employed during the summer of 1995.

Seventy-one camps from 26 states responded to the survey. An analysis of the 71 surveys reveals:

* 31 camps primarily serve campers without disabilities, but mainstream campers with disabilities into their summer residential camp programs. These camps operate general programs with sessions that include disabled and non-disabled campers.

* 24 camps primarily serve campers with disabilities. They also reverse mainstream campers without disabilities in their summer residential programs. These camps operate specialized programs with sessions that include campers with and without disabilities.

* the 16 remaining camps provided either incomplete or inappropriate information. They were not included in the study's data analysis.

Because the survey sought information from general camp programs that mainstream youth with disabilities, the survey analysis focused on the 31 camp programs that primarily serve campers without disabilities.

Major research questions and findings

How do mainstream camps serve campers with disabilities?

All 31 mainstream camps reported being inclusionary. Campers with and without disabilities generally attended the same camp session and participated together in the same program activities at the same location and time. Two of these camps had some sessions where youth with and without disabilities each participated as a group in separate or parallel program activities.

How do mainstream camps serve campers with and without disabilities?

Campers with and without disabilities participated in joint program activities in 164 out of 174 camp sessions conducted by the 31 mainstream camps. Of the remaining sessions, seven served only campers with disabilities and three served campers with disabilities in separate or parallel camp activities. [TABULAR DATA OMITTED] Furthermore, the camps' staff operated 162 out of 168 sessions listed. Of the remaining six sessions, five were operated by both camp and outside agency staff.

What camper characteristics and needs were present?

The total number of campers attending mainstream camps ranged from 40 to 456 per sample session, with a mean of 171 campers for all sessions. A larger percentage of femme campers attended camp sessions, comprising 68 percent of the mean percentage of participants. Campers ranged in age from 5 to 21 years, with a mean age of 7 for the youngest campers and 15 for the oldest campers.

As can be expected in mainstream programs, the majority of campers (91 percent) attending the camp sessions did not have disabilities. Campers with disabilities comprised 9 percent of the total population. Camps indicated that an average of 7 percent of campers with disabilities needed minor staff assistance (added guidance/support during some activities), while 2 percent required major staff assistance (one-on-one supervision during the day).

What were the most common types of disabilities?

In general, mainstream camps served campers with a wide range of conditions. Fourteen major disabling conditions, including three levels of mental retardation, were indicated for campers attending mainstream camps. The greatest percentage of mainstream camps served campers considered to be mildly disabled: attention deficit disorder (90 percent), learning disabilities (71 percent), and mild mental retardation (64 percent). A smaller percentage of camps served those with more severe disabling conditions: moderate/severe mental retardation (29 percent), deaf/blind (26 percent), autistic (23 percent), and traumatic brain injury (3 percent).

How were inclusionary practices incorporated?

Inclusionary practices for campers with disabilities were implemented by mainstream camps across 13 different program activities. All 31 camps included campers with disabilities in four program activities: meals, sports/games, campfire/evening, [TABULAR DATA OMITTED] and arts/crafts. Ninety-seven percent of camps included campers with disabilities in sleeping and 90 percent included them in fitness/hiking. With the exception of equestrian programs, at least 88 percent of camps offering a particular program activity were inclusionary in that activity. Fewer camps offered boating, fishing, ropes/challenge courses, and riding activities.