The Pudding

The sweet proof of research to back up what you already know about summer camp. Join Travis Allison and Dr. Mandi Baker as they focus in on prominent and emerging research in the summer camp world and share the ways that camp professionals can leverage that research to get more kids to camp.

The Pudding is part of the Go Camp Pro podcast network. Find a Podcast for Camp Pros of every age and stage at https://gocamp.pro/podcasts

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The Pudding

Make Impacts & Welcome Diversity with Camp Research - with Drs Meerts & Sibthorp - The Pudding #13

December 04, 2024 • Go Camp Pro • Episode 13

Find full show notes and links at: https://gocamp.pro/the-pudding/make-impacts-welcome-diversity-with-camp-research

Diversifying the Narrative by Bringing Practitioners to the Research Table

In this episode of 'The Pudding', hosts Dr. Mandi Baker and Travis Allison are joined by Drs. Lisa Meerts-Brandsma and Jim Sibthorp to dive into groundbreaking research in the camp world. The discussion covers their journeys of becoming researchers, the link between the camping and outdoor education industries, and pivotal findings from recent studies. Lisa emphasizes increasing camp access and inclusion, while Jim highlights the complexities of understanding developmental impacts when researching in isolation. They also share thoughts on the evolution of camp research, potential future directions, and the importance of collaborating closely with practitioners.

Episode Guide

00:41 Meet the Hosts and Guests
01:07 Lisa & Jim’s Journeys to Camp Research
06:41 Jim’s Research:Maximizing Developmental Potential
08:53 Lisa’s Research: Increasing Access to Camps
11:15 Using Research to Market Camp to a More Diverse Population
17:25 The ACA’s Youth Impact Study and Diversifying the Narrative
21:50 The Evolution of Camp Research over Jim’s Career
28:42 The Missing Piece of the Camp Research Puzzle
33:21 Future Directions: Bridges Between Researchers & Practitioners
35:27 Future Directions: Experience Quality over Activity Base
40:39 Community Level Research & Identity Shaping Experience (ft. the Magic Funding Pot!)
43:28 Recommended Researchers to Follow & Episode Wrap-up

Your Hosts

Dr. Mandi Baker, Researcher - Summer Camp, Outdoor Recreation, Sociology and Hospitality/Tourism - getlamped@gmail.com
Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro - travis@gocamp.pro
Dr. Lisa Meerts-Brandsma - Assistant Professor, University of Utah - lisa.meerts@utah.edu
Dr. Jim Sibthorp - Professor, University of Utah - jim.sibthorp@health.utah.edu

Thanks to our sponsors!

The American Camp Association - Illinois
The American Camp Association of Illinois is made up of nearly 289,000 members, volunteers, campers, families, and professionals who believe in the power of camp. We work to disrupt the effects of poverty by providing fundamental services for children and families, and learning opportunities for camp professionals. Learn more about ACA Illinois by visiting acail.org.

Camptivities
You know the impact you want camp to make in a child’s life. But figuring out the day-to-day details can be overwhelming. Let Camptivities help you make that impact by streamlining the creation of your camp activity schedules. Schedule a demo at camptivities.com.