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Abstract
This study investigated change in divergent thinking (DT), an indicator of creative potential, at two gender-specific residential summer camps. Additionally, this study examined whether the change in DT varied by gender and by the type of activities campers self-select. Quantitative methods, using a quasi-experimental design was used in order to understand differences in camper scores. A total of 189 youth, 100 girls, 89 boys, between the ages of 9 and 14 years participated in the current study. Participants were administered a modified version of Guilford's (1967) alternate uses task, a measure of DT, in which respondents were asked questions such as name all of the uses for a brick or name all of the uses for a plate before the camp session started, and then again at the end of the two-week session. Results indicate overall mean significant increases in DT across all scoring methods of fluency, flexibility, and originality. Participants who self-selected one or more artistic activities (e.g., drama, arts and crafts, dance) had significant increases on the tasks as opposed to participants who did not select any artistic activities (e.g., basketball, baseball, archery). Finally, girls significantly increased across all scoring methods, whereas boys slightly increased in fluency and flexibility but not in originality. These results indicate residential summer camp may provide a creativity "benefit" for youth in attendance, especially those who participate in certain activities. Practitioners should use this study to understand their own programming in terms of creativity, activity offerings, and camp culture
Department
Education
Publication Date
Spring 4-20-2018
Journal Title
Journal of Youth Development
Publisher
University Library System. University of Pittsburgh
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.5195/jyd.2018.544
Document Type
Article
Recommended Citation
Lynch, M. L., Hegarty, C. B., Trauntvein, N., & Plucker, J. (2018). Summer camp as a force for 21st century learning: Exploring divergent thinking and activity selection in a residential camp setting. Journal of Youth Development, 13(1-2), 286-305. doi:10.5195/jyd.2018.544
Included in
Early Childhood Education Commons, Leisure Studies Commons, Quantitative Psychology Commons