Anja Whittington

Promoting resiliency in adolescent girls through adventure programming

This study examined whether participation in an adventure program increased the resiliency of adolescent girls. Eighty-seven girls who participated in Dirt Divas, a non-profit, adventure program, completed the Resiliency Scale for Children and Adolescents® before and after their experience. Means-comparison tests for within-subjects designs were conducted and revealed that participants reported significantly higher levels of resilience after completing the Dirt Divas program, compared with their pre-program reports. Mixed-model repeated-measures analyses of variance showed that the changes in the girls’ resiliency were not affected by their socioeconomic status. Lastly, the long-term impact results (one month post participation) indicate that observed increases in resilience persist over time.

Living Without Boys: A Retrospective Analysis of the Benefits and Skills Gained at All-Female Camps:

The purpose of this study was to investigate the outcomes of all-female camp experiences on women’s lives. Using a retrospective approach, this study collected qualitative data from 131 women to examine the benefits of all-female camp experiences, to analyze the skills they gained at camp, and to understand how they apply these skills to their adult lives. Benefits of an all-female camp experience identified through qualitative analysis included focused time, supportive environment, and challenging gender norms. Skills that the women gained at camp and apply to their everyday lives were developed into the following themes: social development (communication, teamwork, cultural sensitivity, respect for others, community building, tolerance, working with diverse personalities), career development (leadership, perseverance, time management, influenced career direction), and personal development (resilience, sense of self, self-reliance, self-esteem, confidence, independence). Study findings suggest that these skills have personal and professional applications across women’s lives.

Influences of Resident Camp Experiences on Career Choice: A Case Study of Female Alumnae

Abstract: Few studies have explored the long-term impacts of camp experiences on career choice, although there is a need to better understand how camp experiences may influence this decision to guide staff recruitment and retention efforts. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of camp experiences on future career paths for women. Twenty-two camp alumnae who attended an all-girls camp completed a retrospective online survey. Salient themes related to career impacts included human service career interest, outdoor career interest, leadership and interpersonal skill development, and social-emotional skill development. Considerations for future research include a national study of a more representative sample of camp alumni to shed greater light on occupational choice and career path for camp alumni.

Promoting resiliency in adolescent girls through adventure education

Each discipline such as nursing, developmental psychology, social work, medicine, education and youth development have sought to define resiliency and develop ways to promote resiliency factors in individuals. The adventure recreation, adventure education, outdoor adventure education, and recreation fields as a whole have also sought to define and develop ways to promote resiliency in youth through intentionally designed programming (Cooper & Allen, 2004; Garst, Schneider, & Baker, 2001; Haras, Bunting, & Witt, 2006; Stiehl & Parker, 2007). These terms have been used interchangeably throughout the literature and, despite the program design, all have been found to promote resiliency in youth in various ways. Resiliency can be described as the interaction between risk and protective processes that support an individual to overcome obstacles, risks, and/or a negative or stressful event in their life (Olsson, Bond, Burns, Vella- Brodrick, Sawyer, 2002). Resiliency is the ability to respond or perform positively in the face of adversity, and to achieve despite disadvantages (Bottrell, 2009; Brennan, 2008; Fergus & Zimmerman, 2005; Olsson et al., 2002; Short & Russell-Mayhew, 2009). By creating youth intervention programs that promote and develop protective factors for resiliency (Cooper & Allen, 2004), recreation can serve as an external factor that supports resiliency. Research has documented a variety of benefits to participating in adventure education programs. This includes, but is not limited to, personal growth, educational and physical outcomes and group development skills (Garst, Schneider, Baker, 2001; Stiehl & Parker, 2007). Because adventure and experiential education programs mimic the internal and external factors necessary for resiliency they have the potential to increase resiliency factors in youth (Bieghtol, Jevertson, Gray, Carter & Gass, 2009; Benard & Marshall, 2001). Adventure education programs focused on girls have shown a variety of outcomes. This includes: increased self-esteem and confidence, resistance to gender role stereotypes, increased courage, improved body image and opportunities for positive risk-taking and self-expression (Culp, 1998; Mitten, 1992; Whittington, 2006; Whittington & Mack 2010). Lacking in the research is an examination of the impacts of an adventure education program on promoting resiliency on adolescent girls.

Changing Girls’ Lives: One Programme at a Time

In the past two decades, research conducted on all-female outdoor education/adventure education/experiential education programmes, particularly for adolescent girls, has seen remarkable attention. Many women have focused their careers on creating and offering programmes that promote girls’ development. Researchers and practitioners have documented outcomes of girls’ participation and have shed light on the various benefits that girls may have received. This chapter examines the collective outcomes of girls’ participation in programmes designed for girls, facilitated by women. It examines why all-girls programmes exist, the outcomes and benefits of girls’ participation, and suggests programme-planning strategies for practitioners.

A Closer Look at the Camp Experience: Examining Relationships Between Life Skills, Elements of Positive Youth Development, and Antecedents of Change Among Camp Alumni

Understanding program components that contribute to positive youth outcomes following camp experiences can help program providers bring a greater level of intentionality to their efforts. The purposes of this study were twofold: (a) to develop reliable and valid measures of life skill development, elements of positive youth development (PYD), and antecedents of change within the context of camp and (b) to examine potential relationships between life skill development, elements of PYD, and antecedents of change to better understand elements that influence youth outcomes in camp. Data were collected from 429 camp alumni using an online survey. Exploratory factor analysis was used to explore the reliability and validity of the three proposed scales, and hierarchical multiple regression was used to examine how selected variables contributed to the participants’ outcomes scores. Study results suggest three psychometrically sound instruments were developed to measure these constructs. Implications for research and practice are explored.