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One university. Many futures.
umanitoba.ca
Examining Children’s Experiences in Summer Sport Camps using Photo Elicitation
Leisha StrachanFaculty of Kinesiology and Recreation
ManagementUniversity of Manitoba
Winnipeg, CanadaNASPSPA 2011
One university. Many futures.
Mini-University:
o Entering 33rd year of sport programming for children and youth
o Year-round programs
o Summer camp welcomes approximately 6,000 campers to the U of M every year
o Largest summer day camp in North America
One university. Many futures.
Introductiono Canadian stats indicate that approximately
76% of children and youth participate in organized sport (Guèvremont, Findlay, & Kohen, 2008)
o Three objectives of sport participation (Côté & Fraser-Thomas, 2007; 2011):o Improve physical healtho Develop motor skillso Encourage psychosocial growth
One university. Many futures.
Introduction continued…o 92% of Canadians believe that sport can be
an avenue for positive growth and development (Mulholland, 2008)
o Participation in sport can be valued as a crucial context for positive development
One university. Many futures.
Positive Youth Development…o Positive Youth Development (PYD) advanced
the idea that youth are resources to be cultivated (Benson, Scales, Hamilton, & Sesma, Jr., 2006)
o Core constructs of PYD focus on contexts involving youth, personal characteristics, and developmental outcomes (Lerner, 2003)
One university. Many futures.
Positive Youth Development continued…o Sport participation linked to higher rates of
initiative, teamwork, & emotional regulation when compared to other structured activities (Larson, Hansen, & Moneta, 2006)
o Sport participation also linked to lower rates of identity work, positive relationships, and adult network experiences
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Sport Programming…o Different experiences within sport may lead
to distinct developmental outcomes (Strachan, Côté, & Deakin, 2009)
o Great diversity in sport programming
o Continued work is needed to explore how to properly structure sport programs for children and youth
One university. Many futures.
o Physical & Psychological Safetyo Appropriate Structureo Supportive Relationshipso Opportunities to Belongo Positive Social Normso Support of Efficacy and Matteringo Opportunities for Skill Buildingo Integration of Family, School, and Community Efforts
o Sport programs have a key role in promoting these features (Côté et al., 2008; Perkins & Noam, 2007; Strachan et al., 2011)
Setting Features Framework…
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Children/Youth Perceptions…o Need to explore not only contextual factors
but also a young person’s personal perspective
o Informed our understanding of enjoyment, motivational climate, and peer relationships (Wiersma, 2001; Vazou et al., 2006; Weiss & Smith, 2002)
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Photo Elicitation…o Photo methodology where individuals take
photographs within a specific context in order to explore the environment
o Photo Methods (Harper, 2003; Power, 2003) :o De-centers the researchero Allows for different interpretationso Increases the attention of the interviewee
o Children/Youth’s perceptions are separate and different from adults
o Recognition of children as collaborators (Cook & Hess, 2007)
Our culture is “a visual culture in which the image has become more powerful than the word as a form of communication” (Power, 2003, p. 9)
One university. Many futures.
Research Questions…
o Is photo elicitation an appropriate strategy to use within sport settings for children?
o What are children’s experiences in the Mini-University sport camps?
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Methodso 16 children (Mage = 9.4 yrs)o Minimum of 4 sport camps over the course of
the summero Data collected after being in at least 3 camps
Orientation/ Thinking
about what is meaningful in
sport
Taking pictures (people or objects)
Selection / Focus Group or
Interview
Cook & Hess, 2007
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Results…o Physical (12) and
Psychological Safety (12)o Environment,
Equipment, Safety considerations (i.e., signs)
o Close Friendships
“My friend. There’s only like, you know, people
you even know and I have a ton of good times
with him”
K2, 11
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Results…o Appropriate Structure (12)
o Schedule, Rules, Equipment, Play
“…shows that, like, it’s important to me because I
get to play games instead of just doing drills the
whole time”
M2, 11
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Results…o Supportive Relationships (25)
o Instructors (teaching skills, humorous, role models, friend)
“He’s my best friend adult”
T6, 8
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Results…o Opportunities to Belong (5)
o Partner for Play
“…this is meaningful to me because, um, he’s
my friend and I have somebody to
play with”
N6, 8
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Results…o Positive Social Norms (6)
o Teamwork, Healthy Lifestyle “This picture is playing games. Um, I took a picture of this
because…we’re getting active again
and we’re having fun”
N9, 7
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Results…o Support of Efficacy and Mattering (14)
o Enjoyment, Recognition, Pride
“Uh, this is a picture of a soccer ball…I really like soccer. It’s fun”
P1, 11
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Results…o Opportunities for Skill Building (14)
o Maintaining Skill, Learning New Skills/Games
“This is the actual wall we climb on with
harnesses…so, the bouldering wall is just to help you practice so you can actually climb to the top of this wall”
B7, 12
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Results…o Integration of Family, School, and Community
(9)o Family – Sibling Influenceo School – Instructor Presenceo Community – Club Sport in Venues
“This picture is of, um, my sister and she’s meaningful
to me because she helps me on stuff”
N4, 8
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Discussiono Setting Features framework may be applied
to sport camp settingso All features were presento Emphasis on Supportive Relationships
(Instructors) (Smith and Smoll)
o Lacking in experiences related to Positive Social Norms and Opportunities to Belong (Allen, 2003)
One university. Many futures.
Implications and Future Directions…o Photo methodology gave insight into
children’s summer sport camp experienceso Methodology shows potentialo Additional research is needed to focus on
experiences of girlso Attention needs to be given to instructors
and how they are being trained to improve service delivery
o Deliberate PYD sport programming may help to make experiences more meaningful
One university. Many futures.
Thank you…o Dr. Jane Watkinsono Kristin Davieso Jay Gameyo Staff, Parents, and Children of Mini U
