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Positive Value Development of Campers at Girl Scout Camp

The Search Institute identifies 40 developmental assets that promote healthy development in young people. These include such subtopics as Support, Boundaries & Expectations, and Positive Values (Search Institute, 2006). It may seem self evident that promoting growth in these areas would result in children who are more likely to participate in positive behaviors and avoid negative behaviors. However, there is also research that supports this statement. The Search Institute found that individuals with greater numbers of developmental assets were more likely to demonstrate positive behaviors. On the other hand, the fewer assets possessed, the more likely a child was to exhibit negative behaviors, such as illicit drug use or violence. (Search Institute, 2009)

This study underscores the importance of providing programming for young people that can increase the number of developmental assets which they can access. Of particular interest to me is the asset category of Positive Values which includes such assets as integrity, caring, and responsibility. This category is one that can certainly be incorporated into a camp program, yet it is one that may be often overlooked at camp for fear of the camp not being "fun". One place in which I have personally experienced this sort of developmental growth is at Girl Scout camp. The following paper will look at the effectiveness of Girl Scout resident camp at increasing the Positive Values of campers.

Personal Experience

In my experience as a camper and counselor at Girl Scout camp, I have experienced and observed developmental growth in Positive Values. One aspect of camp that contributed to this growth is certainly the promise and law. The Girl Scout Promise is recited at daily flag ceremonies; this sort of daily reminder encourages campers to remember how they have promised to behave. The Girl Scout Law is well known among the staff and campers. Staff regularly say things like, "Remember how in the law it says...Does your current behavior reflect that?" This promise and law reinforce positive behavior and deter campers from negative behavior.

Another aspect of Girl Scout camp that improves the Positive Values of girls is access to role models. During staff training, it is made clear how much the campers admire counselors and therefore want to emulate them. This makes it essential for counselors to be positive role

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