Author

Term

Summer 2026

Capstone

Capstone Project

Degree Name

MAED: NSEE

Facilitator(s)

Jana Lo Bello Miller & Shelley Orr

Content Expert

Noah Stein, Camp Director, Camp Nebagamon for Boys

Abstract

Research has demonstrated that residential camping holds tremendous value in the life of a young person. A child’s participation in the “Radical Utopian Experience” provided by a typical summer camp has been shown to increase independence, confidence, perseverance, responsibility, empathy, compassion, and an affinity for nature, often with life-long effects. Yet, while camps focus heavily on the growth and development of campers, the needs of counseling staff are sometimes overlooked. Young counselors themselves are still developing emotionally and socially, while they often shoulder significant responsibilities throughout the summer. This capstone project focused on the wellness needs of residential camp counselors and involved creating staff training programming focused on mental health. While the curriculum is suggested for use during non-formal residential camp staff training, the structure of this project allows for adaptability and utilization in many fields.

Project Type

Professional Development

Keywords

Adult Education, Staff Development

dc_type

text

dc_publisher

DigitalCommons@Hamline

dc_format

application/pdf

dc_source

School of Education Student Capstone Projects

Included in

Education Commons

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