ABSTRACT
This chapter presents bereavement camp research conducted between 2000 and 2017. It includes evaluations done by camps across the country, published research on camp outcomes, longitudinal research conducted on Camp Erin and Comfort Zone Camp, and the extensive research done by Rene McClatchey. The chapter discusses unpublished camp evaluations that were compiled through contact with bereavement camps throughout the United States. The majority of all camps use a satisfaction survey with campers and/or families after camp, some with a Likert scale and some with open-ended questions. Approximately 10% of the camps gather in-depth information about post-camp changes in behavior and attitudes. Although some camps indicate very low return rates on post-camp surveys, overall responses to surveys are positive. Research generated to date supports the importance of the bereavement camp experience in children’s lives. Normed measures are helpful for specific aspects of camp interventions, and qualitative evidence is needed to assess the full impact of the human experience of camp.
