JOURNAL ARTICLE

Residential Summer Camp Staff Perceptions of a Comprehensive Mental Wellness Initiative.

  • Published In: Journal of Experiential Education, 2026, v. 49, n. 2. P. 312 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Frydman, Jason S; Wood, Laura L; Kolling, Kyle; London, Ely 3 of 3

Abstract

This article evaluates "The Wellness Program," a multi-tiered mental health intervention implemented during summer 2024 at a large Jewish overnight summer camp in the Midwestern United States. The program integrated mental health trainees and professionals to provide targeted and universal support to campers and staff, emphasizing accessibility, immediacy, and specialized interventions within the camp milieu. Data from counselor reports, staff surveys, and interviews indicated that the program was effective in promoting positive behavioral changes among campers and supporting staff wellbeing, with staff valuing the wellness team’s presence, practical support, and authentic connections. Staff recommended expanding the wellness team, creating a dedicated wellness space, and enhancing active, experiential training to further improve the program. This study contributes to emerging research on summer camps as viable settings for youth mental health support and offers a model for integrating mental health services into out-of-school experiential environments.

Additional Information

  • Source:Journal of Experiential Education. 2026/06, Vol. 49, Issue 2, p312
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Sports and Leisure
  • Publication Date:2026
  • ISSN:1053-8259
  • DOI:10.1177/10538259251408014
  • Accession Number:193393514
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Journal of Experiential Education is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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