Promoting Character Through Counselors-in-Training Programs at Medical Specialty Camps, a three-year initiative of the American Camp Association (ACA), in partnership with Abt Global and SeriousFun Children’s Network, has culminated, advancing the field of youth development by exploring how character strengths can be cultivated in adolescents and young adults living with disabilities and illnesses.
For more than 100 years, character development has been a cornerstone of the camp experience. This project recognizes the extraordinary resilience demonstrated by youth in medical specialty camps—spaces where overcoming adversity is part of everyday life—and examines how these settings uniquely nurture leadership and growth through counselor-in-training (CIT) programs.
ACA Senior Director of Innovation and Learning Laurie Pearson said, "Medical specialty camps provide a transformative environment where young people not only heal and thrive but also grow into community leaders. This initiative deepens our understanding of how character is built in these powerful, adaptive spaces."
The initiative joined 12 medical specialty camps from around the globe—including programs in the United States, Ireland, India, and Haiti—in a vibrant community of practice. These camps included:
- Double H Ranch (New York)
- Camp Rainbow Bangalore (India)
- Barretstown (Ireland)
- Kan Etwal (Haiti)
- Flying Horse Farms (Ohio)
- The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp (Connecticut)
- Camp Ho Mita Koda (Ohio/Michigan)
- Camp High Hopes (Iowa)
- PA Lions Beacon Lodge (Pennsylvania)
- Camp Aldersgate (Arkansas)
- Melwood (Maryland)
- Camp TLC (Texas)
Together, they codeveloped a Character Development Framework and an accompanying Playbook of Character in C.I.T. Programs at Medical Specialty Camps to guide camp practitioners in fostering character strengths tailored to their campers' unique experiences and challenges. These tools empower youth with disabilities and illnesses to "give back" by becoming role models and leaders within their camp communities.
As a result of the project, a suite of practical and accessible deliverables was produced and is now available to the general public free of charge. These resources include a series of educational activity videos designed to promote character strengths while incorporating medical accessibility accommodations, facilitator guides to support program implementation, and a comprehensive Playbook of Character in C.I.T. Programs at Medical Specialty Camps. Together, these tools provide adaptable, research-informed strategies for cultivating character in camp settings worldwide.
"This project is a significant contribution not only to the study of summer camps but also to the broader youth development ecosystem," said Ann Gillard, Ph.D., director of research and evaluation at SeriousFun Children's Network. "By understanding how character is cultivated in resilient populations, we open doors for more inclusive, impactful programming across the world."