Ann Gillard, Clifton E. Watts, Peter A. Witt

1
Motivation to Participate, Perceptions of
Climate, and Interest in Camp in Adolescent Girls
Ann Gillard, Clifton E. Watts, Peter A.
Witt Texas AM University
ABSTRACT

• Camp Climate Findings Continued
• Autonomy was also a strong predictor when campers
  were amotivated and externally motivated
• When provision of opportunities for competence
  and autonomy was high, it had great effects on
  external and amotivation 
• Interest in camp was lowest when campers
  perceived that the provision of competence and
  autonomy was low. This was especially true for
  amotivated and externally motivated youth.  

As we widen the circle to include more young
people in our camps, it becomes increasingly
important to structure these experiences so that
campers develop interest in the activities and
relationships found at camp. Engagement in these
experiences is thought to lead to future
well-being and functioning in adulthood. The
purpose of this study was to explore the
relationships between campers motivation to
attend camp, perceptions of camps support for
their needs for autonomy, relatedness, and
competence, and interest in camp at the
conclusion of camp. 169 female campers ages 9-16
completed questionnaires. The findings showed
that girls who were amotivated to attend camp
reported lower levels of interest in camp, even
if they perceived a supportive camp climate.
However, the gap between intrinsically and
amotivated campers narrowed when they perceived
camp as being supportive of their needs for
competence and autonomy. Even when supports for
autonomy and competence were low, internalized
motivation was positively predictive of interest
in camp. These data support the importance of
internally motivated youth and a supportive camp
climate (particularly in building competence and
providing autonomy) in producing interest in
camp. Such interest in positive endeavors such
as camp can transfer into other parts of youths
lives, as well as adulthood.
INTRODUCTION
Campers arrive at camp with a range of
motivations to attend, from amotivation to
external to internal motivations. Interest in
positive activities such as those found at camp
can be fostered by a camp climate that is
supportive of youths needs for autonomy,
relatedness, and competence. Interest development
has been shown to be one of several important
developmental processes for youth as they develop
their identities and activity preferences. The
purpose of this study was to explore (a) the
extent to which campers felt that supports for
autonomy, relatedness, and competence were
afforded through their camp experiences (b) how
these supports interacted with motivational
dispositions to influence interest in camp and
(c) how campers motivation to attend camp
influenced their interest in camp.
HOW THIS RESEARCH CAN HELP ME

• It is vital to build interest to attend camp
  BEFORE camp begins personal notes, calls, open
  houses, etc. can help to build relationships,
  comfort, and interest in attending
• At camp, staff should identify specific campers
  who were amotivated or externally motivated to
  attend, and intervene to provide them with
  choices and chances to build skills
• Clear, explicit progression and
  competence-building, as well as provisions of
  autonomy in and through camp programs is believed
  to lead to campers increased interest in camp
• Relationship support permeates through all
  interactions with peers and staff, and during all
  activities ensure that campers experience
  strong relationships so that support of autonomy
  and competence is deemed authentic and meaningful

RESULTS
METHODS

• Motivation Findings
• Internalized motivation to attend camp was
  positively and significantly predictive of
  interest in camp
• Externalized motivation to attend camp showed no
  association with interest in camp
• Amotivation to attend camp was negatively and
  significantly predictive of interest in camp
• Camp Climate Findings
• Competence and autonomy support accounted for
  30-49 of the variance associated with interest
  in camp
• Relatedness was not found to be a significant
  predictor of interest in camp
• Competence was found to be the strongest positive
  and significant predictor of interest in camp,
  especially when campers were amotivated and
  externally motivated

Surveys (n169) were conducted with girls ages
9-16 (M12.1) at the end of their sessions at a
Girl Scout camp in PA during summer, 2006. Many
of the measures in this study were adapted from
previous measures used in self-determination and
interest development research. Scale
reliabilities ranged from .665 to .949. 24 of
respondents were African American, 66 were
White, and the rest were Latina, Asian, or Other.
2007 ACA Camp Research Symposium, Austin, Texas