Fifteenth International Conference on Sport & Society

Abstract

Every summer more than 14 million children attend day or resident (sleep-over) camps in the USA, camps have the second highest contact with children in the USA, 2nd to public schools. The limited research in summer camps suggest their ability to help with youth development in a nurturing environment. This study explores camp professionals’ opinions on an 8-week residential camp at increasing exercise intention in children post-camp to meet USA physical activity guidelines. An online survey was completed by 132 participants (M age = 20) from 11 different countries working at camps in 31 states across the USA. The survey was based on Azjen’s Theory of planned behaviour. Participants answered questions on children’s attitudes (affective and instrumental), subjective norms, group identity, descriptive norms, perceived behavioural control, locus of control, self-efficacy and intention. Results identify that group identity; descriptive norms and perceived behavioural control were highly influential in children’s intention to be physically active post camp according to camp professionals. To conclude, a discussion of the theoretical ambiguity of Azjen’s theory and literature surrounding exercise intention in children was critiqued and strategies in place for future summer camp research are proposed.