Camp as a Facilitator for Positive Childhood Experiences for Children and Youth with Serious Healthcare Needs: A Rapid Review

TL;DR

Medical specialty camps can provide positive childhood experiences that promote resilience and well-being for children with serious healthcare needs.

Contribution

This paper proposes a conceptual model linking medical specialty camps to positive childhood experiences and long-term health outcomes.

Findings

Camp experiences align with all four components of the HOPE framework for positive childhood experiences.

Four qualities of effective PCE settings emerged: being outdoors, meaningful activities, finding life meaning, and 'being away.'

Medical specialty camps show strong theoretical alignment with PCE frameworks, suggesting protective benefits against adverse childhood experiences.

Abstract

Children and youth with special healthcare needs (CYSHCN) face elevated risks of adverse childhood experiences while also having unique opportunities for positive childhood experiences (PCEs). Medical specialty camps can serve as protective environments promoting resilience and well-being in this population. We examined current literature to determine whether camp experiences align with the Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experience (HOPE) framework and function as PCEs for CYSHCN. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Google Scholar, and Elsevier databases using terms related to camps, positive childhood experiences, and childhood illness. Studies were systematically mapped onto the four HOPE framework categories and analyzed for qualities of effective PCE settings. Twenty-six studies demonstrated alignment between camp experiences and all four HOPE framework components: nurturing relationships, safe environments, social engagement opportunities, and social–emotional competency development. Four qualities of effective PCE settings emerged: being outdoors, engagement in meaningful activities, finding meaning in life, and experiencing “being away.” Research representing medical specialty camps demonstrates strong theoretical alignment with PCE frameworks, suggesting potential protective benefits against ACEs for CYSHCN. A conceptual model is proposed to guide future empirical research examining camps as facilitators of PCEs and their long-term health outcomes for this population.

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