“It’s Comfortable at Camp”: Emotional Safety at a Summer Camp for Youth with Visual Impairments

Research has shown that summer camps provide unique opportunities for positive youth development, due in part to the emotionally safe environments they can provide (Garst et al., 2016; Henderson et al., 2005; Sibthorp et al., 2010). Emotionally safe environments consist of “a combination of inclusion, belonging, trust, care, and the absence of bullying and exclusion” (Wong et al., 2022). Summer camp programs can also be emotionally safe places for young people to develop self-determination skills, while school may not provide the same safety, particularly for students with visual impairments (Garst et al., 2011; Opie, 2018; Sibthorp et al., 2010). This research utilizes a theoretical framework of positive youth development to investigate emotional safety for children with visual impairments at summer camp. This research on emotional safety was part of a larger mixed- methods study on self-determination at an educational sports camp for youth with visual impairments. Athletes and coaches at an educational sports camp for youth with visual impairments in the mid-Atlantic United States completed qualitative questionnaires regarding self-determination at camp. Five randomly selected athletes also participated in semi-structured interviews. Both questionnaires and interviews highlighted instances of meaningful adult interaction, emotional support, and inclusion throughout the week of camp. Additionally, the data resulting from questionnaires and interviews revealed that comfort in asking questions and relationships between athletes contributed to an emotionally safe environment. Limitations included low sample size, compounding impact of multiple years of camp attendance, differences between this camp and other similar camps, and familiarity of the researcher. The present study supports the prior research on summer camp, finding that low child-to-staff ratios, emotional support, and inclusion contribute to emotionally safe environments (Garst et. al, 2011; Henderson et al., 2005). Additionally, at a summer camp for youth with visual impairments, relationships between athletes and comfort asking questions supported emotional safety.