EFFECTS OF THEMATIC INTERPRETIVE SUMMER DAY CAMP PROGRAMMING ON CHILDREN’S ENVIRONMENTAL ATTITUDES

Abstract

Childhood connection to nature is essential for developing environmental attitudes that are necessary to create environmental stewards. Heritage interpretation programs have shown promise as an effective means to create this connection, but evaluations of the effects of these programs have been limited. This thesis examines the self-reported effects of thematic interpretive programming on environmental attitudes in children attending a summer day camp program, and which elements of the program have the greatest impact on these attitudes. To assess this, a day camp program was held in June and July 2023 for children entering 3rd through 6th grades. The program was designed using the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) and research-supported best practices for interpretation. Participant environmental attitudes were assessed using a pre- and post-survey (the Children’s Environmental Perceptions Scale [CEPS]) and post-program interviews. Program educators wrote daily analytical memos with their observations and assessments of child engagement/elaboration. Participant (n = 22) CEPS scores increased after the program, with significant increases in overall environmental attitudes (Wilcoxon signed-ranks test, z = -2.138, p = .031) and feelings of eco-affinity (interest in nature; z = -2.640, p = .005). Interview results indicate that most participants did not report a change in their feelings towards nature with exceptions relating to specific aspects of nature (e.g., spiders, snakes) or feelings that nature should be protected more than it currently is. Analysis of participant interviews and educator memos revealed several positive (novelty, hands on experiences, exploration, closer look, animals) and negative (excessive heat, biting insects, tiredness) themes that affected the participants’ experiences. These results indicate that heritage interpreters may wish to embrace novel experiences and utilize frameworks like the ELM to increase their potential impact on attitudes.