Abstract:
The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand the inclusion process
at a Project Rainbow affiliated camp. Project Rainbow is a non-profit organization which
promotes inclusion into children's camps in Ontario. This study was completed in order
to provide stakeholders of the camping industry insight on how inclusive techniques can
be implemented in residential camps. The researcher observed one camp's inclusion
techniques for six days. The researcher observed three campers with disabilities and the
camp staff and campers that interacted with them on a daily basis. While the researcher
was at the camp, she interviewed nine staff members. The staff members consisted of the
camp director, the inclusion coordinator, four camp counsellors, and three inclusion
counsellors. An additional interview was conducted after arriving home from camp with
the manager from Project Rainbow. The qualitative analysis program NVivo was used to
help organize the analyzed data. The researcher found that in attempting to build a culture
of inclusion, two important concepts are necessary. First, mutual leadership involved the
camp director and Project Rainbow working together as a team to facilitate the inclusion
process. Second, power of supportive relationships focused on inclusion being the
responsibility of everyone, teamwork, and creating a welcoming environment. Hints at
some potentially serious problems related to staff training, teamwork, and attitudes of
non-disabled campers pointed to future research and policies which focus on the Ontario
and Canadian Camping Associations' role in inclusion, in addition to camp in this study
and Project Rainbow.
