Abstract:
Previous research shows discrepant findings between youth leisure programming
(before and after school programs, structured summer program, day camp, overnight
camp), academic performance and other youth developmental outcomes. Studies
underscores the importance of family, community and school social capital in educational
success of youth, investigation of peer social capital in the leisure context and academic
performance outcomes is limited. This study uses a sample of 10 and 11 year olds
(N=1764) from the Canadian National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth
(NLSCY) Cycle 6, to study the association between youth leisure programming, peer
social capital and academic performance. Ordinal logistic regression models consistently
showed a positive association between overnight camp and academic performance even
after controlling for determinants of health, and measures of family, school and
community social capital. Similarly, the measure of peer social capital was positively
associated with academic performance. Most importantly, the interaction between
overnight camp participation and peer social capital was significantly associated with
academic performance. Study findings, highlight overnight camp opportunities and peer
social
