Abstract
Camping is an activity that not only predates most of our modem technology but has often rejected it. Is that a productive policy when portable technologies are so much a part of everyday life? According to Azzam (2006) children spend 8.5 hours a day using electronic media. As the number of hours spent using technology goes up, the number of National Park visits are going down (Pergams & Zaradic, 2006); the less time a person spends in nature the less likely they will care for it (Louv, 2005). Studies show technology impacts the amount of time children spend in nature, as well as the number of National Park visits. As for camps, people no longer care if a camp is located in an urban area because they are familiar with this type of atmosphere (Nicodemus, 2000). The purpose of this study was to examine how technology is impacting the traditional camp experience, particularly social skills, character building, awareness for nature, and increased activity levels. This study examined the relationship between technology use and the benefits associated with the traditional camp experience. The results of this study indicate little difference between campers who used technology at camp (technology users) and campers who did not use technology at camp (non-technology users). The major difference was the inverse of the author's expectations. This study found a significant difference between the two types of campers when it came to social skills ("Did you get along with other campers" t(-1.682) p = .007). Elkind (2007) said camps offer social skills that include getting along with one another. This study found that campers who use technology are more likely to get along with other campers. If various camps want to encourage positive social skills that include getting along with one another, then camps might want to allow the use of technology. Further research is recommended before adopting new guidelines regarding the use of technology at camp if various camps want to encourage positive social skills that include getting along with one another.