available data points to evidence of positive effects of mentoring. For example, it has been shown to: • Enhance school performance. • Improve relationships with parents and peers. • Reduce initiation of drug and alcohol use. • Decrease incidents of youth violence. We also know that mentoring is closely linked with other important psychological/ sociological constructs, such as positive youth development, resiliency, and risk/ protective factors. While this data ref lects formal or “matched” mentoring, similarly positive results were revealed (Wallace, 2010) in my study of informal mentors — individuals whom young people get to know and rely on in their everyday lives — teachers, coaches, neighbors, aunts, uncles . . . and camp staff! Here’s what I found: • Young people who identify at least one influential, “natural” mentor in their lives report that they have a higher sense of self and are more likely to take risks that affect their lives positively. • Young people with mentors are significantly more likely than those without to also report frequently feeling happy and less likely to report regularly feeling depressed or bored. Notably, more than half of teens themselves (56 percent) say the absence of a mentor would negatively affect them (Teens Today, 2006)! So, what are kids looking for in a mentor? Here are the characteristics identified by more than 3,000 kids: trustworthy, caring, understanding, respectful, helpful, dependable, fun, compassionate, and responsible. They also want someone who is a good listener and offers good advice (Teens Today, 2006). What Camps Can Do Plain and simple, we can encourage our counselors to be intentional about establishing supportive, mentoring relationships with our campers. One good way to do that is to point out the efficacy of such relationships in producing positive youth outcomes. Another is to share with them the characteristics kids identified as important in successful mentors. Risk Reduction So, when it comes to risk reduction, does camp make a difference? The data say yes! As I have reported before, young people who participate in camp are significantly more likely to report being highly mentored (37 percent versus 23 percent), taking positive risks (48 percent versus 30 percent), and having a high sense of self (53 percent versus 40 percent) (Wallace, 2013). In the aggregate, young people who have not spent time at a summer camp are twice as likely as those who have to report that they are repeaters, as opposed to avoiders, of destructive behaviors (8 percent versus 16 percent) (Wallace, 2010). Ready, Set, Go! In the final analysis, our counselors can best help to ready children for success by being truly present in their lives, during the summer and long after. Photo on page 20 courtesy of Pali Adventures, Running Springs, California. References American Academy of Pediatrics. (2012). AAP study documents early puberty onset in boys. Healthychildren.org. Retrieved from www.healthychildren.org/English/news/Pages/ AAP-Study-Documents-Early-Puberty-Onsetin Boys.aspx CARE/Susquehanna University and Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD). (2012). CARE/SADD survey investigates risky behaviors by teens on college visits. Retrieved from http://sadd.org/press/presspdfs/FINAL_ CARE_052912.pdf Liberty Mutual Insurance and Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD). (2013). One in four teens admits to driving under the influence and many believe it does not impact their safety. Retrieved from www.libertymutualgroup.com/omapps/ ContentServer?fid=3237831502381& pagename=LMGroup%2FViews% 2FLMG&ft=8&cid=2237833722148 Teens Today. (2006). New study shows teens with “natural” mentors have higher sense of self and take more positive risks. Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and Liberty Mutual Insurance. Retrieved from http:// sadd.org/eenstoday/mentors.htm Teens Today. (2005). Teens report parental inattention to their important “rites of passage” has high price tag. Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and Liberty Mutual Insurance. Retrieved from www.sadd.org/teenstoday/rites.htm Teens Today. (March 2004). National study links teens’ “sense of self ” to alcohol, drug use and sex. Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and Liberty Mutual Insurance. Retrieved from http://sadd.org/teenstoday/ nationalstudy.htm Teens Today. (November 2004). Positive risktaking cuts alcohol and drug use among teens. Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and Liberty Mutual Insurance. Retrieved from http://sadd.org/teenstoday/ survey04.htm Wallace, Stephen. (2013). Camp or college? Families face a Hobson’s choice. Camping Magazine 86(1). Wallace, Stephen. (2008). Reality gap — Alcohol, drugs and sex: What parents don’t know and teens aren’t telling. New York: New York. Union Square Press/Sterling Publishing Company. Stephen Gray Wallace, MS Ed, author of the book Reality Gap — Alcohol, Drugs, and Sex: What Parents Don’t Know and Teens Aren’t Telling, has broad experience as a school psychologist and adolescent counselor. He serves as director of counseling and counselor training at the Cape Cod Sea Camps, senior advisor for policy, research, and education at SADD, and associate research professor and director of the Center for Adolescent Research and Education (CARE) at Susquehanna University. For more information about Stephen’s work, visit www.stephengraywallace.com. © Summit Communications Management Corporation 2013 All Rights Reserved a n ew p e r sp e c t i v e P l a n n i n g a n d c on s u l t i n g f or c amps , r e t r e a t s , a n d ou tdoor c e n t e r s t o h e l p t h em t h r i v e P R O F E S S I O N A L S E R V I C E S : Missional, Operational, and Site Assessments Strategic Planning and Development Business/Viability Planning Master Plans & Key Area Plans Design Development & Project Coordination www. k a l e i d o s c o p e i n c . c om 6 1 4 . 4 4 8 . 0 2 6 8 a dmi n@k a l e i d o s c o p e i n c . c om CAMPING magazine • November/December 2013 23
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