“Not Just Participants”: Military-Connected Children’s Perspectives of a Recreational Camp

Abstract

Strengths-based approaches to research with military-connected children (MCC) are sparse and their voices are rarely given the equivalent weight and influence compared to the voices of adults. Recreational camps can promote positive outcomes, and this paper draws on qualitative participatory methods exploring MCCs perceptions of a one-week recreational camp. It revealed three key interrelated themes about MCCs experience: (1) relationships; (2) age; and (3) organization and scheduling. The findings support the potential of recreational camps to improve outcomes for MCC and the importance of including children’s voices in the process.