View in EDS HTML Full Text PDF Full Text

Community of Practice Enhances Understanding, Interest, and Commitment to Promoting Character Development in Camp Counselor-in-Training Programs.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Community of Practice Enhances Understanding, Interest, and Commitment to Promoting Character Development in Camp Counselor-in-Training Programs.
Authors: Dymnicki, Allison B.1 (AUTHOR) allison.dymnicki@abtglobal.com, Lubeznik-Warner, Robert P.2,3 (AUTHOR), Gillard, Ann4 (AUTHOR), Pearson, Laurie B.5 (AUTHOR), Wycoff, Taylor2,6 (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Experiential Education. Mar2026, Vol. 49 Issue 1, p192-215. 24p.
Subject Terms: *Training of counselors, *Experiential learning, *Educational evaluation, *Personality development, Communities of practice, Cooperation, Capacity building, Information sharing
Abstract: Background: Communities of practice (CoPs) create a "shared practice" through engaging in joint activities, information exchange, and mutual support around a common purpose. Few studies have assessed CoPs in experiential learning contexts such as camps. Purpose: In this instrumental case study, we examined the process and outcomes of a CoP initiative aimed at enhancing character development in medical specialty camp counselors-in-training programming. Method: Over two years, we recruited professionals from 12 camps to attend meetings, identify and define context-specific character strengths important for camp professionals, and collaboratively develop a toolkit to implement those character strengths in counselors-in-training. We assessed the implementation and effectiveness of the CoP to achieve project goals through facilitator notes, meeting recordings, researcher observations, surveys, and focus group data. Findings/Implications: CoPs can facilitate knowledge exchange, foster collaboration, and enhance character development efforts in camp counselors-in-training programming when supported by structured, ongoing engagement, especially of new CoP members. Key outcomes included an increased understanding of character strengths; greater interest in promoting character; and a stronger commitment to incorporating character in camp. Future research should collect more systematic quantitative and qualitative data about CoPs and their target outcomes to understand types and size of impacts resulting from this strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Experiential Education is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: ehh
DbLabel: Education Research Complete
An: 190662444
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Community of Practice Enhances Understanding, Interest, and Commitment to Promoting Character Development in Camp Counselor-in-Training Programs.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dymnicki%2C+Allison+B%2E%22">Dymnicki, Allison B.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> allison.dymnicki@abtglobal.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lubeznik-Warner%2C+Robert+P%2E%22">Lubeznik-Warner, Robert P.</searchLink><relatesTo>2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gillard%2C+Ann%22">Gillard, Ann</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Pearson%2C+Laurie+B%2E%22">Pearson, Laurie B.</searchLink><relatesTo>5</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wycoff%2C+Taylor%22">Wycoff, Taylor</searchLink><relatesTo>2,6</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Experiential+Education%22">Journal of Experiential Education</searchLink>. Mar2026, Vol. 49 Issue 1, p192-215. 24p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Training+of+counselors%22">Training of counselors</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Experiential+learning%22">Experiential learning</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+evaluation%22">Educational evaluation</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Personality+development%22">Personality development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Communities+of+practice%22">Communities of practice</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cooperation%22">Cooperation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Capacity+building%22">Capacity building</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Information+sharing%22">Information sharing</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Background: Communities of practice (CoPs) create a "shared practice" through engaging in joint activities, information exchange, and mutual support around a common purpose. Few studies have assessed CoPs in experiential learning contexts such as camps. Purpose: In this instrumental case study, we examined the process and outcomes of a CoP initiative aimed at enhancing character development in medical specialty camp counselors-in-training programming. Method: Over two years, we recruited professionals from 12 camps to attend meetings, identify and define context-specific character strengths important for camp professionals, and collaboratively develop a toolkit to implement those character strengths in counselors-in-training. We assessed the implementation and effectiveness of the CoP to achieve project goals through facilitator notes, meeting recordings, researcher observations, surveys, and focus group data. Findings/Implications: CoPs can facilitate knowledge exchange, foster collaboration, and enhance character development efforts in camp counselors-in-training programming when supported by structured, ongoing engagement, especially of new CoP members. Key outcomes included an increased understanding of character strengths; greater interest in promoting character; and a stronger commitment to incorporating character in camp. Future research should collect more systematic quantitative and qualitative data about CoPs and their target outcomes to understand types and size of impacts resulting from this strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Experiential Education is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=190662444
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1177/10538259251385468
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 24
        StartPage: 192
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Training of counselors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Experiential learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational evaluation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Personality development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Communities of practice
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cooperation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Capacity building
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Information sharing
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Community of Practice Enhances Understanding, Interest, and Commitment to Promoting Character Development in Camp Counselor-in-Training Programs.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Dymnicki, Allison B.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Lubeznik-Warner, Robert P.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Gillard, Ann
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Pearson, Laurie B.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Wycoff, Taylor
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 03
              Text: Mar2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 10538259
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 49
            – Type: issue
              Value: 1
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Journal of Experiential Education
              Type: main
ResultId 1