Motivation factors of collegiate students seeking employment as summer day camp counselors in a university recreation program
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine what factors motivate college students to accept a counselor position in a collegiate summer recreation day camp. Specifically the researcher asked: What factors motivate college students to seek a counselor position in a collegiate summer recreation day camp? Respondents (N = 68) for this study were chosen from 43 university summer recreation day camps.A Likert scale survey, entitled, "Motivation Factors of Day Camp Counselors," which was a modified version of DeGraaf and Edginton's (1992) survey, was used to gather information. Sixty-eight camp counselors from 43 university programs around the United States responded. Results supported previous research (DeGraaf & Edginton, 1992) and provided an updated contribution to professional literature. Within the limits of this study it appears there are several factors that motivate camp counselors to seek employment. Most respondents agreed that they took a camp counselor position for reasons related to internal motivation (such as having a desire to work with children and wanting to involve play in their job), as opposed to external motivating factors (such as money and incentives). Further research needs to be conducted to better understand other factors that motivate individuals to become camp counselors. Camp administrators should be encouraged to use these findings in their hiring and evaluation processes when planning for their camp staff.