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THE ASSESSMENTS AND THE EVALUATIVE ORDER OF THE FUNCTIONAL PARAMETERS OF A CAMP BY GREEK PARENTS
PhD N. NIKITARAS, N. PATSANTARAS, PhD G. DALLAS
Kapodistrian University of Athens
Department of physical education and sport science
Dintr-o regretabila greseala, numele dlui N. Patsantaras nu a aparut in revista. Ne cerem scuze.
By mistake, Mr. N. Patsantaras' name has not been published in the magazine. We apologize.
Keywords: socialization, nutrition, recreation, and organised camp
Abstract
In the Greek territory there haven't been realized until today scientific studies of imprinting expectations that converge from parents towards the camping institution. The purpose of this study is to examine the importance of functional parameters for the "qualitative" evaluation of a camp. Five hundred fifty two parents and guardians supplemented a questionnaire of closed questions on functional subjects of a camp, the level of education of executives, the program and the ways of realization of activities (energetic/passive participation). Results showed that the basic factors of evaluation of a camp have different significance between them; with the functional program (executives–employment) accumulating the biggest percentage and following are the level of infrastructures - installations and the locality of the camp. With regard to the level of executives' education precedence is given in teachers of Physical Education and following are individuals of wider Pedagogic education. The overwhelming majority of the parents prefer the energetic entertainment and employment (active participation in the activities), in an optional base. This fact dictates the existence of a subtle process of encouragement and incentive, in which naturally they are unable to correspond as executives, the students of Lyceum and generally unskilled concerning the missions of the camping institution executives.
Introductory
In the Greek society the Camping Institution has an important place and is supported actively by the Greek State. Enough Ministries and the most important Public Organisms allocate their own camps or collaborate with private camps covering the cost of camping life for the children of their employees. The cover, therefore, for the participation in a camp up to today in our Country comprises in the biggest percentage, in the frame of a "model of social state" obligation of an organised City, the State and from a less degree obligation of private Institutions. With the efforts of deconstruction, however, of the social state that become continuously more visible in the frames of the European Union, but also in the Greek ground at extension (efforts of deconstruction of "government owned-central model of" organisation of Greek society), is foreboded a shift of cover of camping missions- of needs from the parents themselves.
This datum converts also the prospects that can render viable the camping institution, (provided that imports it in competitive practice). Today the camp is brought out as a place of "enterprising activity" with prospects of development in a "denationalised" working place and employment. This fact dictates simultaneously the need for improvement and control of the level of benefits of camps in order to become more competitive and viable. This means upgrading quality of provided services that presupposes also proportional upgrade of executives of such an «enterprise". The participation of children in the camps involves personal and social profits.
Though we know quite a few with regard to the effects that the participation in institutions such as a camp can have in the development of personality, however in this relative with the subject bibliography are reported positive psychological and more widely physiologic influences that participation in a collective activity as camping can have for the child or the adolescent. Naturally the development of personality in the frames of process of socialization is realised always inter-counteraction (interaction) with persons and objects in the nodal space that is recommended from "exterior" (social values, social and material conditions of coexistence) and an "internal reality" (intra-organic mental structural methods, fundamental bodily characteristics etc). This fact points out to us that the subject influences the process of socialization when it is provided to it the possibility of energetic participation. (Hurrelmann, 1995, pg.39).
The individuals that participate in organized collective activities of kinetic recreation (that constitute the trunk of the program of a camp), except from the fact that present in personal level positive psychological and physiologic changes as a result of a form of socialization that is taking place additionally, help in fertile social transformations which upgrade the qualitative level of society (Cachay & Thiel, 2000). The friendship and the sociability that is developed in collective activities of this form, are evaluated as sovereign elements in the life of young persons of our country (Makri-Votsari, 2001, pg. 1-16; Nikitaras&Ntoumanis, 2003, pg.281-288), function catalytic in the growth and creation of mechanisms essential for the social living together. In this spirit though the camping institution constitutes mainly a "place of" the individual's socialization; there have not been investigated with systematic scientific methods important questions as: Which are the more important factors do the parents take into consideration when they are called to evaluate a camp? Which type and which way of activity with regard to the pastime or the entertainment of children they consider as important? Which attribute and what educative level they would want the executives to have that guides the children in their camping existence? Do their opinions differentiate in inter-correlation with the sex of their children? The investigation of these questions signals also the purpose of the this study and it aims in the export of useful conclusions on the organization and improvement of important functional parameters of a camp, which can be developed in potential change of being in effect legal regime that concerns the terms of Foundation – operation of Children's Camps.
Method
The sample constituted 552 parents and guardians that supplemented voluntarily a questionnaire of closed questions with regard to functional subjects of a camp e.g. the level of education, speciality of executives, the program of activities etc. The questionnaire was given to the parents and after was notified the purpose of research; it was supplemented confidentially in the area of the camp. The analysis of data was realized with statistical program SPSS b 13. Descriptive statistics and non parametric test x2 was used for the statistical analysis. As level of significance was at p<.05.
Results
The opinions asked for the factors that should be taken into consideration for the evaluation of a camp present homogeneity of distribution (x2 = 6.13, d.f. =4, p< 190) and are related in percentage 29.3% with the installations, at 28.6% with head of camp, at 23.7% the program of activities, at 10.5% the nutrition and at 7.9% the natural environment opinions that are not differentiated considerably concerning the sex of children. The opinions of parents with regard to whether should the pecuniary sum that overwhelms their fund be the same (44.9%) or different (55.1%) depending on the level of the camp is in the same roughly levels, presenting homogeneity of opinions in this subject concerning the campers' sex (x 2 = 1.02, d. f =1, p< 313).
In regard to the level of education of executives of (men group leaders-women group leader) a homogeneity of distribution of opinions is presented (x 2 = 3.49, d. f =2, p < 0.175). The individual percentages amount: a) in 18.1% that believe that the executives should be graduates of Lyceum, b) in 12.7% that support that they should be graduates of Technical Educational Lycea (henceforth TEL) while c) 69.% supports that they should be students or graduates of Institution of Higher Education (henceforth H.E.I.). In regard to the specialisation that the executives should have, the results showed that 48.2% considers that they should be Professors - Students of Physical Education, 19.0% they should be Schoolteachers or students of Pedagogic, 13.0% baby-walkers, 18.8% graduates or students of Department of Psychology and the 0.9% graduates of Faculty of Fine Arts.
The parents' opinions with regard to the specialisation that the executives should have and the relation with the sex of their children present big inhomogeneousness (x 2 = 12.98, d. f =4, p<011). It is also important to be reported that the specialities of executives present a tendency of supremacy of students-p.f.t. (physical education teachers) in the individual age-related categories of children (table 1), with the speciality of "psychologists" and "educators" (schoolteachers-baby-walkers) possess an important rate of preference.
Table 1
Percentages of the questioned for the type of activity concerning the sex of children
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The opinions asked with regard to the content of activities of employment that they consider important for the camping life of their children show the bigger preference in athletic-environmental (percentage 67,2 %), at 12,7 % in theatrical, in intellectual with percentage 10.7% and in figurative-artistic with percentage 9,4% presenting these inhomogeneousness of distribution of opinions when they are examined as for the sex of children (x 2 = 25.87, d. f =3, p < 0.000). The percentages are presented in table 2 with the more important inhomogeneousness of distribution between two sexes it is presented in figurative and in theatrical where according to the opinion of parents the percentages girl campers they are multiples from the equivalents boy campers.
Table 2
Percentages of the questioned for the type of activity concerning age-related teams
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The corresponding percentages of children in age-related teams and the type of activities are presented in table 3.
Table 3
Age-related categories and specialities of executives
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The overwhelming majority of asked parents with regard to these spaces of conduct of activities present explicit preference in the natural environment (96.7%) while only 3.3% prefer the closed rooms. These opinions are distributed homogenously between the sexes of the campers (x 2 = 1.98, d. f =1, p < 160) with the characteristic element that the number of parents that prefers closed rooms is double when it is for girl campers (female sex).
The bigger percentage of asked parents (63.8%) believes that the participation of children in the activities should be optional, while 36.2% believes that the children should obligatorily participate in the activities of the camp. These opinions asked with regard to the obligatory 
(49.5% boys and 50.5% girls respectively) or optional characters of activities (49.7% & 50.3% boys and girls respectively) are not differentiated considerably concerning the sex of children (x 2 = 002, d. f =1, p<961) presenting roughly same percentage of opinions between the campers' sex.
The opinions asking are distributed homogeneously with regard to the energetic entertainment (to participate actively) and the employment of children and the passive entertainment (to be spectators) and the employment presenting explicit preference in its energetic form (98.2%) contrary to 1.8% that support the passive form of entertainment.
With regard to the differentiation of children by sex at the implementation of activities, is observed homogeneity of distribution of opinions of parents (x 2 = 1.63, d. f =1, p < 201) with percentage 63.2% being in favour of the segregation of children regarding the sex and the activities while 36.8% considers that the children should be separated depending on their sex at the implementation of these activities.
Discussion
According to results, parents consider important factor for evaluation of a camp the educative level of executives, datum that will be taken into consideration by the camping institutions at the process of crewing of their camp. The infrastructures of a camp and only, as it appear, are not enough for its good enterprising prospect, but must guarantee the application of a sufficient and useful program of employment of children that constitutes condition for the viability and the success of the camp.
The process of crewing the camps in our country is influenced at the bigger percentage by two basic factors: a) from the cost of the executives wage and b) from the possibility of communication of the camp with institutions of crewing as for instance Universities, etc. the persons in charge of a camp that seek for enterprising reasons to reduce the wage cost of the executives or their replacement with "cheaper" executives, it will be supposed they include also the consequences of these energies, for example the removal of big part of campers that ask to return in their parents because of the weakness of achievement of their expectations. The effort of operation cost reduction of any enterprise as a basic administrative choice likely is not effective, as for the main objective that is the economic profit of enterprise, if it includes the change of executives of increased economic cost, with inferior and cheaper, particular in the type of enterprises that exists big competition.
This strategy today is considered ineffective regarding and these same economic objectives of enterprising activity (Mahoney & Deckop, 1996, pg.223-241). Today the viability and the growth of enterprise in an intensely competitive enterprising environment depend immediately from the faculties and possibilities of executives (Beaumont, 1992, pg.325-339) that improve vital enterprising indicators as, efficiency, effectiveness, achievement of economic objectives and satisfaction of customers (Bovaird, 1991). Besides this with datum that in the Greek land the students constitute the core of crewing of a camp emerge difficulties particularly in the 1st camping period because the examining period in the universities, where is also observed lack of capable executives.
Regarding the type of activities the bigger percentage of the asked (67.2%) is reported in the athletic activities. The lack of kinetic activity that characterizes today the children's-adolescent everyday routine is considered as a cause for this preference. This wish of parents is explained on the basis of the fact that in the modern societies of "western type" as the Greek, that are characterized as "societies of information" or in inter-correlation with the "physical presence "as" bodiless societies "or as" virtual societies ", an escalated displacement of the human body is observed sovereign from" the productive social activities "but also from the recreational social activities, as exemplarily this becomes with clarity comprehensible with the sovereignty of" video games "in the life of children and adolescents (Patsantaras&Kamberidou, 2004). In the term athletic – environmental activities are included sports, walking, riding, dance, etc., as well as the briefing - sensitisation of children in the environmental problems. On the contrary the preference in intellectual and theatrical activities is reversely proportional with the age of children.
With regard to the opinions asked for the content of activities, the doubling of percentage the girl campers compared to the boy campers (table 3) that participate in the figurative and theatrical activities, shows also the stereotypes concerning the masculinity and femininity that is developed until today in the frames of the Greek family, when this is traditionally shaped. Potentially dominates the perception that the woman's role the navigates sentiment, the woman directs or owes to be directed according to the opinion of parents, sentimentally, "artistically" in her social action. Sentimentality is elected here as a characteristic component of "femininity". In opposition the man owes to direct himself in his social activity taking into consideration the logic, which constitutes also constitutive element of "masculinity". (Pfister, 1999).
The athletic activity because as a rule includes also the element of competition that does not allow to a large extent sentimentalities, has engaged in the traditional social frames of a man - centred character. The coexistence however and the two sexes in a camp in the spirit of common activities, can function to profit the equality between the two sexes and to dissolve the traditional stereotypes concerning masculinity and femininity which as we see they dominate in the Greek society. Here the camping institution can play a very important role, if its executives are educated for the achievement of such a complicated mission. The limited interest for the intellectual activities in the camp is justified because children emanate from one laborious intellectual school year.
The overwhelming majority of asked parents with regard to this place of conducting these activities present clear preference in the natural environment (96.7%). This opinion imposes in the persons in charge of camps that have limited natural spaces, the need for configuration of program of activities in places outside the camp. The results of this study show us that the kinetic-athletic activity of children as a sovereign component of the camp program. This datum is also strengthened by other studies that report that the athletic faculty plays important role in the relations between children of the same age, particularly between young boys (Chase and Dummer 1992, pg.418-424; Evans and Roberts, 1987, pg.23-35; Hurrelmann, 1995; Weiss and Duncan, 1992, pg.177-191). Besides that sports are considered to be an integral part of educational programs for all age-related teams of independent sex (Vanderwerken, 1990).
With regard to the opinions asked concerning the level of education and the speciality of executives they support that they should emanate from the third degree education. This fact shows with clarity that parents conceive completely the specialised and complicated cognitive faculties, which an executive owes to allocate in the camp in order to achieve their expectations. The fact that, on average, of roughly 50% sample prefer the executives to emanate from the Departments of Science of Physical Education and Sports (Department of Physical Education and Sport Science (DPhESS) shows that the parents conceive the athletic scientist as the most suitable role for the achievement of missions of camping institution and this because athletic scientist uses the kinetics - athletic activity as pedagogic medium but also as means of socialization. This datum presents the camping institution as space of professional employment of athletic scientist, something that would be supposed it is strengthened with legislative regulations. For this reason DPhESS of Athens in order to correspond in these new challenges has established concrete course (Camps and outdoor activities of Recreation) for the promotion of knowledge and the information of students in the program of operation of camps.
In a more exploratory question (table 3) in age-related categories between 6-8, 9-12, 13-15 years, the individual percentages of opinions with regard to the speciality of executives and the age-related category of children they reversely present a proportional relation between this two factors (age-related category and speciality) for the speciality of schoolteachers, baby walkers and psychologists, that is to say increasing the age of children is decreased the interest for the corresponding specialities. It could be supported with clarity that the reason of preference from the parents for the athletic scientists is because the athletic activity, the game, or a more general activity in the natural environment constituting constitutive element of camping life and basic element of children's life.
The percentages of parents that wish the optional participation of their children in the program of the camp (employment - entertainment), in combination with its energetic character (to be active in participating in the program) in percentage 98,2% shows on the one hand that parents consider the camp as an institution that provides the conditions for the free evolution and self - completion of subject while on the other hand it dictates the need of existence for executives capable with educational and pedagogic knowledge so that they encourage , convince and include the children in the program of the camp activities.
The opinions of parents with regard to the differentiation of sex concerning the activities potentially are related with "extended in Greek society myth "for missing physiologic faculty and possibility of female organism that prevents the equal participation of girls in common with the boys kinetic activities and athletic games. This fact "produces" as it appears different expectations to the parents, who are straightly proportional with the genetic characteristics, with the biological sex of their children. Nevertheless specialised at sex expectations, indicate the necessity of "specialised" education of executives that manage these parental expectations, so that the camp is comprehended as a social place of equal activation of the sexes.
Conclusions
In order for a camp to correspond in the interests and requirements of parents it owes to be staffed by individuals with specialised and multifunctional abilities and possibilities. The programs owe to have pluralism and to be categorized depending on the interests participating so that children enjoy the satisfaction from activities. This aim can be achieved from executives that emanate from the Third degree or Technological education or from Lyceum with specialisation Baby walking. The parents' wish for optional participation of their children in the program of camp (employment-entertainment), in combination with its energetic character (to be active in participating in the program) in percentage 98, 2% dictates the need of existence of executives capable with educational and pedagogic knowledge so that they encourage, convince and include the children in the program of activities of camp.
The satisfaction provided through the game as an expression of free form of entertainment finds help in the area of the camp where the children participating in team or individual games-activities socialize more, take initiative and the satisfaction they feel strengthens their own character (Kuhlmann, 1998, pg.135-147).
In relation with the family, the related environment and the companies of children of the same age the camping institution can become perceptible as an institution of "secondary socialization" because among others can be characterized, basically on the "volunteer participation" naturally, as a "beam of" occasions for socialization provided that it pleads or provides possibilities for energetic personality configuration. Institutions such as the camp can be comprehended as high effectiveness institutions of socialization if they correspond structural in the participants expectations and if they allocate for them a various and wide spectrum of activities (Cachay & Thiel, 2000).
The camping institution can contribute so much in the participant's personality development as well as in the creation of frames of transformation of social living together, naturally aiming at the social but also personal profit. A modern camp with executives that have the ability to fulfil with sufficiency in its instructive and social role (Nikitaras, 2004) is comprehended as a social place for cultivation of tendencies of acceptance of the children of our country (Nikitaras & Ntoumanis, 2003) since it provides frames of creation of friendship relations and social experience. The school population evaluates this data moreover as the most important elements in their life. In childhood and adolescent age let us not forget that the influence by children of the same age becomes more sovereign than the influence of parents (Heinemann, 1998; Weiss & Duncan, 1992).
This fact forebodes on the one hand the multi-complexity of the constitutive elements of the camping executive role concerning the successful achievement of this mission and on the other hand constitutes important factor of the children abode renewal in a camp. The operation in effect of Faculties of Education of Executives of Children's Camps, because of the limited number of executives that can be trained, is considered as an institution that cannot correspond in the needs of camps. We consider that the creation of conditions of executives' specialisation from DPhESS can contribute substantially in the production of executives, which have the possibility of corresponding in the expectations of parents. Besides, the place of a camp owes to be comprehensible as eminently field of employment and work of the athletic scientist.
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