Camp Shriver Learning Lab

Camp Shriver is a summer day camp for children ages 8-12 with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities. This widely popular camp is run by the UMB Center for Social Development and Education and is held on the UMass Boston campus July 6th – July 31, 2009. Campers include 120 students from ethnically and socio-economically diverse communities in Boston, Brockton, and Quincy, half of whom have an intellectual or developmental disability. Camp Shriver aims to promote an even playing field for children with and without disabilities to build friendships and achieve in sports.

The Camp Shriver Learning Lab enables UMass Boston students to learn from this unique summer program. 6-8 undergraduate interns will be selected to participate in the 2009 summer learning lab, through the Center for Social Development and Education and the Psychology Department. This internship program is an opportunity to learn about research in child psychology and to gain hands-on experience working with children with and without disabilities. The internship program includes an advanced seminar, hands-on fieldwork with campers as Counselors’ Assistants, and experience conducting research with campers and counselors.

Interns will enroll in the course as a Directed Study in Psychology during both Summer Session 1 (Psych 488) and during Summer Session 2 (Psych 489), for a total of 6 credits. Enrollment in Psych 488 counts as one advanced Psychology elective. This course is offered at a special reduced tuition of $295 per session, or $590 total for the 6-credit program.

The learning lab internship program has three main components:

Advanced Seminar: (4 hrs/wk), Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:30-4:30 during Summer Sessions 1 and 2 (5/26/09 through 8/20/09). The seminar focuses on research and theory in child development as well as on training in the clinical and research skills necessary for the fieldwork components of the course. 

Recreational Fieldwork: While camp is in session, each intern will join a group of campers and counselors as a Counselors’ Assistant for several hours on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays. The intern will engage in sports, team-building, and other traditional camp activities while developing skills in working with children.

Research Fieldwork: Interns will be part of a research study that aims to assess the camp’s effectiveness and learn about children’s social development. Interns will be granted a high level of responsibility, training, and the opportunity to be involved in the hands-on, interactive aspects of research. Research activities include interviews with parents and counselors, observations during camp, interviews with campers about their social experiences, and managing and presenting research findings.

Why Should I Participate?

  • The program provides an opportunity to get involved in psychology research that is rarely available at the undergraduate level.
  • You will learn in a small-group seminar setting, and you will work closely with professors.
  • You will learn from guest experts in recreational programming, social research, developmental disabilities, and urban education.
  • You will engage in fun camp activities and build relationships with campers from diverse backgrounds.
  • You will assist counselors in leading your group of campers and in building team unity.
  • You will participate in many aspects of the research process to address important social goals.
  • This course has a reduced tuition. You will receive 6 credits for only $590.
  • You will gain credits toward upper-level electives in the Psychology major.

Time Commitment

While camp is in session (July 6 – July 31), interns will immerse themselves in the camp, spending about 12 hours/week engaged in the above activities (seminar, fieldworks) on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Before and after the camp (May 26 – July 3 and Aug 3 – Aug 20), interns will spend about 4-6 hours/week, including class time and research fieldwork.

You must be available during the Tues & Thurs, 2:30-4:30 seminars, May 26th through Aug 20th. You must also be available to attend camp for 8-10 hours/week on Tuesdays and Thursdays during July.

Eligibility

  • Interns must be Psychology or Sociology majors enrolled at UMass Boston.
  • Interns must have completed a Research Methods or Experimental Methods course in Psychology or Sociology.

Application

Please submit the application form (pdf) as a hard copy to Abbey Eisenhower’s mailbox in the Psychology Department mailroom (McCormack 4th Floor, Room 209) or as a scanned pdf file via email to abbey.eisenhower@umb.edu.

The application deadline is Monday, April 20th at 5:00pm. Earlier applications are welcome, and will be reviewed as they arrive.

You may be contacted for an interview. Six to eight interns will be selected. Applicants will be informed of enrollment decisions via email by Monday, April 27th.

Contact Information

Instructor: Abbey Eisenhower, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in Psychology

Co-Instructor: Gary Siperstein, Ph.D., Professor and Director of the Center for Social Development and Education. 

Please contact Abbey Eisenhower with any questions.