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The 7th C of Caring is Camp: Exploring the Resilience of Healthcare Providers in Pediatric Medical Camp Settings

Master of Education (Curriculum Studies) candidate: Julia (Jules) Lawrence

Hybrid Defence

2 April 2026

1:30 PM Atlantic

KCIC Seminar Room

Join:
Meeting ID: 284 190 287 565 84
Passcode: sB2Gw2vh

Thesis Committee:
Drs. Janet Dyment, Cassel Busse, & Ying Zhang, Supervisors
Dr. Blair Niblett, Trent University, External Examiner
Dr. Colin King, Internal Examiner
Dr. Ayman Aljarrah, Director
Dr. Diane Holmberg, Chair of the defence

Abstract

Background: Healthcare provider burnout and diminished resilience remain critical challenges within contemporary healthcare systems. Nature based, relational interventions have been proposed as potential strategies to support provider well being, yet empirical evaluation of alternative care environments remains limited. Pediatric medical summer camps represent an underexplored setting where clinical care, community, and nature intersect.
Purpose: This mixed methods study examined how providing pediatric medical care in a summer camp setting influences healthcare providers’ resilience. Guided by the Nature Based Biopsychosocial Resilience Theory (NBRT), the study explored both measurable changes in resilience and the lived experiences of providers delivering care in a nature rich, community oriented setting.
Methods: A pragmatic interpretivist mixed methods design was used. Quantitative data were collected using the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD RISC 25) and the Rate Your Day - Revised (RYDR). Qualitative data were gathered through semi structured 1:1 interviews. Participants included healthcare providers (n = 24) and non healthcare summer staff (n = 24) working at a pediatric medical camp in Canada. Paired t tests and linear mixed effects models were used for quantitative analysis, while thematic analysis was conducted for qualitative data.
Results: Among healthcare providers who completed both pre  and post intervention measures (n = 19), the mean resilience increase was modest (+1.4); however, 60% demonstrated meaningful individual gains averaging +5.69 points. Across all participants with pre- and post- scores (n = 37), resilience change was statistically significant (p = 0.0058). Duration of exposure demonstrated a dose response relationship, with participants attending eight weeks of camp showing substantially greater gains (+ 9.4) than short-term participants (- 0.2). Day-to-day mood (RYDR) was a significant predictor of resilience (p = 0.0003). Younger participants (ages 19 - 21) experienced resilience increases approximately 2.5 times greater than older participants. Qualitative findings revealed five themes among healthcare providers: Nature as a Restorative Clinical Environment; Relational Culture and Interprofessional Belonging; Professional Renewal and Identity Reconnection; Resilience and Emotional Replenishment; and Therapeutic Relationships and Humanized Pediatric Care. Non healthcare staff described camp as a transformative personal and emotional space rather than a professional one.
Conclusions: Pediatric medical summer camps function as multidimensional resilience building environments, supporting emotional replenishment, professional renewal, and humanized care among healthcare providers. While average quantitative changes were modest, statistically significant findings and meaningful individual variability highlight the value of sustained, immersive interventions. What emerged most clearly across this study is that camp does not just support the resilience of healthcare providers: it humanizes them.

About Julia …

Julia (Jules) Lawrence, BScN RN CPedN (C), is a Registered Nurse and the Nursing Operations Manager bridging Brigadoon Village and the IWK Children’s Health Program in Nova Scotia. Originally from Halifax, Jules grew up attending Sherbrooke Lake Camp in New Ross, Nova Scotia, where her early experiences in camp communities shaped her lifelong commitment to youth development, health, and leadership. She brings over a decade of experience across pediatric acute care, neonatal intensive care, public health, and therapeutic camp environments. Jules first joined Brigadoon Village in 2017 as the summer-long camp nurse and is thrilled to have returned in a leadership role supporting children with complex medical conditions to safely experience the magic of camp.
In her role, she works at the intersection of pediatric healthcare, education, and camp programming to create safe and meaningful experiences for children and families. Jules previously served as an instructor at Dalhousie University’s School of Nursing and remains deeply committed to mentoring and supporting learners in the healthcare professions. She currently serves on the Research Committee for the Canadian Camps Association and the Board of Directors for the Camping Association of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
Jules is completing her Master of Education in Curriculum Studies for Healthcare Providers at ÍâÁ÷ӰƬ. Her mixed-methods research investigates resilience development among healthcare providers working in pediatric medical camp settings and explores how camp-based care can support healthier, more sustainable healthcare communities. Her work is grounded in a commitment to supporting emerging healthcare professionals and exploring how camp communities, nature-based environments, and experiential learning can cultivate resilience in both youth and those who care for them.