The Effect of a Five Day Residential Environmental Education Program on Urban
Middle School Students’ Environmental Knowledge
David Christopher
December 2003
The effect of a five-day residential summer camp on four urban middle school students’
environmental knowledge was investigated. Students were interviewed three times
during the week of camp using four general questions about the Chesapeake Bay. The
questions were individually scored; the scores were added together to yield a total
interview score for each student. The interview scores fluctuated, and no trends in the
data could be seen. The results of this study must be considered in light of the threats to
their internal and external validity, current environmental literature, and observations
made of and by the camp students. Recommendations for program development and
further research are recommended.