Date of Graduation

Winter 12-13-2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology

College/School

School of Nursing and Health Professions

Department

<--Please Select Department-->

Program

Clinical Psychology (PsyD)

First Advisor

Dr. Rick Brent Ferm

Second Advisor

Dr. Dhara Meghani

Third Advisor

Dr. Karen Ferguson

Abstract

This study is a program evaluation with a mixed-methods design that evaluated the effectiveness of Y Rangers, a summer camp offered by the YMCA of San Francisco, in increasing the self-regulation abilities of school-age children. A total of 18 caregivers completed the quantitative portion of this study that included pre/post-test analyses of self-regulation measures. There were no statistically significant changes between pre and post assessments of self-regulation. A subset of seven caregivers and three Y Rangers counselors participated in interviews, the transcripts of which were analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis. Caregivers experienced Y Rangers as a unique opportunity for their children to engage with the natural world through free play. Counselors are passionate about the camp’s design and its impact on children’s development. Implications, limitations, and suggestions for future research are also discussed.

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