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College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences

Faculty and Staff Profile

Barry A. Garst

Professor and Coordinator
Youth Development Programs

Office: 139 Sirrine Hall

Phone: 864-656-1891

Email: BGARST@clemson.edu

Personal Website: http://www.garstostlab.com
 

Educational Background

Ph.D. Forestry (Human Dimensions)
Virginia Tech 2005

M.S. Recreation Administration
Arizona State University 1996

B.S. Psychology
Virginia Tech 1993

Courses Taught

Undergraduate
--Youth Development in Society
--Independent Study in Youth Development Leadership

Graduate
--Creative and Ethical Leadership in a Changing Society
--Assessment and Evaluation of Youth Programs
--Management of Staff and Volunteers
--Youth Development and Nature (Special Topics)
--The Profession of Youth Development Leadership
--Master's Research Project I and II

Profile

Dr. Garst is a professor and academic coordinator of the Youth Development Leadership (YDL) Master's Degree and Graduate Certificate programs and the Youth Development Studies Undergraduate Minor. His applied research focuses on critical and emerging issues facing the out-of-school time community of children, adolescents, staff, parents, alumni, and program providers, with an emphasis on summertime experiences. Informed by positive youth development and public health models, Dr. Garst's recent research has explored overparenting and parent anxiety, interventions targeting military-connected youth and American Indian/Alaska Native youth, and camp health care practices to reduce injury and illness adverse events and promote mental, emotional, and social health (MESH). Dr. Garst serves as Research Chair for the Alliance for Camp Health and is the Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Youth Development.

Research Interests

Positive youth development within out-of-school time programs and settings
Factors influencing participant and staff health within summer camps
Parent anxiety and overparenting
Summertime food insecurity
Professional pathways of youth development leaders
Nature as a developmental context

Research Publications

Garst, B., Skrocki, A., Owens, M. H., Gaslin, T., Schultz, B. E., Hashikawa, A. N., … DeHudy, A. A. (2024). Evaluating the mental, emotional, and social health status of youth and staff in a national summer camp cohort. Children’s Health Care, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/02739615.2024.2410198 (Impact factor = .07)

Parry, B., Stephens, L., Garst, B., Bowers, E., & Johnson, K. (2024). Youth-serving professionals’ experiences of working through the Covid-19 pandemic: A scoping review. Preprint.
https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4926744

Garst, B., Gagnon, R. J., Dickes, L., & Bowers, E. (2024). Amplifying Elder voices: Perspectives on a culturally tailored curriculum to respond to American Indian youth development needs in out-of-school time. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2024.2316061

Garst, B., Skrocki, A., Gaslin, T., Schultz, B., Hashikawa, A., Bunke, C., Gaberson, K., & DeHudy, A. (2024). Assessing camp provider needs related to the mental, emotional, and social health of youth and staff: Implications for parent communication, human resources, and transition of care. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration. https://doi.org/10.18666/JPRA-2024-12182 (Impact factor = 1.30)

Parry, B., Patino, M. Garst, B., Heffington, L., & Bowers, E. (2023). Supporting military-connected teens to thrive: A qualitative evaluation of a military-based program from the perspective of teens and adult advisors. Applied Developmental Science. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888691.2023.2265813 (Impact factor = 3.0)

Holland, W. H., Powell, R. B., Holland, K. K., Garst, B. A., Baldwin, E. D., & Quigley, C. F. (2023). The influence of experiential wilderness-based professional-development on educator character and practices. Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education, 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42322-023-00124-6

Gagnon, R. J., Garst, B., & Heffington, L. (2023). Developmental differences in reported overparenting, autonomy, and glucose monitoring within a medical specialty camp context. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075231173459

Garst, B., Stephens, L., Parry, B., Bowers, E., & Quinn, W. (2023). Influence of a youth development leadership graduate degree program on the professional pathways of youth leaders. Children and Youth Services Review. https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.106928

Garst, B., Skrocki, A., & Gaslin, T. (2023, Spring). Research Brief: Benchmarking the state of youth and staff mental, emotional, and social health within the camp community. CompassPoint, 5-7.

Thurson, K.M., Gagnon, R.J., Garst, B., & Sharaievska, I. (2023). Vaccine hesitancy, parental concerns, and COVID-19 in a digital leisure context: Implications for out-of-school time. Journal of Leisure Research, 54(2), 286-307. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222216.2023.2174058

Larson, L. R., Rivera-Zuniga, J., Garst, B., Keith, S., Sudman, D., & Browne, L. (2023). ‘Going Green Camps’: Investigating environmental sustainability practices in camp organizations across the United States. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership. https://doi.org/ 10.18666/JOREL-2023-11684

Gaslin, T., Dubin, A., Sorenson, J., Rosen, N., Garst, B., & Schultz, B. (2022). The unexpected positive outcomes for summer camps in the time of COVID-19. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration. https://doi.org/10.18666/JPRA-2022-11425

Garst, B., Dubin, A., Gaslin, T., Dehudy, A., Ambrose, M., Schultz, B., Hashikawa, A. (2022). Camp health care practices and adaptations associated with COVID-19 in the summer of 2021. Children’s Health Care. https://doi.org/10.1080/02739615.2022.2156513

Oh, S.Y., Domka, M., Arthur-Banning. S., & Garst, B. (2022). A university-based VA adaptive sport camp: Perceived program quality and need satisfaction among military veterans with disabilities. Palaestra, 36(2). https://js.sagamorepub.com/palaestra/article/view/11692

Stinehart, K., Chandler, M., Shelnut, J., Garst, S., & Garst, B. (2022). Implementing a play-based forest classroom following the onset of COVID-19. Children, Youth, & Environments, 32(1), 196-209. https://doi.org/ 10.1353/cye.2022.0008

Holland, W. H., Powell, R. B., Holland, K. K., Garst, B. A., Baldwin, E. D., & Quigley, C. F. (2022). Experiential wilderness-based professional development: Beliefs and confidence of participant educators. Journal of Experiential Education, 45(2), 117-135. https://doi.org/10.1177/10538259211045385.

Gregory, D., Van Puymbroeck, M., Crowe, B., Garst, B., & Amylon, M. (2022). The lived experience of siblings of children with cancer who attended a peer support camp. Qualitative Health Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/10497323221095478

Funk, T., Quach, L., Mahajan, A., Modi, S, Supenia, E. Schellpfeffer, N., Ambrose, M., Gaslin, T., Garst, B., & Hashikawa, A. (2022). Keeping children healthy at summer camp: A study of medications administered in the camp setting. Children’s Health Care. https://doi.org/10.1080/02739615.2022.2063127

Garst, B., Dubin, A., & Gaslin, T. (2022). Application of non-pharmaceutical interventions in camps following the onset of COVID-19. Child: Care, Health, and Development. https://doi.org/ https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.12957

Garst, B., Gagnon, R.J., Clanton, T., & Woodward, J. (2021). Cultivating youth affinity for college within the context of campus-based summer camps. Journal of Youth Development, 16(5), 64-85. https://doi.org/10.5195/jyd.2021.1083

Quinn, W., Hadiandehkordi, P., Bowers, E., & Garst, B. (2021). Acquisition of knowledge and skills in an online graduate degree program in youth development leadership. Journal of Youth Development, 16(5), 232-250. https://doi.org/10.5195/jyd.2021.1098

Garst, B., Clanton, T., White, D., Dickes, L., Griffin, S., & Gagnon, R. J. (2021). Benchmarking South Carolina recreation providers' role in addressing summertime food insecurity. Recreation, Parks, and Tourism in Public Health, 5, 5-36.

Garst, B., Pann, J., Berry, T., Bieseckerd, G., Spector, J., Conn, M., & Jones, C. (2021). Building evaluation capacity in youth-serving organizations through Evaluation Advisory Boards. Journal of Youth Development, 16(4), 52-69. https://doi.org/10.5195/jyd.2021.1077

Gregory, D., Van Puymbroeck, M., Crowe, B., Garst, B., & Amylon, M. (2021). The influence of a peer support camp on mitigating emotional distress in sibling of children with cancer. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1177/10434542211041929

Olsen, L., Bixler, R., Powell, G., Garst, B., Stephens, L., & Switzer, D. (2021). The case for a new classification system for summer camps based on variation in their physical, social and activity structuring. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education and Leadership, 13(2), 79-87. https://doi.org/10.18666/JOREL-2021-V13-I2-10554

Garst, B., Erceg, L., Weinberg, S. & Faricy, A. (2021). Summertime transition of care: Conceptualizing an intentional communication model for camp professionals. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education and Leadership, 13(2), 48-60. https://doi.org/10.18666/JOREL-2021-V13-I2-10550

Weston, K., Garst, B., Bowers, E., & Quinn, W. (2021). Cultivating knowledge of resiliency and reintegration among military youth through a national youth leadership program. Evaluation and Program Planning. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2021.101915

Garst, B., Bowers, E., Quinn, W., & Weston, K. (2021). Benefits and challenges of a blended online youth development graduate degree program. American Journal of Distance Education. http://doi.org/10.1080/08923647.2020.1829438

Garst, B., Dubin, A., Bunke, C., Schellpfeffer, N., Gaslin, T., Ambrose, M., & Hashikawa, A. (2021). Barriers impacting organizational immunization policy implementation in U.S. and Canadian summer camps. Children's Health Care. https://doi.10.1080/02739615.2020.1870118

Bunke, C., Schellpfeffer, N., Garst, B., Bradin, S., Gaslin, T., Ambrose, M., & Hashikawa, A. (2021). A survey of camp leadership to assess immunization requirements, policies, and current practices in a national cohort of summer camps. JAMA Pediatrics. http://doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.5342

Gagnon, R., Garst, B., Bowers, B., Zinzow, H., & Thompson, M. (2020). Camp as a context for need satisfaction among Native American youth: Examining links to participation quality and quantity. Children and Youth Services Review. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105473

Garst, B.A., Bowers, E.P., & Stephens, L. (2020). Efficacy of CrossFit Kids for fostering health/fitness and academic outcomes in middle school students. Evaluation and Program Planning, 83. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2020.101856

Garst, B. & Whittington, A. (2020). Defining moments of summer camp experiences: An exploratory study with youth in early adolescence. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership, 12(3), 306-321. http://doi.org/10.18666/JOREL-2020-V12-I3-10109

Quinn, W., Garst, B., Bowers, E., & Weston, K. (2020). Advancing academic pathways for building capacity in the youth development profession. Journal of Youth Development, 15(1), 150- 164. http://doi.org/10.5195/jyd.2020.814

Garst, B., Gagnon, R.J., Olsen, L., & Owens, M. (2020). Parental anxiety associated with summer camp experiences: A comparative analysis across volunteer and employee-staff camps. Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 8(1).

Pinckney, H.P., Clanton, T. Garst, B., & Powell, G. (2020). Faith-based organizations: Oft’ overlooked youth development zones. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, 38(1). http://doi.org/10.18666/JPRA-2019-8232

Dale, R., Powell, B., Stern, M., & Garst, B. (2020). Influence of the natural setting on environmental education outcomes. Environmental Education Research. http://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2020.1738346

Garst, B., Gagnon, R., & Stone, G. (2019). "The credit card or the taxi": A qualitative investigation of parent involvement in indoor competition climbing. Leisure Sciences. http://doi.org/10.1080/01490400.2019.1646172

Dubin, A., Garst, B.A., Gaslin, T., & Schultz, B.E. (2019). The experience of workplace fatigue within the context of summer camp: Perspectives from camp healthcare providers and directors. Journal of Experiential Education. http://doi.org/10.1177/1053825919869367

Olsen, L., Garst, B., & Powell, G. (2019). Parental perceptions of year-round school environments. Journal of Research in Childhood Education, 33(4), 579-591. http://doi.org/10.1080/02568543.2019.1646360

Gagnon, R.J. & Garst, B. (2019). Examining overparenting and child gender in adolescence. Journal of Child and Family Studies. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-019-01467-9

Browne, L., Gillard, A., & Garst, B. (2019). Camp as an institution of socialization: Past, present, and future. Journal of Experiential Education, 1-14. http://doi.org/10.1177/1053825918820369

Robinson, R.L., Arbogast, K.B., Garst, B., & Corwin, D.J. (2019). Concussion management in summer camps. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration. http://doi.org/10.18666/JPRA-2019-8967

Gagnon, R. & Garst, B. (2019). When overparenting is regular parenting: The relationship between child disability and overparenting. 2019 American Camp Association Research Forum Abstracts (pp. 38-40). Retrieved from https://www.acacamps.org/sites/default/files/resource_library/2019-National-Research-Forum-Book-Abstracts.pdf

Garst, B., Gagnon, R., Olsen, L., & Owens, M. (2019). Parental anxiety associated with summer camp: A comparative analysis across camp staffing models. 2019 American Camp Association Research Forum Abstracts (pp. 44-46). Retrieved from https://www.acacamps.org/sites/default/files/resource_library/2019-National-Research-Forum-Book-Abstracts.pdf

Garst, B., Gagnon, R., Woodward, J., & Bowen, M. (2019). Building organizational affinity: The relationship between affinity for college and youth outcomes within the context of university-based summer camps. 2019 American Camp Association Research Forum Abstracts (pp. 41-43). Retrieved from https://www.acacamps.org/sites/default/files/resource_library/2019-National-Research-Forum-Book-Abstracts.pdf

Gagnon, R.J. & Garst, B. (2019). Research and practice: An applied examination of the parental perceptions of developmental outcomes scale. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education and Leadership, 11(1), 3-20.

Gagnon, R. J., Garst, B. A., & Townsend, J. A. (2019). Tough decisions in medical specialty camps: Relationships between camp dosage, outcomes, and camper attendance. Social Science and Medicine, 1-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2018.12.014

Gagnon, R.J. & Garst, B. (2019). Exploring overparenting in summer camp: Adapting, developing, and implementing a measure. Annals of Leisure Research, http://doi.org/10.1080/11745398.2018.1452619

Garst, B., Weston, K., Bowers, E., & Quinn, W. (2018). Fostering youth leader credibility: Professional, organizational, and community impacts associated with completion of an online master's degree in youth development leadership. Children and Youth Services Review, 96, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.11.019

Garst, B., Gagnon, R., & Brawley, A. (2018). Efficacy of online training for improving camp staff competency. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 19(1), 12-27. https://doi.org/10.1080/14729679.2018.1488147

Allen, L., Garst, B., Bowers, E., & Onyiko, K. (2018). Using core competency frameworks to explore the needs of Kenyan youth workers. Child & Youth Services, 39(2-3), 158-179. https://doi.org/10.1080/0145935X.2018.1481742

Garst, B. & Garst, S. (2018). Play Ball! Exploring the role of play in sports-based youth development. In S. Arthur-Banning (Ed.), Youth sports in America: The most important issues in youth sports today (pp. 294-303). Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.

Whittington, A. & Garst, B. (2018). The role of camp in shaping college readiness and building a pathway to the future for camp alumni. Journal of Youth Development, 13(1-2), 105-125.

Garst, B. (2018). Nature and youth development. In P. Witt & L. Caldwell (Eds.), Youth development principles and practices in out-of-school time settings (pp. 241-268). State College, Pennsylvania: Sagamore/Venture Publishing.

Olsen, L., Powell, G., Garst, B., & Bixler, R. (2018). Camp and college parallels: Crucibles for transition-linked turning points. Journal of Youth Development, 13(1-2), 126-143.

Gagnon, R., Stone, G., & Garst, B. (2017). Beyond composite scores and Cronbach's alpha: Advancing methodological rigor in recreation research. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership.

Whittington, A., Garst, B., Baughman, S., & Gagnon, R. (2017). Living without boys: A retrospective analysis of the benefits and skills gained at all-female camps. Journal of Experiential Education, 40(2), 97-113.

Sanabria, A. & Garst, B. (2017). Research brief: Injury prevention in camps. Association of Camp Nursing.

Allen, L., Garst, B., Bowers, E., & Onyiko, K. (2016). Building a youth development system in Kenya: Comparing Kenyan perceptions of local and national youth issues. Journal of Youth Development, 11(3), 72-88.

Garst, B., Stone, G., & Gagnon, R. (2016). Indoor competition climbing as a context for positive youth development. Journal of Youth Development, 11(2).

Garst, B. & Gagnon, R. (2016). A structural model of camp director practices and outcomes: Does intention toward program outcomes matter? Journal of Park and Recreation Administration: Special Issue on Positive Youth Development, 34(4), 51-65.

Garst, B., Gagnon, R., & Whittington, A. (2016). A closer look at the camp experience: Examining relationships between life skills, elements of positive youth development, and antecedents of change among camp alumni. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership, 8(2), 180-199.

Stone, G.A., Gagnon, R.J., Witesman, E., Garst, B.A. (2016). Values and decision-making: Introducing the public servant values questionnaire to recreation administrators. Journal of Unconventional Parks, Tourism, and Recreation Research, 6(1), 13-20.

Gagnon, R., Stone, G., Garst, B., & Arthur-Banning, S. (2016). Competition climbing: From leisure pursuit to lifestyle sport. Journal of Unconventional Parks, Tourism, and Recreation Research, 6(1), 2-12.

Garst, B., Gagnon, R., & Bennett, T. (2016). Parent anxiety causes and consequences- Perspectives from camp program providers. LARNet: The Cyber Journal of Applied Leisure and Recreation Research, 18(1), 1-19. Retrieved from https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/parksrec_pubs/34

Hawkins, B., Townsend, J., & Garst, B. A. (2016). Nature-based recreational therapy for military service members: A strengths approach. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 50(1), 55-74.

Gagnon, R. & Garst, B. (2015, March). Shifting our focus from what to how: Program quality through the lens of program implementation. CompassPoint, 25(1), 3-5.

Garst, B.A., Baughman, S., Whittington, A., & Gagnon, R.J. (2015). Influences of resident camp experiences on career choice: A case study of female alumnae. Research in Outdoor Education, 13(1), 59-82.

Garst, B. & McCrawley, P. (2015). Solving problems, ensuring relevance and facilitating change: the evolution of needs assessment within cooperative extension. Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 3(2), 26-47.

Franz, N., Garst, B., & Gagnon, R.J. (2015). The cooperative extension program development model: Adapting to a changing context. Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 3(2), 3-12.

Gagnon, R.J., Franz, N., Garst, B., & Bumpus, M.F. (2015). Factors impacting program delivery: The importance of implementation research in Extension. Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 3(2), 68-82.

Gagnon, R.J., Garst, B., & Franz, N. (2015). Looking ahead: Envisioning the future of the Extension program model. Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 3(2), 170-176.

Garst, B. & Gagnon, R.J. (2015). Exploring overparenting within the context of youth development programs. Journal of Youth Development, 10(1), 6-18.

Garst, B. & Ozier, L. (2015). Enhancing youth outcomes and organizational practices through a camp based reading program. Journal of Experiential Education, 38(4), 324-338.

Garst, B., Baughman, S., & Franz, N. (2014). Benchmarking professional development practices across youth-serving organizations. Journal of Extension, 52(5). Retrieved from: http://www.joe.org/joe/2014october/a2.php

Ventura, A., Anzman-Frasca, S., & Garst, B. (2014). Mealtimes at residential summer camps: What are camp staff doing to promote campers' healthy eating behaviors? Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 46(60), 491-498.

Duerden, M., Witt, P., Garst, B., Bialeschki, D., Schwarzlose, T. & Norton, K. (2014). The impact of camp employment on the workforce development of emerging adults. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, 32(1), 26-44.

Garst, B., Erceg, L., & Walton, E. (2013). Injury and illness benchmarking and prevention for children and staff attending U.S. camps: Promising practices and policy implications. Journal of Applied Research on Children, 4(2), article 5. Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/childrenatrisk/vol4/iss2/5

Ventura A. & Garst, B. (2013). Residential summer camp: A new venue for nutrition education and physical activity promotion. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 10(64). Retrieved from www.ijbnpa.org/content/10/1/64

Garst, B., Baughman, S., Franz, N., & Seidel, R. (2013). Strengthening families: Exploring the impacts of family camp experiences on family functioning and parenting. Journal of Experiential Education, 36(1), 65-77.

Garst, B., Franz, N., Peters, B., Baughman, S., & Smith, C. (2012). Using single-case participatory action research as a methodology to explore Appalachian summer camp communities. PRISM- A Journal of Regional Engagement, 1(1). Retrieved from http://encompass.eku.edu/prism/vol1/iss1/2/

Garst, B., Browne, L., & Bialeschki, M.D. (2011). Youth development and the camp experience. In L. Allen and R. Barcelona (Eds.), New Directions for Youth Development (Special Issue on Recreation as a Developmental Experience), 130, 73-87. Jossey-Bass.

Browne, L., Garst, B., & Bialeschki, M.D. (2011). Engaging youth in environmental sustainability: Impact of the Camp2Grow Program. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, 29(3), 70-85.

Garst, B., Nichols, A., Martz, J., McNeely, N.N., Bovitz, L., Frebershauser, D., Garton, M., LeMenestrel, S., & Walahoski, J. (2011). Examining youth camping outcomes across multiple states: The National 4-H Camping Research Consortium. Journal of Youth Development, 6(1). Retrieved from www.nae4ha.com/assets/documents/JYDfinal_110601x.pdf

Honors and Awards

--Elected and inducted as a Fellow in The Academy of Leisure Sciences (2022)
--Nominated by the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences for the Provost Teaching with Technology Award, Clemson University (2020-2021)
--Served on a consensus study committee through the National Academy of Sciences to develop a report on the evidence supporting the summertime experiences of children and adolescents and associated outcomes (2018-2019)
--Participated in the President's Leadership Institute through Clemson University (2017-2018)
--Received the Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award through the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences, Clemson University (2017-2018)
--Developed a graduate course (YDP 8880 Youth Development and Nature) nominated for the Outstanding Course Award through the Instructional Technology Council and the Excellence in Online Teaching Award through the Online Learning Consortium (2015-2016)
--Received the Long-Term Contributions to Camp Research Award from the Association of Camp Nursing (2011)

Links

Out-of-School Time Lab

Alliance for Camp Health


College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences
College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences | 116 Edwards Hall