About
Barry A. Garst, Ph.D. is a Professor of Youth Development Leadership and Coordinator of Youth Development Programs in Clemson University’s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management. He previously served as Director of Program Development and Research with the American Camp Association and as an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in Youth Development at Virginia Tech. With over 30 years of experience as a youth development practitioner and applied researcher, Garst examines critical issues affecting youth in out-of-school time (OST), particularly summer camps. His work spans interdisciplinary fields, including parks, recreation, and leisure sciences; outdoor, experiential, and adventure education; child health care and medicine; child and adolescent development; and human sciences and extension. Garst has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles, four book chapters, and two books, and has delivered more than 150 presentations, workshops, and keynotes. Recent projects have explored overparenting and parental anxiety, interventions supporting military-connected and Native/Indigenous youth, the role of OST providers in addressing youth food insecurity, and camp health care practices to reduce the spread of infectious diseases and promote mental, emotional, and social health (MESH). In 2019, Garst served on a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine consensus study committee examining the impact of summertime experiences on youth outcomes. He is Research Chair for the Alliance for Camp Health (since 2015), Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Youth Development (since 2023), and Associate Editor for Leisure Sciences (since 2017). In 2022, Garst was inducted as a Fellow in The Academy of Leisure Sciences.
Visit Dr. Garst's Faculty Profile.
How their research is transforming health care
Dr. Barry A. Garst's research is advancing health and healthcare by focusing on the intersection of youth development and public health, particularly in out-of-school time (OST) settings such as summer camps. His studies explore critical health issues like mental, emotional, and social health (MESH), infectious disease and vector-borne illness prevention, and the impacts of caregiving in specialized camp settings. His work informs national health policies, including camp industry health standards and advocating for camps as palliative care interventions. Garst's leadership in this field is shaping new strategies for health promotion, policy development, and the well-being of youth in unique community settings.
News and media related to Dr. Garst's research
This is a recent social media feature about my vector-borne illness prevention work, which is also highlighted in this video produced by the Alliance for Camp Health and SC Johnson.
Health Research Expertise Keywords
Children and adolescents; youth development; Out-of-school time (OST); Mental, emotional, and social, health (MESH); Infectious disease prevention; Summer camps; Palliative care; Parents/caregivers; Vector-borne illness; Community-based research.
