In this master's thesis, I explored approaches to social work with young people at summer camps organized by the Zavod za letovanje in rekreacijo otrok (ZLRO). Summer camps provide a unique environment where volunteers, acting as educators and animators, co-create programs and pursue various objectives. I focused on the methods used by educators and analyzed the application of three approaches to social work with young people: the commanding, contractual, and all-permissive approaches. Each approach was broken down into seven key elements: role definition, communication, form of authority, responsibility, goals, rules, and measures. I examined differences in their application based on educators' age, field of education, prior experience, and job satisfaction. The theoretical part discusses the developmental characteristics of children and adolescents and their position in society. I also introduced experiential pedagogy as a key method of experiential learning in nature and defined voluntary work, which ensures the accessibility of summer camps for all children. The empirical research was conducted through a quantitative survey targeting educators who had previously participated in summer camps. The application of different approaches was assessed using statements characteristic of each approach, which educators rated on a Likert scale. Results showed that educators predominantly favor the contractual approach. Statistically significant differences based on age were found in the commanding and all-permissive approaches, with younger educators showing a greater inclination toward them. Differences in the field of education emerged in the commanding approach—educators from social work and counseling use it less than those from technical, natural sciences, and business fields. Experience-related differences were found in the commanding and all-permissive approaches, with their use decreasing as experience increased. A positive correlation was found between job satisfaction and the contractual approach, suggesting that more satisfied educators are more likely to use this approach. The main goal of this thesis was to obtain empirical data to guide future training and education for ZLRO volunteers. Based on the findings, these training sessions will be adjusted to more precisely and comprehensively provide the key knowledge that volunteers need for high-quality work with young people.
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