Health and wellness begin with you - camps

Health and safety are essential concerns at camp. One of the primary purposes of the American Camping Association's camp and conference center standards is to ensure campers' health and safety. However, we must not forget that health and wellness begin with camp directors and camp staff every day of the year.

This theme issue of Camping Magazine addresses various dimensions of health, safety, and wellness. As a framework for the discussion, it may be useful to consider how administrators and staff can keep themselves as healthy and distress free as possible.

Wellness involves the physical, emotional, social, and mental dimensions that allow us to experience the best possible quality of life by man aging our time and stress levels. It is important to remind ourselves periodically that we have health and wellness needs, just as our campers do. Here are some interrelated coping strategies I call "The seven habits of healthy camp directors and staff members."

Set goals

A sense of accomplishment and peace is more likely to occur when we have realistic goals and defined expectations. Most of us have a vision of what is important to do; we must keep that vision in mind as we progress through camp and conference center tasks. As Martin Luther King suggested, we must "keep our eyes on the prize" if we are to find satisfaction in our endeavors. Goals may relate to work, but they should also relate to other interests in our lives, such as family and leisure.

Develop positive physical health habits

Although it isn't always possible, being consistent with living habits such as eating, sleeping, and exercising is important. Be sure to get plenty of sleep and rest, since being tired reduces your ability to cope with stress. Try to eat regular, well-balanced meals to ensure good nutrition and the energy necessary to do your work effectively and efficiently. Exercise often enhances energy if done on a consistent basis. Further, don't neglect your body if it hurts. A sour stomach or a headache is usually telling you that you need to slow down a bit and have some fun.

Take time for yourself

Regardless of how busy you are at camp, you need to take some time off, even if it is only for minute vacations - opportunities to sit quietly and watch the sunset, listen to music, or take a 10-minute walk in the woods. Take breaks from time to time and don't forget to laugh. Setting some time aside for solitude each day to accomplish administrative tasks may also be imperative for you in the camp setting.

Learn relaxation techniques

From time to time you may want to make yourself relax by trying techniques that many people find helpful. These techniques include deep breathing exercises, visualization, meditation, yoga, imagery, biofeedback, stretching, and even just walking about. Learning some of these techniques may require professional help, but they are worth considering if you are having problems relaxing.

Talk to others

Social support structures provide many functions. When we find people who can support us, we lessen the possibility of burnout.

You may need more than one person to listen actively without giving advice, provide technical support by affirming your competence as a person, offer technical challenge to encourage you to greater heights, give emotional support through unconditional encouragement and sometimes challenge, and share reality by understanding what it is that you do and providing a sense of "I understand."

Recognize that even though conflict is an unavoidable aspect of living, it can be greatly enhanced by talking and listening.

Develop a positive attitude

Life isn't always easy. This fact is important to admit if we are to keep a positive attitude and live a healthy life. We can't prepare for every crisis that comes along.

At times of peace or crisis try to develop a habit of looking at the best side of difficult situations and recognizing that perception affects our reality. Recognize that while we cannot change everything, we can change some things so life feels better. We can talk ourselves up with positive self-talk by saying things such as, "I'm doing a great job" rather than, "I'm really overwhelmed."

Set priorities

None of us can do everything. Designate tasks as essential, important, and trivial. Then focus your energy on the first two groups. Don't be afraid to delegate or to say no if you simply can't get a task done. In addition, remember that everything at camp doesn't have to be done perfectly, especially if the alternative is not getting the job done at all.

These suggestions are easier said than done. As camp directors and staff, however, we must be healthy models for campers. When we begin to feel undue stress and a lack of wellness, we might want to consider these techniques. More importantly, to prevent problems, we might check the list from time to time to see how we're doing. The healthiest and safest campers will only be as well as directors and staff who acknowledge the value of wellness in their lives, too!

Our guest editor, Karla Henderson, is a member of Camping Magazine's editorial advisory board. She is a professor of Curriculum in Leisure Studies and Recreation Administration at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She is also an active American Camping Association volunteer.

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