Embarrassing situations: preparing staff for the "other" wellness issues.

Ah, summer camp...that place where young people learn about themselves, develop self-esteem, feel safe and wanted . . .

As directors and staff prepare for a busy season, there's lots of talk of safety, accident prevention, nutrition, and general health and wellness. But what about those little-thought-about-until-they-happen wellness issues? The way staff members handle campers' embarrassing situations can mean the difference between a "no big deal event; had a great time at camp and can't wait 'til next year" experience and a "major life embarrassing feel like a dork event; never going back, self-esteem dropped 95 percent" experience.

Oh yeah, summer camp . . . where I wet the bed, started my period, projectile vomited . . .

The following staff orientation activity gets staff thinking about day-to-day events that could make or break a camper's experience (and potentially have a long-term impact on the camper).

Form small groups of staff members with diverse camp responsibilities (e.g, counselor, cook, and nurse). Make a list of embarrassing moments for young people. Ask staff to imagine themselves in those situations. (You can also have staff think of their most embarrassing situation, but that often leads to much laughter and can distract from the activity's main purpose.) How would they want to be treated in each situation? Brainstorm ways to help campers get through those moments with dignity. Here's a few to get you started:

"I wet the bed"

Imagine you're a 7-year-old boy who is afraid of the dark. Last night you had a little too much bug juice. It was kind of rainy and spooky outside and you couldn't see the latrine from your tent. You held it as long as you could, but oops, you wet the bed. How embarrassing. Should you try to hide it? Maybe it won't smell. Should you tell your counselor? What if your tentmates find out? You'll be the laugh of the camp . . .

Topics to discuss might include

How do you react a) when the camper tells you about the incident, or b) if the camper doesn't tell you and you find out by going in the tent? How do you preserve the camper's privacy? How do you clean up without tentmates knowing? What's the best way to get rid of the stink? What if this happened in a sleeping bag on an overnight instead of on a cot/mattress in a tent/cabin? How do you handle the conversation if other campers do find out? What are some ways you could talk to the group about being afraid to walk around camp at night, using the latrine during the night, and other issues without the camper feeling like an "example"? What do you say to the camper that makes him feel better about what happened but also ensures it won't happen again?

"I started my period"

Imagine you're a 12-year-old girl on a co-ed overnight trip in the mountains. You're wearing light-colored pants (so you can see those ticks). Your buddy says maybe you sat in something, you have some reddish-brown marks around your rear end. To your horror, you're bleeding. (You've started your first menstrual cycle!) The female counselor seems pretty understanding and helps you out with a few items from the first aid kit. But what about going to the bathroom? Do you really have to bag and carry out these gross things? Are you really okay; is this normal? Will the boys be able to tell?

Topics to discuss might include

How do you separate the camper from the group and help her clean up (herself and her clothes)? What do you do if you don't have enough appropriate supplies in the first aid kit? What do you say to the camper; how much should you explain? What if the boys do find out? How would you handle this situation differently if it happened at the main camp (e.g., near the health center/nurse)? Note: these questions apply to both male and female staff members!

"I projectile vomited"

Imagine you're a 9-year-old boy who has never before been on a boat. You're really nervous about it, but you don't want anyone to think you're a wimp. The watercraft instructor does a good job of explaining to everyone how to put on a life jacket and all the other safety rules. (The instructor, of course, has checked campers' records and knows which campers have never been on a boat.) The water is a little rough so the boat seems to sway a lot. Between your nervousness, your corn dog lunch, and the boat's sway, your stomach gives up and you throw up over the side. Everyone looks at you, moans "Eew, gross!" and scoots as far away as their seats allow, noses crinkled in disgust.

Topics to discuss might include

What's the first thing you would do to calm campers and keep the boat afloat (discuss for different types of watercraft you use at camp)? How do you clean up the mess if some of it lands on the camper (or other campers) or in the boat (include safety considerations such as moving around in a small craft, using personal protective equipment, disposing of the mess, etc.)? How can you make the situation humorous to put campers at ease without further embarrassing the sick camper (e.g., comments like "thanks to John's generous deed, we won't need to feed the fish today")? What precautions do you take to make sure the camper is okay and that no one else is going to be sick? Do you stop the activity; what effect would that have on this camper and/or the other campers' reaction to the event?

Each of us has had an embarrassing moment. If we don't think about that moment anymore or we can laugh about it, chances are we had someone who helped us get through it unscathed. By thinking about potential embarrassing situations before they happen, staff can prepare themselves much in the same way as they prepare for handling potential injuries and emergencies at camp. Wellness involves the whole person. A staff member's delicate, tactful response to a camper's embarrassing moment goes a long way in building that camper's self-esteem and ability to cope with life's unplanned events.

Karen M. Pavlicin is the editor-in-chief of Web Guide magazine and the former editor-in-chief of Camping Magazine.