Overcoming language barriers among campers.

Dear Bob:

Over the years we have had an increasing number of foreign campers attend our coed camp in Minnesota. We believe that the presence of foreign campers has made the experience at our camp a richer one for campers and counselors alike.

Occasionally, however, there are problems in cabins where foreign-speaking youngsters sometimes don't mix well with American children. The language barrier seems to keep these cabin mates from developing stronger bonds and closer friendships. Do you have any suggestions about how to help children in this situation get along better?

Diverse in Minnesota Dear Diverse:

Many camps are enrolling foreign campers in greater numbers with benefits and problems similar to the ones you describe. The most difficult arena does seem to be bunk life, where campers are in close quarters and must work together.

There are several tips to keep in mind when campers from differing countries are present together. First, the counselor must be prepared to make an even greater effort to be truly present with his or her campers. Cabins that have counselors whose emotional energy and/or physical presence is elsewhere will suffer.

Counselors will also need to use more non-verbal communication, such as a hand on a shoulder, forearm or upper back ("safe touch" areas) to get the attention of campers. Staff who primarily use words to get a child's attention need to realize that, in a cabin with campers from a variety of countries, camp is truly a contact sport!

Third, counselors who work most closely with mixed groups of campers should learn to phrase, "How do you say...?" in the language of the children in their group. In Spanish, for example, this would be, "?Como se dice...?" Armed with this simple phrase, a staff member can then ask foreign campers to name key words that he or she can use to make communication more effective. Words like life jacket, tennis racquet, poison ivy, bumble bee, clean-up, quiet time, and so forth, can be taught to all of the campers as a sort of game that will enhance contact between foreign-speaking campers and their English-speaking peers.

Probably the most powerful way to bring campers from different countries together, however, is to have them play together. If, as it has been suggested, music is an international language, then play is the universal language of children. When children play together, they laugh, are spontaneous, animated and resourceful, figure things out together, and discover themes that seem common to all youngsters. The kinds of play I am referring to are simple things -- like playing with balloons, playing on swings or playground equipment, digging in the sand, playing with cars, making a dam along a stream, playing in the water, building something together, and so on. Granted, these are not typical camp activities, but they are extremely effective in helping children establish a common ground of understanding with a stronger positive feeling for each other.

For a group that is having a particularly difficult time establishing trust, I would suggest doing individualized activities in a group setting, such as making something together while listening to music in the background; or drawing while listening to music.

As I have also suggested, using music to bring children together can be very effective. Children can listen to music together, make a "music box" (a wooden box onto which several devices are attached that makes various percussive noises), learn songs, sing together or share music from their respective countries. Children who sing together seem to have a harder time hating each other afterwards.

Overheard at camp this summer:

Counselor: "No one told me it was going to be this hard being a counselor! (Pause). Well, maybe they did, but I didn't really think I'd be this tired!"

Same Counselor (a few days later): "It's really worth it, though, when you see a kid smile and do something they thought they never could do! That's when I feel like I've done something that matters."

Parent of a first-time overnight camper leaving after visiting day): "It is such a relief to see him with his easy self-confidence, bringing his friends up to introduce us. You realize he really does belong here -- he is really thriving! I wish I could bottle this in him and uncork it about half way through the school year!"

Seasoned Camp Director: "Why does it seem like the children we work with seem to need so much more than they did years ago? Am I just getting older, or is there more to these kids today? I find myself spending a lot of time on marketing and business-related matters. What I really want to do is spend more time learning about children. That's why I got into this business in the first place!"

Bob Ditter, a licensed clinical social worker specializing in child and adolescent treatment. Camp directors are invited to write to Bob at: Bob Ditter, "In the Trenches," 93 Union St., Ste. 307, Newton, MA 02159. Letters should be signed, although requests for confidentiality will be honored. "In the trenches" is sponsored by American Income Life Insurance.