Counselors and counselors-in-training (CITs) are at the heart of any camp. They’re the greeting committee, activity leaders, de facto caregivers, cheerleaders, teachers, and first responders for kids’ physical and emotional needs. That’s a lot to ask of staff members, many of whom are in high school or college-aged. Protecting their mental health needs to be a top priority.
At camp, a range of factors can exacerbate mental health issues, including loneliness, isolation, old-fashioned homesickness, the transition to a new environment, and limited access to both therapy and medication.
Although you can’t always predict or prevent mental health challenges, there are a few key things you can do to help counselors and CITs feel supported, connected, and resilient.
- Describe the camp environment in your hiring process.
Share information and ask questions that will help both you and the candidate understand whether they’re likely to thrive or struggle at your camp.
If your camp is in a remote area, for example, you’ll want to describe what it means to be so isolated. You may want to ask for examples of when they’ve thrived in a similar situation or what they would find new or challenging about it. Being explicit in your description gives candidates the opportunity to consider whether the job would be a healthy fit for them.
Be clear about the essential functions of the job too. How many hours will they be on duty? What’s the pace of a day? How physically active will they need to be? What kinds of challenges might they face regarding their campers’ mental health?
Counselors also need to know how easy it will be for them to take care of their mental health at camp. Will they have time to themselves to do things they enjoy? Will they have time and space to connect with family and friends at home?
Make sure you’re up-front about the accessibility of resources. Will it be easy for them to get prescriptions filled or have teletherapy appointments? Does the schedule allow for check-ins with therapists? What kinds of mental health professionals are on camp staff?
- Build community.
For some counselors and CITs, this may be their first time away from home. They may miss friends, family, or partners. They may simply feel like they don’t fit in. These factors, combined with high rates of loneliness in young adults, put staff at risk of feeling disconnected or detached.
Providing structured social opportunities can help. At the start of camp, make sure there’s ample opportunity for staff to meet and get to know one another. Provide organized opportunities and dedicated staff space for counselors to socialize on camp grounds. If possible, give them time to get together outside work and away from camp.
Affinity groups can create opportunities for staff to connect based on shared identities such as race, gender, religion, nationality, or sexuality. These spaces allow staff of similar backgrounds to speak freely and support one another.
- Build in motivators.
Your staff members are going to give a lot — physically and emotionally — to a job that may not be the highest-paying summer job or a flashy resume builder. Make it worth their while. Can you give staff credentials to put on their resume beyond their job title? Can they get certified in Mental Health First Aid or gain new skills from mental health workshops? Can they be trained in conflict-resolution skills? Are there ways they can take ownership of launching a new program?
Many counselors will be on their way to starting college or in between years of study. They may have coursework to complete during the summer or need to sign up for classes before the semester starts. Giving them time to attend to these responsibilities can help reduce their stress and show respect for their lives beyond camp.
- Encourage self-care.
One of the greatest gifts you can give your staff is time to do things that will keep them mentally healthy, whether it’s exercising, reading, taking a walk, connecting with a coworker, or talking with people back home.
Bear in mind, however, that counselors and CITs may not know what they need or how to practice self-care in a new environment. Teach them how to make the most of breaks, time off, or quiet moments before bed.
Start the season by being candid about the challenges of the camp environment and laying out self-care strategies (e.g., go to bed when the campers do, make sure you eat, take advantage of the small moments of quiet, don’t overdo it on caffeine). Let staff know what resources are available to them. Is there a gym? A quiet place to walk? A space where they can get some alone time? Emphasize that staff can and should take advantage of these resources.
Supporting spiritual self-care is another way to help counselors maintain emotional well-being. When possible, provide time, opportunity, and space for counselors to nurture their spiritual needs and practices, either at camp or off-site.
- Make sure staff know they can ask for help and where to get it.
Make it easy and safe for your counselors to talk about emotional well-being and, if they choose, their mental health. Emphasize that mental health is health and create a camp culture of care and compassion. Communicate that you do not penalize a staff member if they face mental health concerns during the summer.
At staff orientation, educate staff about how to ask for help, whom to talk to, and where to go if they feel they need assistance with mental health issues. Let staff members know about on-site and local resources.
If a staff member chooses to share specific treatment needs, engage relevant camp staff and area professionals in discussing ways to avoid treatment interruptions during camp sessions. Make a plan for responding to urgent situations in case they arise.
Camps benefit from training their counselors to recognize, reach out, and refer (if necessary) any coworker or camper who may be showing early signs of struggle. That way, if a counselor is in need of support, their peers will know how to start the conversation about their concerns.
The benefits of promoting connectedness, fostering self-care, building skills and motivators, and providing proactive support for emotional health are many. Happy counselors translate to happy campers. Healthy counselors are more able to stay through the season. And a positive counselor experience may make them more likely to return next year — and bring happy, lifelong memories and rewarding experiences for all.
If you or someone you know is in crisis or needs support right now, text, call, or chat 988, or text HOME (or HOLA) to 741-741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.