On-going reflection, application, and skill development – with your guidance – will grow your staff’s ability to support their campers and peers well-being and help them through mental health crises. The goal of these resources is to support your guiding staff through applying the ALGEE action plan, identify concerning behaviors, grow their skills and practice how to approach the variety of different behavior they will encounter in their roles.

This outline and the accompanying resources are meant as suggestions to support your work. While weekly meetings for ongoing support and training are a part of this pilot, following this outline or utilizing these resources is not a mandatory part of the program.

Rational detachment is the ability to control our own behavior and not take hostility personally. This program will review definitions and allow for role playing.

While you cannot control other’s behavior, you can control yourself in relation to others in ways that can impact your relationship and interaction. Understanding body language and practicing how to interpret other’s and control your own are valuable skills. These games explore non-verbal communication and introduce the concept of kinesics (posture, facial expressions, gestures, etc.).

While you cannot control other’s behavior, you can control yourself in relation to others in ways that can impact your relationship and interaction. Understanding and learning to use the “supportive stance” promotes safety for staff and campers. This technique involves maintaining a distance of at least one leg length and positions the respondent’s body at an angle to the other person at an “L-shape” angle. This position communicates respect by honoring personal space, is non-threatening and non-challenging, and contributes to staff’s personal safety.

Participants will discuss some helpful things to say, considering the impact of practicing verbal communication skills so they become habit. These skills can influence crisis de-escalation and support early intervention.

Participants will explore the impact of “I” Statements and practice creating and using them.

Through discussion and games, participants will have increased awareness and information on the of the various ways people communicate. This includes exploring verbal, non-verbal, and para-verbal impacts on understanding how we share and interpret information and messages.

Self-Care is critically important when working in a leadership role with campers and other camp staff. This is a discussion around good self-care practices and encouraging individuals to create a self-care plan. Having a plan to rely on before becoming in desperate need will help mitigate a feeling of crisis when stressed.

Being aware of how you feel and how it impacts a situation is crucial. This activity and points will help participants increase their awareness of when they may consider stepping away from a situation, a vital skill in crisis de-escalation. Controlling what we can control (ourselves) is key in providing the best possible care, welfare safety and security for campers and staff.

Staff will participate in a simulated activity around patience with unexpected obstacles that they must overcome.

By Ari Kaplan, Zahava Davis, Abby Kaufman, Josh Satok