Title: The A to Zs of Sleep-Away Camp: finding comfort in the unfamiliar

• Secondary title ideas:
  • those with a childlike view of the world
  • how to create a home away from home
  • finding comfort in the unfamiliar
• Disclaimer and Introduction:

  • PHOTO: Include photo of myself in the bunk

    

  • This is a guide for those who do not aclimate easily to unfamiliar situations. It is for those who are maybe not too great with the outdoors, generally cynical at a young age, and get very anxious at a change of environment. I went to sleep away camp the summer going into fourth grade, and it was just not for me. I am not great with the outdoors, bugs, thunderstorms, sleeping outside, and being away from support systems. It was also my first time feeling anxiety of being alone and in a place where I knew nothing and no one. When I went, I admired those who were able to make friends right away, and seamlessly get accustomed to the ways of camp. However, I was not one of those people. I only went to sleep away camp once, however in that time, I learned a great deal. A lot of the skills I developed at this camp helped me deal with almost all the transitions I’ve had in my life. When I did a pre-college program in NYC, I was having a really hard time adjusting I thought about the calendar my counselor (who saw that I was really unhappy) made me to cross off the days as they went by. I never thought that the horrible summer camp experience and what I learned there would help me get through highschool, summer programs and my first years of college. That being said, I am also extremely grateful to this summer for giving me a toolkit of dealing with the uncomfort and unfamiliar.

  • So, if you are someone who finds themselves at sleep-away camp for the first time, or is alone in a new enviornment and finding it difficult to aclimate, you have come to the right place! The tips in this book can help to create the forigen and difficult enviornment slowly get more manageable (and will also give you some good camp and s’mores related tips!).

  • Some of the content is hyper specific

• • Above is a picture my parents took right before they left me at camp. Behind the smile was a lot of anxiety and dread.
• Way 1 of orginization: A-Z
  • A: Arrival
    • The process of arriving is probably the worst part of the whole expirence. This is your first time seeing your surroundings and it is when so many emotions hit you all at once. The whole expirence can be broken up into two different eras, both of which feel like days apart but really happen in a matter of hours:
    • Pre-goodbye: The hardest part of anything is anticipating difficulty. Before you say your goodbyes, it might be hard not to fixate on feeling anxious about what is to come. But, maybe also try to be present in the moment with your family and really take in this time.
    • Post-goodbye: When you say goodbye to those who dropped you off, there could be a mix of emotions you feel (CHART). Watching them walk away, you feel like they will be back at the end of the day. The first hour of being alone is the worst. Your thoughts become so loud and the loneliness is very consuming.
    • Remember, the first day is always the worst.
  • B: Bunk Beds
    • If you have arrived earlier than your other cabin mates, then you might have the privilege of picking you bunk bed! This can be a difficult choice since there are many options you have to weigh. If you did not get to choose your bunk, and you envisioned yourself residing on a different bunk, then acknowledge your lost vision, and try to make the bunk you got as homey as you can.
    • Top Bunk: the top bunk is beneficial because it really becomes your own space. Not a lot of people can gather on the top bunk, and most visits to your bunk are by invitation. However, getting up and down each morning can be extremely challenging. Just getting up to go to the bathroom becomes its own mini obstacle course. - inability to move too much
    • Bottom Bunk: Unlike the top bunk, the bottom bunk can become a couch for people to gather at, sometimes the people in the top bunks. This can be difficult when wanting . Also you might get your bunkmates foot in your face as they descend the bunk the quick way. But, the bottom bunk is very convenient to leave from and to climb into.
    • *If you did not get to choose your bunk, and you envisioned yourself residing on a different bunk, then acknowledge your lost vision, and try to make the bunk you got as homey as you can.
    • GRAPHIC: one bunk bed image diagram with notes
  • C: Cabin space
    • Making the space your own can really help to try and get acclimated. Unpacking some of your clothes, hanging up some decor and making your bed. Seeing your possessions in this very random space can be a bit jarring, but it can help the process of getting use to this area.
    • This book is also a mini decor piece to add to your space! The outside cover can be used to create a mini tent, and there is a little camper and stand included. Hopefully, this little tent and camper will remind you that you are not alone in this expirence.
    • GRAPHIC: Instructions on how to turn cover into tent
  • D: Dinning Anxious
    • Eating: One of the most difficult things to get use to is the food anywhere that isn’t home. When I went to camp, I didn't eat anything but applesauce because I constantly had a stomach ache and I didn’t want to eat. So, here are some tips for nervous eating.
      • Try not to eat big meals, instead do more frequent smaller meals.
      • Always bring snacks where ever you can becuase you never know when you will be hunrgy.
      • If you know you get anxious when you eat, try bringing ginger chews with you.
    • First sitting with others: Sitting down at a table with people you never met before can be very daunting. The first thing to do is either find some familiar faces, or just choose a table you want to sit at. Then take a deep breath and ask if you can sit with them. Remember that they also probably had to do the same thing when they were choosing where to sit. You got this!
    • GRAPHIC:
  • E : EEEEKKKKKKKK

    • If I heard that right, this is the sound of discovering a bug in either your bed, the bathroom, or in the shower. For many people, they may expect that bugs would be present at something like a summer camp, but they can still be surprising. This is because sleep away camp is the medium between actual camping with a tent on the ground and home living. Some elements are similar and some are not so it makes seeing a bug all the more jolting.

  • F: Friendship Bracelets
    • Despite what the name says, you do not necessarily have to give these bracelets to your friends, or you may. Another use would be hiding them for your own use, and then it looks like everyone has given you the bracelets (not really).
    • How to make the chevron bracelet
    • Imagery: Graph depicting how to make one and also the progression of getting better with feeling worse
  • G: Go-to places
    • When you are in a new place, you may become very fond of a certain area or space. It could be a certain tree stump, or the deck of your cabin, or a little space in the woods. This may become a happy place for you to visit whenever you feel down or uncomfortable. If it makes you happy, then try to go to this place whenever you have the time!
  • H: “Here” Sickness
    • definition: inability to enjoy your current environment
    • Used in a sentence: Ya I came here last week, but I’m finding it kind of hard, I think I have here-sickness.
    • Place of origin: Camp Rockbottom
    • You have heard the term home-sickness, and if you attend summer camp you may have heard the term camp-sickness, but I would like to introduce to you the phrase here -sickness. This is a term I coined when I was young to describe when I wasn’t necessarily wanting to go home, but I was unhappy in my current state. This is a very common and treatable
    • Symptoms may include:
      • Extreme uncomfort
      • Anxiousness
      • Wanting to call home (or frankly anyone who might pick up)
      • Not wanting to participate in camp activities
      • Not eating
      • Inability to retain the camp song
      • Compulsively saying “I cant do it” when every you wake up
    • Some treatments include:
      • Crafts
      • Going for walks
      • Focusing on tiding your space
  • I: Infirmary
    • If you are sick (or maybe want to get out of an activity) then you might have to take a trip to the infirmary. I was in there quite a bit with cronic anxious stomach pains (and pain from eating nothing but applesauce). If you are nervous to go, just remeber that they are there to help you and hopfuly do what they can to help you feel better.
  • J: Journaling
    • Journaling is a great way to materialize your thoughts, and to track your progression and growth. Whats great about journaling is that you can really write anything. Its just for you, so you can include any thought that pops into your head, or any feelings you may be having. Its really great to date each entry at the top of the page so that you can keep track of how your thoughts and feelings change.
  • K: Keep going
    • There may be days when it feels like you don’t want to get out of bed, go to any activities, or see other people. This is extremely valid, and sometimes what can help is just taking the steps to
  • L: Letters Home
    • GRAPHIC: Letter I sent home in envelope
    • Sending letters may be a great way of checking in with your family and friends. This can help get your mind off of things and maybe reach out for some advice of how to deal with a situation. Something to keep in mind is to be genuine in your letters and
    • GRAPHIC: how to address a letter - where the stamp goes etc.
  • M: Mental Maps
    • Becoming more familiar with your surroundings can help to ease some of the anxieties towards the new environment. You feel like you have no grounding or orientation in this area. Getting familiar and creating a mental map will happen with time as you spend more time in this place. You can also try to go on walks to get a better sense of your surroundings so you can feel more comfortable.
  • N: Necessities for Camp
    • Bug Spray: you will get eaten alive in the wilderness by bugs.
    • GRAPHICS: of each of these
    • A loved stuffed animal: Its really nice to have a familiar face, and
    • Flashlight
    • Cats cradle
    • A book if u read
    • Sleeping bag
    • Photos of home/memories
    • Cozy blanket
  • O: Only ___ more days
    • Something that really helps one through a difficult situation is creating a countdown until camp ends. If your situation has a set end date, like camp, then you can make a calendar of how long you have until then. If you need to get use to a permanent situation, create a calendar until a certain break, holiday, or other benchmark. They cross off each day as it goes by. This seems like a very simple thing to do, but having that visual reference point of making your way through your situation. You also have a sense of slow accomplishment
    • My camp counselor did this for me when I was having a really bad time at camp, and it is something that I would do for every summer program I went to, for the start of a new school, and even for the start of college.
    • GRAPHIC: Decorated calendar
  • P: Poison Ivy
    • Spotting poison Ivy can be challenging since. When I went to camp I lived in constant fear that every plant I touched was poison Ivy. Luckily I only had one rash during my time at camp from a bug bite, but living in constant fear that any plant can be poison ivy is not a great way of living. So, I want to show you images of something no one every showed me:
    • GRAPHIC: IDENITFICATION GRAPH OF DIFFERENT IVY TYPES
  • Q: Quality Time with Yourself
    • Sometimes, being in an uncomfortable place can be an opportunity to learn more about yourself. In these moments, your inner dialogue can be very loud, and you might find the things you like, dislike, and some coping mechanisms that work for you. It is nice to try and set that time aside with yourself to check in. Whether that be going for a walk, taking a break to do some breathing, or just setting aside time for yourself to read a book you like!
  • R: Routines
    • A routine is always good to help you create some stability in your environment. When there is so much that feels uncontrollable, its nice to have little moments in your day that you can rely on to be the same. Routines also establish a simple task that helps you feel a bit accomplished in your day. Its important to set these routines up in both the morning and the evening so that you are starting and ending your day with these reliable tasks.
  • S: S’mores
    • The s'mores is a gooey beacon of light in any unfamiliar experience. The warm charred marshmallow, melted chocolate, and crisp honey graham is the most nostalgic flavor combination. They can also be a big part of sleep-away camp since its very economical and its own activity. In my opinion, there is no correct way to eat a s’mores, and I think there are so many innovative ways of enjoying them!
    • GRAPHIC: S’mores chart of
    • GRAPHIC: different ways of prepping the s’mores
  • T: Thunderstorms
    • If you are like me, you might not be fond of thunderstorms. When there are usually thunderstorms, you might be one to hide under your bed, or cover your ears, or maybe even grab the emergency radio and tell your family to start making their way to the basement for safety (yikes). Something that might help get you through the night, especailly if you have screens as windows is placing a towel over the window. It keeps wind and water out and can help you get a better night’s sleep
  • U: Under the Covers
    • Whole page is black
    • “Lights out time” can be very inconvenient. It seemed like every-time I was getting to a good part of the book I was reading, or most often getting into the groove of making a friendship bracelet, the counselors would call lights out. So, here are some helpful tips on how to extend lights out time underneath the covers.
  • V: Very Very bad day
    • At the beginning of is guidebook, I mentioned that the first days are always the worst. This is true in the sense that the first days introduce you to the most amount of challenges that you will have to navigate, and everything is new at this time. But, there will be days that feel even worse, and it makes your enviornment and space worse a well. In those moments, try and take some time to provide some rest and treat yourself. Revisit some of the suggestions from “Quality Time with You” (p. 22) for some ideas.
  • W: Water Activities OR WILD LIFE
    • Water activities
    • In a lake - there are going to be gross things at the bottom of where your feet are
  • **X: eXit strategy *****
    • When you are approaching the date you are suppose to leave, it can be a cathartic. A lot of worries like, are my parents going to look different, will all of my friendship bracelets fit in my luggage, how will my parents recognize me with how much I grew this past month (about 1 giant inch), start racing through your head. With all of these thoughts running around your head, you may get overwhelmed with the amount you have to do to pack up. Something that may help this is coming up with a list of things you need to do to make sure the moving out process is as stress-free as possible.
  • Y: “Your Here, Finally”
    • You’ve made it. The car is pulling into camp, your bags are packed, and you are ready to leave! The first words I said to my family when I saw them were, “Hi, could we please leave now?” your first words might have the same sentiment. The car ride home is something to look forward to in itself. You can tell your family all about your time at camp! You can tell them all of the crazy things you saw, all of the difficult moments you perservered through, and most importantly, gift them their own friend bracellete.
  • Z: Zzzzzzzzzz
    • That is the sound of your first sleep back home in the familiar. You can rest knowing that you have persevered and made it through! Remember to be proud of yourself, and see this as a success. It may feel weird being back in your house and your bed since you haven’t been there in so long. Things may look smaller, the scent of your house might become more pungent, and you may not sleep that great since you are use to outdoor noises lulling you to sleep. But just like getting use to camp, it will take some time to feel normal again.
    • You might also be able to look back on your journey and see some beautiful moments through the difficulty. I still remeber the counselors who showed me a lot of kindness and some great friends I made a long the way. You might also have some funny stories and helpful tips to impart on those who may be in your shoes next summer.

Ideas:

• Tent material for the outside
• Maybe Camp is called Camp Rockbottom