1. FROM SIGN-UP
TO SHOW-UP
REDUCING
CAMP ANXIETY

2. Camper anxiety Past – “I know you’re nervous but it’ll be ok”
Now – “If you’re nervous I’ll try to get you out of it!”
Camper anxiety

3. Stress Strain or tension: physical mental emotional
This is what breaks resilience
But it’s also what BUILDS resilience
Just like exercise

5. Good & Bad Stress Stress is to resilience as exercise is to muscle
New Stimuli or unknown patterns cause stress
Change leads to stress
Unpredictable supports worsen
Good & Bad Stress

6. Camp’s relationship to stress
Camp must create GOOD stress – necessary for all the growth
Discomfort is the norm
Discomfort creates or worsens anxiety
Teaches mad skills!
Camp’s relationship to stress

7. 3 obstacles to letting camp work
Unsafe vs uncomfortable (happiness NOW)
Not knowing where my kid is = neglect
Desire to “protect” mental health
3 obstacles to letting camp work

8. hap·pi· ness: noun good fortune; pleasure; contentment; joy
INGREDIENTS:
Confidence
Competence
Relationships
hap·pi· ness: noun

9. Happiness Now Trap Unattainable Conflicts with resilience
Removes opportunity for resilience “practice”
Causes us to change the narrative to support everything being ok
Limits the resources we offer
We’re terrible at predicting it for others

10. Comfort vs Discomfort Security Healing Identity Learning Change GROWTH

11. Unsafe vs Uncomfortable

12. Tracking Trap
From “no news is good news” to “No news means something terrible has happened.” Parents who don’t track are brave Reframing from neglect to responsibility Camps are contributing to the problem with daily s and online photos
From
No news is good news To
No news means you’re obviously dead

13. Fear of Anxiety Trap Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Interferes with acts of daily living
Episodic but usually baseline symptoms
Panic Attacks
10-30 minutes
Hard to differentiate from pseudo-panic
Specific Phobias
Common
Strategies are useful
Feeling Anxious or Normal Anxiety
Caused by discomfort
Often protective

14. Culture of Successful Families
Myth: “The more I help the better we will both feel”
That’s only HALF true
Truth? Failure must be experienced. Resilience requires practice
Culture of Successful Families

15. WHAT’S THE SOLUTION?
Trust
Goal-sharing
Expectation shaping

16. Trust Parents Campers Staff With everyone Who are you
What have you been taught
What concerns you
Through investigation
Ask for small buy-ins before big ones
Remember gratitude
Through microactions
Trust

17. The solution: Goal sharing!
Get to know your families beforehand as much as possible 1
Understand what they want 2
Find goals you share – the more proximal the better 3
Be able to explain how your path gets them to that goal 4

18. Warn them! Let them know that you expect parent and kid struggles
This way they won’t feel like they made the wrong decision
Put a plan in place before it happens
Warn them!

19. Expectation shaping “When not if” language
Gratitude for sharing the concern (model this!)
Empathy for the struggle
Connect to resources
Offer solutions
Expectation shaping

20. When-not- if Language Set Remove Model Set expectations
Model the cycle
Remove
Remove the premise of failure
Set
Set expectations
When-not- if Language

21. Words to use Gratitude Empathy Thanks for letting me know
Grateful you’re comfortable discussing this
Glad you and your child have this relationship
Glad we have developed our relationship
Empathy
I hear that you’re feeling…
I understand feeling….
I’ve felt…
It’s hard to feel…
Words to use

22. Strategies to suggest Have a list before this happens
When you have this ready to send, parents believe that you expected this, you’ve seen it before, they’re not alone
Testimonials
Other experts
Tools they can use when it flares up
Strategies to suggest

23. Dr. G has digital resources YOU need for your families!
Pick a time to talk to her about it! (click this!)