Virginia 4-H Camping Volunteer Training Modules

Virginia 4-H CampingVolunteer Training Modules MODULE 19: PREVENTING AND RESPONDING TO HOMESICKNESS AT 4-H CAMP Developed by Barry A. Garst, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist 4-H Youth Development, March 2006

How to Use this Information • If you are a 4-H adult volunteer leader: • 1. Review the 4-H camp-related information contained in this presentation. • 2. Consider the “Discussion Questions” listed on the last page. • 3. Contact your local 4-H Extension Agent (or other person responsible for 4-H camping in your county/city) to review this information. • If you are a VCE faculty or staff member responsible for 4-H camping in your unit: • 1. Review the 4-H camp-related information contained in this presentation. • 2. Use this presentation to support your 4-H camp teen/adult volunteer leader training. • 3. Use the “Discussion Questions” listed on the last page as a resource in reviewing this information with your 4-H camp volunteers.

Overview • Defining “homesickness” • Preventing Homesickness Before Camp • Preventing Homesickness When Camp Begins • Things to Avoid When Dealing With Homesickness

Homesickness • Homesickness is defined as “distress or impairment caused by an actual or anticipated separation from home.” • Homesickness is characterized by acute (i.e., comes on quickly) longing and preoccupying thoughts of home and objects from home (parents, friends, pets, etc.). • Different people miss different things about home. (Thurber, 2005)

Symptoms of Homesickness • Depression • Anxiety • Withdrawn behavior • Somatic complaints (headaches, sore throats, aches and pains throughout the body) • Difficulty sleeping • Acting out behaviors (Thurber, 2005)

95% of all campers report having some level of homesickness on at least one day of camp. (Thurber, 2005)

Homesickness • Although convention wisdom might suggest that homesickness goes away after a few days, in fact, most homesickness begins at a high level and continues to get worse. • Homesick campers tend to be: • Young children • Children that have little experience separating from home • Children who have no previous experience at camp (Thurber, 2005)

Preventing Homesickness Before Camp • There are several things that your 4-H Extension Agent may do before camp to reduce the likelihood of campers becoming homesickness. • Although you may not have a role in this process, it may be helpful for you to be aware of these strategies.

Preventing Homesickness Before Camp • Provide parents/guardians and potential campers with access to information about the camp. • Camp pictures (where camper will be sleeping, eating, etc.) • Lists of camp activities • Camp menu • Provide an opportunity for parents/guardians and campers to visit the 4-H Center before camp.

Preventing Homesickness Before Camp • Encourage parents/guardians to give their children a chance to practice separation before camp (overnight stay at a friend’s house, weekend camping trip, sleeping in the back-yard, etc.) • Encourage parents/guardians to give their children the opportunity to pack their own suitcase before camp, and to be involved in deciding that things to take to camp (This increases campers’ feelings of control regarding their camp experience.)

Preventing Homesickness Before Camp • When children express concerns of homesickness before camp, explain to parents/guardians how they can normalize feelings of homesickness and also encourage coping (Parents can say, “Missing home is okay. It’s normal. But I know that you can do it.) • Provide parents/guardians and campers with a thorough pre-camp orientation regarding what they can expect at camp.

Preventing Homesickness When Camp Begins • As a 4-H volunteer, you play an important role in preventing homesickness on the first day of camp. Here are a few things that you can do. • Welcome campers.Say hello. Introduce yourself. Smile. • Provide the opportunity for campers to introduce themselves to others. • Ensure that schedules are posted throughout camp. Give campers access to a schedule. This helps campers to know what to expect, and reduces fear of the unknown.

Preventing Homesickness When Camp Begins • Pair up new and young campers with a buddy. Even the campers that are not homesick will enjoy a buddy. • Allow (and encourage) campers to write letters home. • Active games and get acquainted activities should be scheduled for the first night of 4-H camp.

Treating Homesickness • Some children will become homesick during camp regardless of the preventative measures that are taken ahead of time. Here are some things that you can do during the week to treat homesickness. • Recognize the signs of homesickness (see earlier slide in this MODULE). • Get homesick campers involved in camp activities and keep campers busy. Campers, even homesick campers, often forget their concerns when they are having fun. Idle time, free time, evening programs when campers are not directly participating, are often times when homesickness gets worse as campers focus on their homesick feelings.

Treating Homesickness • Try goal-setting. Set a goal with a homesick camper in which he/she will try to “make it through the day.” The goal might be as simple at making an agreement with a camper that the camper will not cry until dinner time. Be careful not to bribe the camper or promise him/her something that is not within your authority. Goals such as these allow campers to focus on something beyond their immediate experience. It also provides you with the opportunity to get the camper involved and feeling more positive about their camp experience.

Treating Homesickness • Provide extra attention. Spend a little extra time with the homesick camper. Ask about their interests. Perhaps you can engage them in something that they really enjoy while at camp. • Don’t minimize the feelings of homesickness. It’s okay to say, “I know that it is hard to be away from home. Kids sometimes miss home.” Expressing this to campers can help to normalize the feelings of homesickness. You might follow this up with the “keep busy” strategy or the “allow campers to write home” strategy.

Things to Avoid When Dealing With Homesickness • Calling home can worsen homesickness. Campers are not allowed to use phones without the approval of unit Extension faculty/staff (or other person serving as camp director). Campers’ feelings of homesickness are often enhanced after talking with their parents/guardians (who may also be missing their children.) Calling home should be a last-resort determined by the 4-H Agent. • Don’t make promises that you cannot keep. Only the 4-H Agent can determine that a camper is going to be sent home. Be careful not to promise anything (such as a phone-call to mom/dad, etc.) that is not within your authority.

Discussion Questions • Identify one thing that can be done to prevent homesickness before camp. • Identify two things that you can do on the first day of camp to prevent homesickness • What do you think is the most important thing that you learned from this module?

References • Gregoire, L. (2000). Building a big buddy system: Pairing campers and adult volunteers to help children cope. Camping Magazine, April/May. • Thurber, C.A. (2005). Helping With Homesickness.

Virginia 4-H Camping Volunteer Training Modules