Eating Disorders at camp

[runrachrunn]

I was curious as to how your camps have dealt with either campers or staff that have eating disorders, and are not well at camp... One of my fears about being a staff at overnight camp is having to deal with a camper who is totally unwell, and completely immersed in his/her eating disorder.

What do you do?

[speedx5xracer]

This is a very difficult subject at all camps. 2 of my friends had eating disorders as staff and i know of 3 instances of campers.
for staff they are given the option talk with the social worker we have on camp or take a leave of abscence to seek help. One talked with the social worker and started to over come it during the session the other was forced to take the leave of abscence.
With campers they are required to talk to the nurses, social worker and director after its been determined that they have a disorder. I have yet to see it get beyond that severity to force a camper to be sent home.

[camper]

we watch the kids very closely at meals to make sure each kid puts at least something in her mouth, even if its just some salad or a piece of bread. if a kid skips 1 meal...its ok, maybe they're not hungry or not feeling well. we'll usually try to offer a camper who doesn't want anything something that she especially likes that we might have to get from the kitchen if it's not out.

the next step is asking, "do you feel ok?" that might give us a clue as to why a camper maybe didn't want something to eat. if the camper says she's fine, we watch her for the next few meals. if it becomes a problem and she's not eating, we sit down w/the directors and the groupleader and talk to her about how it's not healthy to not eat. we also call the parents to notify them. half the time, it's just a body image problem that we can make better by making the girl feel better about something about her that's bothering her. the other times, if it turns out that it's serious, we might have to send the camper home for a few days to be evaluated, or if it's really bad, send her home for the rest of the summer, but i don't think i've ever seen that happen.

[rockinsmiles]

I'm not aware if we ever had this happen with a staff member, but I do know it has happened with campers. Since we are only a week long camp it is sometimes hard to tell if a camper is having a body image difficulty or if it is something more serious. I've had girls who wanted to skip a meal because she thought she was "fat." Or would get that way. I talked to her about how fasting is not a good idea at camp, that not eating could cuz her body to store fat, etc

[prettysocks]

Not at the camp I'm at now.. but at the GGC camp, oh yeah. All girls? All talking? Reading their Teenie Bopper magazines at night and listening to whatever craptastic music they listen to? You bet they had body image issues and compared themselves to the other 20 girls. Did girls make fun if someone had more to eat than another? You bet!

ARG it's frustrating.... I hate where media has put us.. In a situation that never tells anyone they're pretty. Children don't need that crap.

[Dave]

Our kids are required to eat lunch at our camp. If they don't eat we have to report them to the division head. If they're sick there's obviously not much we can do, but if they have some type of disorder where they never eat, then it could be a problem.

[Melk]

I think the world needs more Dove ads. They are showing real women not ones who weigh 2 pounds and are air brushed.

[tajarbud]

Melk, if you like the commercials-watch it again at:
http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/commercial.asp?src=homecommerciallink

Then take a look around. :D

[camplover86]

Not at the camp I'm at now.. but at the GGC camp, oh yeah. All girls? All talking? Reading their Teenie Bopper magazines at night and listening to whatever craptastic music they listen to? You bet they had body image issues and compared themselves to the other 20 girls. Did girls make fun if someone had more to eat than another? You bet!

ARG it's frustrating.... I hate where media has put us.. In a situation that never tells anyone they're pretty. Children don't need that crap.

At the begining of camp, we take magazines, and music (ipods, mp3, cd players) Partly because of this. They are around this all the time and should not have to be at camp. As far as I know we do not have a big problem with eating disorders.

[Flukie]

Oooh... First, I love the Dove ad for what it means. I also love the program it supports - and the fact that some of the money from the campaign goes to the Uniquely Me! program sponsored by Dove and Girl Scouts of the USA is only better. :)

The issue does come up at camp - when I went to camp, I definitely never went to impress anyone. The clothing and bathing suits our girls bring... Man! It's horrible. As is the need to do make-up each day. HI! THIS IS CAMP!! Lol. (Now, not that make-up is bad, but most of our kids are in the 12-15 range. My 12 year olds do NOT need make-up at camp.)

[Fallen]

I am sure it has happened at the camps I have worked at, but I have never dealt with it. Nor is it mention with poor self-image, but the child acting out because they are homesick. I honestly wish the camps I have worked for has dealt with promoting good self-worth and so on. I know we did do at one of them a beauty, fitness and health program, but I think it was mostly on looking your best and not eating fast food and junk food.

I know that we make all the girls eat most of what is on their plates. Mostly they don't eat because they don't like what is being served.

[Flower]

We've definately dealt with this at camp. Because we eat three meals a day with the girls, we're in a position to notice patterns in their eating, or not eating. If there is a consistant issue, the table counselor will let the director and nurse know what they've seen. Then they'll have a talk with the camper and let the parents know what is going on.

Our role as counselors is important in helping the girls to feel comfortable, and to help picky eaters find something they like at every meal as well as to encourage them to eat healthy foods. It's also so important for counselors to watch what they say around campers. If you're skipping dessert because you're watching your weight, the twelve year old who's been running around and active all day doesn't need to know that.

[who_stole_my_loofa]

Ah I have so much to say on this topic but I don't really know how to verbalize it right now. I was an eating disorder camper so I know all the tricks- I know all the pressure you have and how there are like networks of kids who cheer eachother on and no one else ever finds out- I know it sounds really sick.. but it's everywhere. It's even like this at clinics where people are trying to get better. I know because when I was in a clinic for a few weeks I couldn't get any better because of the other girls in there teaching eachother new tricks and influencing me in the direction I didn't want to go- so I had to leave and fix myself in other ways.

As a staff member I am more aware of what kids are doing than they are teaching the average counselor during staff week(because I have been there). There are some obvious kids that are just starving and weak and sleepy all the time but insist they are fine. But then there are also the borderline kids who are either there or almost there and it only takes one little comment or look or magazine to push them over the edge. My campers are 11 which is a major turning point age so I always take some free time at some point in the first 2 weeks to discuss body image and do activities that promote good health and self esteem.

You have to be really willing to help them before it starts. You have to be willing to get to know the kids and not just be their counselor because it's their job. You have to keep your eyes and ears open. There are visual signs and non-visual that you have to look into. You can't be like "i heard so and so say you're throwing up" cause that's obviously not going to help. You have be sly(sly is the wrong word but I don't know what else to use right now).

Another really big thing- you have to set boundries.. if the kids are leaving after every meal give them a time limit- tell them which bathroom to go to and if they aren't back by then go look for them. Or don't let them go until someone else has to go to the bathroom also and send them together. If it gets to the point that it's very serious start going with them and stand outside the stall until they are finished. They might be embarassed but they will get the picture. Don't forget to always be an open line of communication. If you think a camper is about to confide in your don't cut them off and make sure they understand you're not goign to tell the other campers (but make sure they understand you'll have to tell people like ULs, camp psychologists, whoever).

Man I don't know what else to say this is such a sensetive subject to me, just watch your campers, promote healthy body image, be an open line of communication, keep your eyes and ears open, don't ignore signals and crys for help, and love your campers.

[who_stole_my_loofa]

merp- that was a little babbley

[drink the wild air]

I think what everybody has said is great. I have dealt with it a lot at camp as a counselor and as a director. We have had a few campers and one serious counselor case since I have worked there. Usually when it happens the staff come in get me because of my social work background and I worked at a residential facility for eating disorders for a while. So I hear about it regularly.

One of the first important things is that it is covered in staff training. I make sure to go over it with all my staff so they are on the lookout for things like this (disorders, addictions, anything). I want to make sure that they understand it is an addiction and it is hard and sensitive and that just saying "well why dont you just try eating" isnt going to work. As camp counselors we are in a unique position to be able to 'catch' things like this and get campers/staff the help they need. At home there is no one that is with them 24/7 to monitor meals or behavior.

If a counselor comes to me concerned I will usually spend some extra time with that cabin to gain a sense of the campers general behavior. If I feel something is wrong I will sit down with the camper and counselor together. I dont beat around the bush and usually just say look this is what we have seen, we are worried, lets work through a bit of this together (in a much more sincere way obviously). In a few of the situations the campers had been in therapy previously and we just reinstated/recollected their therapy plan - like staying away from their triggers, eating smaller meals more often, talking with me everyday about the mental aspect, etc. Some campers totally denied it but did agree to eat enough to get them through camp healthfully, but is always accompanied by a call home to express our concern. Only one camper case has been so serious we had to send the girl home, and she actually went straight into therapy from camp. I just think the most important thing is not to blame the camper for their problem, it will just make them defensive and to have an educated staff and someone with eating disorder experience to contact and ask questions if you ever need to.

I also agree with all the body image talk and how hard it is on teenage girls. I also think its just as probable with boys and not taken anywhere near as seriously. Boys are starting to be effected just as much my body image expectations and the media as girls are. And sports often play a huge role in meeting certain weight requirements the crazy amounts of exercising. The treatment facility I was at has seen a drastic rise in boys with anorexia (VERY seldom bulimia) in the past two years or so. We have to make sure not to leave them out of our concern!!

Anyways, I am rambling too. Its definintely an important topic to me too cause I have had at least 2 campers tell me that camp saved their lives for this very reason. Y'all rock though, I wish all counselors could be so concerned and tapped into the huge effect that our society and media play on our children. Being a role model is for sure a year-round lifestyle kinda thang.

[Melk]

Ok so this one time I had this girl that would not eat anything unless it has katchup on it. When I sent her to the kitchen staff they would not give her any. When I went up and explained her situation they still would not give us katchup. I dont remember what ended up happening but what would you do in this situation?

[KiwiCRB]

Haha i'd go in the pantry and grab some. Or tell the camp director about the situation and she'd get some.

[kilolo1943]

I was a borderline eating disorder camper. If it wasn't for one counselor, I would have gone into full blown anorexia. They wouldn't let me out of the room until I ate something.