Understanding Trauma: What's up with "that" kid?
There is a challenging child in every group. As Christian educators we learn about Autism, Asperger’s, learning disabilities, and physical disabilities. We do everything in our power to meet children where they are and welcome them into our midst. We know Christ calls us to do so.
But what about the kid that doesn’t fit any diagnosis you’ve heard of?
…
That’s my kid, and his issue is early childhood trauma.
There is a challenging child in every group. As Christian educators we learn about Autism, Asperger’s, learning disabilities, and physical disabilities. We do everything in our power to meet children where they are and welcome them into our midst. We know Christ calls us to do so.
But what about the kid that doesn’t fit any diagnosis you’ve heard of?
…
That’s my kid, and his issue is early childhood trauma.
Summer Camp Is Even More Vital for 2021 and Beyond
A new article on the American Camp Associaton’s website makes the case that summer camp should no longer be considered optional:
As a mental health professional who works in the camping industry, I am convinced that summer camp is no longer an optional add-on to enrich a child’s experience while they are out of school; it is a vital need for all children and adolescents in 2021 and beyond.
A new article on the American Camp Associaton’s website makes the case that summer camp should no longer be considered optional:
As a mental health professional who works in the camping industry, I am convinced that summer camp is no longer an optional add-on to enrich a child’s experience while they are out of school; it is a vital need for all children and adolescents in 2021 and beyond.
8 Strategies to Help Generation Z Rediscover Hope After Coronavirus
This new book, The Pandemic Population by Tim Elmore was recently recommended in a summer camp group. It identifies eight strategies for helping Generation Z (those born between 1997-2012ish) — most of your current campers and young adult staff — rediscover hope after Covid-19.
This book provides best practices for leading in a crisis, helping handle the emotional impact of quarantine, as well as creative ideas to sustain morale and collaboration among students. It’s perfect for educators, parents, and coaches who lead kids.
This new book, The Pandemic Population by Tim Elmore was recently recommended in a summer camp group. It identifies eight strategies for helping Generation Z (those born between 1997-2012ish) — most of your current campers and young adult staff — rediscover hope after Covid-19.
This book provides best practices for leading in a crisis, helping handle the emotional impact of quarantine, as well as creative ideas to sustain morale and collaboration among students. It’s perfect for educators, parents, and coaches who lead kids.
Strategies to Help Working Parents Amid COVID-19
While many of our organizations are small, or otherwise exempt from legal requirements in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and other employment regulations, this article offers some excellent suggestions for supporting both the mental health and productivity of the working parents on your staff.
While many of our organizations are small, or otherwise exempt from legal requirements in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and other employment regulations, this article offers some excellent suggestions for supporting both the mental health and productivity of the working parents on your staff.
On Rest & Labor: Gardening 101, Fallow Time
Still, on the other side of work, it has to be said that fallow time—that listless period of uncertain backbuilding—seems to be just as necessary as labor.\
Still, on the other side of work, it has to be said that fallow time—that listless period of uncertain backbuilding—seems to be just as necessary as labor.
Why Every Environmentalist Should Be Anti-Racist
Intersectional environmentalism is an inclusive version of environmentalism that advocates for both the protection of people and the planet. It identifies the ways in which injustices happening to marginalized communities and the earth are interconnected. It brings injustices done to the most vulnerable communities, and the earth, to the forefront and does not minimize or silence social inequality.
The longer racism is not addressed, the harder it will be to save the planet, in part because Black activists’ time and energy are being drained.
Intersectional environmentalism is an inclusive version of environmentalism that advocates for both the protection of people and the planet. It identifies the ways in which injustices happening to marginalized communities and the earth are interconnected. It brings injustices done to the most vulnerable communities, and the earth, to the forefront and does not minimize or silence social inequality.
The longer racism is not addressed, the harder it will be to save the planet, in part because Black activists’ time and energy are being drained.
Grieving the Loss of Summer 2020
Dr. Chris Thurber offered a webinar earlier this week on the concepts that adults must understand before talking with campers about changes and cancellations to their summer plans. They are summarized here.
Dr. Chris Thurber offered a webinar earlier this week on the concepts that adults must understand before talking with campers about changes and cancellations to their summer plans. They are summarized here.
Finding Brave Space with Dr. Catherine Meeks
Finding Brave Space is a series of new videos on processing grief and lament with Dr. Catherine Meeks from the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing.
Grieving What We’ve Lost: A Liturgy for Now
No matter what decisions have been made, the spring and summer of 2020 have and will look and feel different from anything we prepared for or expected. There are silver linings and opportunities – and there is also real loss, of community, momentum, stability, purpose, milestones, and more. It’s important that we acknowledge these losses, and we want to do that as an ECCC community. We hope every member of the ECCC Community will join us on Friday, May 15 at 1pm PT/4pm ET.
We will pray and sing together and hear from some of our supporters from around the Episcopal Church. This is a service for the camp and conference center directors and staffs who have been navigating these heavy times, lovingly put together by members of this community. Following the service, we will release readings, prayers, and other resources that individual camps and communities can customize and use in their individual contexts.
o Plan to bring a significant camp object with you. You’re encouraged to use your phone, tablet, or a laptop to participate, from outside or away from your desk or standard Zoom dial-in spot.
No matter what decisions have been made, the spring and summer of 2020 have and will look and feel different from anything we prepared for or expected. There are silver linings and opportunities – and there is also real loss, of community, momentum, stability, purpose, milestones, and more. It’s important that we acknowledge these losses, and we want to do that as an ECCC community. We hope every member of the ECCC Community will join us on Friday, May 15 at 1pm PT/4pm ET.
We will pray and sing together and hear from some of our supporters from around the Episcopal Church. This is a service for the camp and conference center directors and staffs who have been navigating these heavy times, lovingly put together by members of this community. Following the service, we will release readings, prayers, and other resources that individual camps and communities can customize and use in their individual contexts.
o Plan to bring a significant camp object with you. You’re encouraged to use your phone, tablet, or a laptop to participate, from outside or away from your desk or standard Zoom dial-in spot.
Mental Health & Suicide Prevention for Youth & Young Adults
Here is a selection of resources and considerations for your work with youth and young adults, any of whom may be experiencing levels of grief, uncertainty, disappointment, fear, instability, or anger.
If you feel you or someone you know may need emotional support, please visit Lifeline’s website, call 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to speak to a caring counselor. The Lifeline is free, confidential, and available to everyone in the U.S. You do not have to be suicidal to call the Lifeline.
Here are three documents that outline concrete steps for helping someone process, and assessing if someone is a danger to themself. Consider how your camp can conduct these steps and offer this support in all the phases of distancing and re-opening we’ll be in for the next 3+ months.
This document from We Thrive Inside is worth sharing with your teen and young adult community members, to give them language to name some of what they’re experiencing or might see a peer experiencing.
Assessing Suicidality in Campers & Staff (This is a pre-2020 document)
Helpful resources online:
The Action Alliance site has resources for a huge variety of audiences, including in a faith-based setting.
Need a concrete tool to point youth and young adults to? Safe Space asks “What would help you right now?” and gives any browser the option for simple coping techniques or distracting games or meaningful connection, all online.
Tips on Mananaging Anxiety from the Child Mind Institute: How Mindfulness Can Help During COVID-19
If there is a tool you use, or a resource you’d like, please email Ashley@EpiscopalCCC.org.
Finally, the Crisis Text Line is looking for volunteers. Can you put your skills to good use?
Here is a selection of resources and considerations for your work with youth and young adults, any of whom may be experiencing levels of grief, uncertainty, disappointment, fear, instability, or anger.
If you feel you or someone you know may need emotional support, please visit Lifeline’s website, call 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to speak to a caring counselor. The Lifeline is free, confidential, and available to everyone in the U.S. You do not have to be suicidal to call the Lifeline.
Four practical tips for supporting yourself during this stressful time:
Set a limit on media consumption, including social media, local or national news.
Stay active. Make sure to get enough sleep and rest. Stay hydrated and avoid excessive amounts of caffeine or alcohol. Eat healthy foods when possible.
Connect with loved ones and others who may be experiencing stress about the outbreak. Talk about your feelings and enjoy conversation unrelated to the outbreak.
Get accurate health information from reputable sources.
Here are three documents that outline concrete steps for helping someone process, and assessing if someone is a danger to themself. Consider how your camp can conduct these steps and offer this support in all the phases of distancing and re-opening we’ll be in for the next 3+ months.
This document from We Thrive Inside is worth sharing with your teen and young adult community members, to give them language to name some of what they’re experiencing or might see a peer experiencing.
Assessing Suicidality in Campers & Staff (This is a pre-2020 document)
Helpful resources online:
The Action Alliance site has resources for a huge variety of audiences, including in a faith-based setting.
Need a concrete tool to point youth and young adults to? Safe Space asks “What would help you right now?” and gives any browser the option for simple coping techniques or distracting games or meaningful connection, all online.
Tips on Mananaging Anxiety from the Child Mind Institute: How Mindfulness Can Help During COVID-19
If there is a tool you use, or a resource you’d like, please email Ashley@EpiscopalCCC.org.
Finally, the Crisis Text Line is looking for volunteers. Can you put your skills to good use?
Video: Talking to Staff About COVID-19
We know how many of you are worried about not just your campers missing out on a summer camp experience, but on the impact on your young adult staff. This video/podcast with the Go Camp Pro team delves into it.
We know how many of you are worried about not just your campers missing out on a summer camp experience, but on the impact on your young adult staff. This video/podcast with the Go Camp Pro team delves into it.
Being Kind in Your Professional Life During COVID-19
Here’s some incredible guidance from the Executive Director of the Born This Way Foundation, whose mission is to build a kinder, braver world.
Decide to be flexible.
Support those who are struggling.
Understand that being kind positively impacts the bottom line.
Spread the kindness and meet needs outside of your organization.
These are just the headlines. Read the whole post here.
Here’s some incredible guidance from the Executive Director of the Born This Way Foundation, whose mission is to build a kinder, braver world.
Decide to be flexible.
Support those who are struggling.
Understand that being kind positively impacts the bottom line.
Spread the kindness and meet needs outside of your organization.
These are just the headlines. Read the whole post here.
Online Course: Mental Health First Aid for COVID-19
The Red Cross is offering this free course:
The uncertainty associated with a global health crisis like COVID-19 challenges everyone's ability to cope. This course will help you to build resilience and support yourself and others through this crisis by reviewing basic principles of providing psychological first aid, including how to recognize and manage stress in yourself and in others and how to lend support to family members, friends and coworkers during and following the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Red Cross is offering this free course:
The uncertainty associated with a global health crisis like COVID-19 challenges everyone's ability to cope. This course will help you to build resilience and support yourself and others through this crisis by reviewing basic principles of providing psychological first aid, including how to recognize and manage stress in yourself and in others and how to lend support to family members, friends and coworkers during and following the COVID-19 outbreak.
Ways to Promote Children’s Resilience to the COVID-19 Pandemic
The good news is that over four decades of research on resilience shows that protective factors can buffer children from harm and increase the chances they adapt positively to adversities such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Families and communities can work together to promote these protective factors.
The good news is that over four decades of research on resilience shows that protective factors can buffer children from harm and increase the chances they adapt positively to adversities such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Families and communities can work together to promote these protective factors.
Your Brain Won’t Work As Well: Tips for Spiritual Leaders during Covid-19
My brain is running too fast, I can’t catch my breath, and every so often I’m overwhelmed, thinking about those who are the most vulnerable. Right now, it’s like a big wave is crashing over us, or about to. But this is a big wave we can’t see.
What’s worse, our best tool for caring for people — gathering together — has been taken from us. We’re called to offer presence, but right now presence places people at harm.
My brain is running too fast, I can’t catch my breath, and every so often I’m overwhelmed, thinking about those who are the most vulnerable. Right now, it’s like a big wave is crashing over us, or about to. But this is a big wave we can’t see.
What’s worse, our best tool for caring for people — gathering together — has been taken from us. We’re called to offer presence, but right now presence places people at harm.
When the Going Gets Tough -- A reflection that speaks to me, and could to you, too.
Written in 2015, and completely relevant today:
Written in 2015, and completely relevant today:
When the going gets tough may I resist my first impulse to wade in, fix, explain, resolve, and restore. May I sit down instead.
When the going gets tough may I be quiet. May I steep for a while in stillness.
When the going gets tough may I have faith that things are unfolding as they are meant to. May I remember that my life is what it is, not what I ask for. May I find the strength to bear it, the grace to accept it, the faith to embrace it.
When the going gets tough may I practice with what I’m given, rather than wish for something else. When the going gets tough may I assume nothing. May I not take it personally. May I opt for trust over doubt, compassion over suspicion, vulnerability over vengeance.
When the going gets tough may I open my heart before I open my mouth.
When the going gets tough may I be the first to apologize. May I leave it at that. May I bend with all my being toward forgiveness.
When the going gets tough may I look for a door to step through rather than a wall to hide behind.
When the going gets tough may I turn my gaze up to the sky above my head, rather than down to the mess at my feet. May I count my blessings.
When the going gets tough may I pause, reach out a hand, and make the way easier for someone else. When the going gets tough may I remember that I’m not alone. May I be kind.
When the going gets tough may I choose love over fear. Every time..
KATRINA KENISON
We asked our community: What music is getting you through?
Something a little lighter for you, music to get you through these days, specially built by the ECCC Community:
Spotify Coming Soon
Something a little lighter for you, music to get you through these days, specially built by the ECCC Community:
Spotify Coming Soon