How to Stay Grounded
Homesickness is something that every camper feels because being away from home, no matter where you are, can be a lot to deal with. And being at a camp where everyone has the resources to combat it and help ground the campers is very important. “Camp Tuku is about true community and reliance on each other; knowing that we are stronger together,” shares one of our return counselors, Nat. At Camp Tuku, our staff have those resources, and are trained thoroughly in making sure they know how to show them to campers. Here are three different tools we show your camper during their stay with us.
In a time of stress, five finger breathing is an amazing tool that can be utilized literally anywhere. First things first, take whichever hand feels most comfortable and hold it out in front of you. Now take your other hand and put out your pointer finger. Starting at the outside base of your thumb, take a deep breath in as you draw up your thumb with your pointer finger. As you reach the top of your thumb, lightly tap it with your finger as you hold your breath for a few seconds. This can be however long is comfortable for you. As you release your breathing, trace your finger down the other side of your thumb. Repeat this process for each finger. Once you reach the other side of your hand, feel free to start over beginning with your pinkie finger.
This process can be done as many times as needed to help calm down one’s breathing, to ground oneself, or to even help guide others into a more relaxed state of mind. It can also be easily changed to trace something else, such as a smooth surface close by, while counting your breathing.
Speaking of using the area around you, another amazing way to help calm the mind is the sensory walk. This can be done both outside and inside. We start by inviting you to pick a spot where you might feel comfortable taking off your socks and shoes, though this is not necessary for the sensory walk. Taking a deep breath, close your eyes and notice the sounds around your first. If inside your home, can you hear the fridge running, or perhaps your family talking in the other room? If you’re outside, listen to the animals that might be around. Are the birds chirping and the grasshoppers making their presence known? Can you hear the wind whistling past you?
After sitting with this, at your own pace, stand and feel the ground beneath your feet. With shoes, socks, or bare feet, see how hard or soft the ground feels. Look around you and see what colors you can spot. How vibrant are those colors? What do those colors belong to? What can you smell? If you’re inside, perhaps someone is cooking, or cleaning in another room. If you’re outside, perhaps you can smell the grass and dirt below you. Maybe you can smell the pool, which reminds you of summer memories.
My all time favorite tool is the water station. With just a peak at some of our help-now stations, our water station can make all the difference. All you need is a glass of water, or perhaps even your water bottle. It truly is as simple as it sounds, because it starts with a sip of water. As you drink your water, feel how the water feels. Is it freezing cold or room temperature? Is it the first sip of water you’ve had today, super early in the morning? Or has your day been longer than that, with three water bottles finished? The best part of this station is that it encourages our campers to stay hydrated, which is super important under the Arizona sun.
Camp is right around the corner now, and there is still time to enroll your camper today! With three different sessions being held at our new location, there are plenty of opportunities to slide camp into your summer schedule. We hope to see you in Rimrock Arizona this summer, where campers and staff alike will be making new friends and the best summer memories.