Troubled Campers (1971)

what know is no we're going out to the swamp face the other way face the other way that's the back Camp has pioneered in creating a therapeutic summer environment for boys with emotional problems it provides such children with a unique opportunity to enjoy some of the happier experiences of childhood away from many of the tensions that have contributed to their problems then I starty hit them with the help of understanding counselors these boys begin to learn new ways of dealing with their feelings I can't take when he hits me yeah I know that's a lot of why you get hit in the first place observing this front anous behavior of these children in the camp situation and the ways in which it is dealt with can be valuable to anyone working with children in order to help people recognize and understand emotional disturbance the boys and staff of the camp agreed to having films made at Campo throughout One [Music] Summer a recording this was and is a recording but don't play with the equipment okay boys when the boys first arrived at Camp they were very conscious of the cameras and microphones but before long the filmmakers and their equipment were just another part of the camp scenery you want to fight about it yeah you want to fight yeah do you I do you want to fight you often children's inability to deal with their own feelings prevents them from learning to get along with other people oh yeah down violent outbursts are only one of the more extreme signals of emotional disturbance in a child there are many others anxiety about bodily injury self-destructiveness suspiciousness clinging to rigid Behavior patterns poor tolerance for frustration and running away these are among the signs of disturbance which will be seen in this film of course all children experience such feelings to some degree it is only when these feelings are greatly exaggerated that children are considered emotionally disturbed hang on tight up for all children summer is a time of Discovery a time for exploring the world outside side as well as the inner world of thoughts and feelings it's a time for making new friends for trying new things and testing new muscles there a physical injury even a minor one can be extremely upsetting to some children here David is behaving appropriately I don't want to go but Billy's anxiety leaves him uncooperative unable to go to the infirmary voluntarily I'm not going what are you going to do limp around on the sore foot no K I'd better go to my perod and go to the [ __ ] doctor the disturbed child is more than usually sensitive about his sense of wholeness an accident or a bruise can threaten his fragile equilibrium as a result the sta of the camp infirmary usually spend as much time providing comfort and reassurance to the boys as they do dispensing bandages and aspir did you just come to rest a while want to take your jacket off and dry it up the infirmary thus becomes an important place for the staff to observe individual behavior in response to injury was that a gash or tiny gas a little Tru it's open mm that's not butterflies this is a butterfly I'll show [Music] you see he got a little thing cut out Steve expresses anxiety about his cut with constant questions and chatter the nurse takes his concern seriously she tries to reassure him by quietly explaining what she is [Music] doing back this is going to stay John's fear is greater than the pain usually associated with a small scratch that and his protests seem [Music] exaggerated I did I cut myself how do you know I didn't do it told me do so how do you know I didn't go like that I don't I Scott on the other hand seems to view his cut hand with some Detachment the cut was not an accident I I went I went one slce and I hit it I went like this can you I must have did it purposely huh can you hold this I must have did it purposely huh I don't know did you Scott's need for attention exceeds his personal discomfort his self-destructive act and now his taunting manner puzzle the Camp staff who find it hard to understand him no I'm going to go out and get him put him in the well' be a good idea that one not well you know you can come back to talk to us you don't have to cut yourself to come back [Music] yes you going to be in that or go up most children worry about being accepted by other people for Randy however the wish to touch and be close to one of the counselors is Twisted into an attack he's not sure whether he wants to kiss or bite no biting when I hold you you're safe I want to rub it off okay I [ __ ] got right believe and I'm [ __ ] you can't carry that it's too heavy I Ain your [ __ ] problem anymore Bruce is very conscious of the way he appears to others and is very sensitive to the possibility that other people are laughing at him often his response is to try to run away you're [ __ ] going to get me [ __ ] a piece so when they come in and grab me you [ __ ] going to laugh again I don't want you laughing I'm not laughing at you no you [ __ ] did before why you not laugh at your Bru cuz [ __ ] everyone else's I want to go on the overnight now we can't go until 3:30 that we don't have food we don't have everything packed what time is it now now 5 minutes [Music] you I'm not that for anything new and unfamiliar a change in the routine can be especially difficult for some boys F the inability to postpone anticipated Pleasures is another sign of emotional disturbance ni pleas myk for John the frustration of having to wait 4 hours to go on a camping trip creates intolerable tension running away is a characteristic response to such tensions get out get the [ __ ] out of here get the [ __ ] out of you go [ __ ] [ __ ] you no I'm getting B some of the accepted social conventions like those against swearing can be relaxed in the camp situation here Mike's swearing serves to discharge tensions and angers that gradually he will learn to express in more appropriate ways time up [ __ ] you I'm getting time to fish half an hour of fishing you don't like you [ __ ] lump it I'm sorry you were when I saw you was like many children who are considered emotionally Disturbed John has difficulty expressing his feelings verbally he is action oriented when he is punished for breaking Waterfront Rules by having to sit on the beach he becomes extremely frustrated as his anger and frustration build up he finally throws himself on the ground in a tantrum [Music] his counselor stays with John and prevents him from hurting [Music] himself when he regains control he will be better able to deal with the problems that led to the Tantrum okay most of the boys ignore John's tantrum and go on with their normal activities there are times however when tensions affect everyone in the camp visitors day is one of these as one would would expect since unresolved difficulties with parents are common to many Disturbed children the boys are on their best behavior all day but after the parents have left outbursts are frequent and [Music] contagious one Ro that's mine don't have anything that's mine found it's [Music] mine get out don't squ me get out hey Mark cut [Music] it at bedtime fears which are manageable during the day often become magnified Johnny's counselor has brought him to the camp office so that his fears about darkness and going to sleep can be calmed without upsetting the other boys in his cabin sep things Qui down tomorrow when you wake up the same as it today activities excessive emotional Behavior tends to elicit extreme responses in adults holding is only one way of soothing a pan panicky child but in this case together with the counselor's quiet calm voice it seems effective I'm going to go with you let me enough I walk yeah see me sit down sit down J older and larger boys call for different techniques Jay has been deprived of a trip to town for continual stubbornness here his anger and frustration as he runs after the truck appear understandable what is not visible is the extent to which he provoked the staff to punish him J look I want to Y [ __ ] kid bullshitty him who asked me to put you back on wasn't it I don't know who was you were right there when he asked me I knew I was you were sitting at the table and he asked me if you could go back on as a waiter and I said yes when I come back I don't remember you were sitting right at the table I don't remember I just think of all the time all the little things that build up of sometimes when I get sent back sometimes when someone kicks me I can't kick him back when all those filds up I get I get really Ang me and I just run you know you say yes well don't just run away go over and talk children such as these have one thing in common the need to be accepted and valued they also share an inordinate fear and reluctance to reveal their true feelings unless they are convinced again and again of this acceptance we just go or at least you try to what counselors of Camp are trying to do to help you become adults who don't have to fly off the handle and be able to talk about your anger rather than just get angry yeah but if you mad at some you don't just walk up to them and stop talking well maybe not right then but this is something you know you get better and better at you know you say okay I feel real real angry now but I'm going to wait till later because I know I'll feel calmer later and then later maybe the process of winning trust can be a very slow one AR often it is not achieved until the very end of the Camp season but if the boys can succeed in establishing relationships of trust at Camp they will find it easier to continue their progress when they return to their homes and [Music] [Music] schools for