Whenever you do something new, it's important to consider how it may impact your well-being, both physical and mental. There are some videos below, as well as text overviews, about physical and mental wellness in the field. Hopefully these answer some questions you might have and help you plan ahead for success!

Physical Wellness Overview
Some of this overview pertains more to backcountry camping, but a lot of the information is applicable to both backcountry and frontcountry hitches. Backcountry means you are camping far from the road or developed areas. Frontcountry means you are in a designated campsite, typically with access to a restroom. However, even if you are camping in a frontcountry location, you may not have access to a restroom during the work day. We recommend you plan accordingly!

Washing Your Hands

Especially after going to the bathroom and before cooking and eating meals! Hand sanitizer is useful, but you should actually wash your hands with soap and water at least once a day. There should be a hand washing station set up at camp.

Pooping in the Woods

  • Find a spot 200 steps away from any water source, camp, or trail
  • Use a tool to dig a hole 6-8” deep and 4-6” wide (about the size of a 1L Nalgene bottle)
  • Bury and cover everything well afterwards
  • Do not bury any non-biodegradable products; if you bring non-biodegradable products, you must pack them out with you

Bathing in the Backcountry

If there’s a body of water nearby, you can use it to rinse off. If you do so, please wipe yourself prior to getting in the water. Bug spray and sunscreen can contaminate the water, harming fish populations and affecting their ecosystem. Wiping yourself beforehand can avoid this. If you're using soap, take some water away from the water source and use it to clean yourself - soap can also harm the ecosystem, even biodegradable products. If there’s no water source nearby, we recommend you take a sponge bath with a wet wipe.

Taking Care of Your Feet

Your feet spend all day in a dark, warm, damp environment, which is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. To prevent infections, take off your boots ASAP after the work day to let them air out (if you put your socks in your boots, they will not air out). We highly recommend bringing breathable camp shoes and multiple pairs of wool (never cotton!) socks to help avoid foot issues.

Staying Hydrated

Don’t forget to drink water! It is easy to let yourself get dehydrated, especially on your first hitch and particularly in colder months. Instead of chugging water infrequently, drink small sips more often. As important as hydrating throughout the day is, pre-hydrating in the morning and re-hydrating in the evenings is just as crucial. It is also important to hydration to eat salts and sugars, your electrolytes, which help your body retain and use the water that you drink. Your food cache will have sweet and salty snacks as well as electrolyte drink mix in it. Take advantage of this in the afternoons after you have sweated out many of your valuable salts and sugars. If you feel severely dehydrated (extreme headache and/or dizziness), let a crew leader know. All medical kits are equipped with extreme electrolyte replenishments. 

Menstrual & Feminine Hygiene

  • Wear breathable underwear and change your underwear daily. Cotton underwear is not recommended because it tends to trap heat and moisture.
  • Don’t hold in your pee! Holding it can lead to a UTI.
  • Don’t use a wet wipe after peeing. The wet wipe can kill good bacteria and lead to a UTI. We recommend using toilet paper or a pee rag, which is a piece of cloth (a bandana is a good choice) you use to wipe then tie or clip outside your pack. Although this may sound unsanitary at first, the sun will quickly dry your rag, and it is easily washable, making a pee rag the most recommended method to use.
  • If you don’t wipe at all, you run the risk of getting a yeast infection.
  • Stand To Pee/Personal Urination Devices (basically funnels that allow you to pee standing up) are widely available and can save a lot of time and effort! You don't have to walk as far, and you'll never worry about squatting in poison ivy or over a bees' nest again. If you are interested, do some research, since there are many brands and types available, and try it out at home beforehand (you may want to try it in the shower first in case things don't go quite to plan).
  • Consider your options when it comes to your period. We recommend that you bring your period products with you even if you are not expecting your period on a particular hitch, as you will be in a new and different situation and your normal cycle may be disrupted.
    • Disposable products have faster changing times and might be less messy, but you have to change them more often and you cannot bury them, you have to pack everything out. We recommend you bring two bags, one with enough products for the hitch (plus a few extra) and another to store the used products and packaging (these products are not biodegradable). You may want to wrap your "pack-it-out" bag in duct tape so it is opaque. You can add some baking soda, coffee grounds, or a tea bag to reduce odor.
    • Pads are not highly recommended, as you will be moving around and getting sweaty on hitch, which may lead to discomfort or chafing when using a pad. If this is the method you are most comfortable with, be sure to keep yourself as clean as possible, and consider bringing an anti-chafing product just in case.
    • Tampons can be very easy to use. For use in the field, we recommend the kind without an applicator, since they create less waste that would need to be packed out other than the tampons themselves.
    • Menstrual cups are eco-friendly, you don’t have to pack anything out, and you don’t have to change them as often (they can stay in for up to 12 hours), but it takes more time when you do change them, it takes practice to get the seal correct, and it can be a little messy. We recommend you use a menstrual cup for at least one period at home before using it on hitch. Menstrual cups can be cleaned by boiling or using hot soapy water. You may want to bring a small cup or bowl for this purpose.
    • Period underwear is becoming more popular and may be helpful on hitch. We recommend bringing several pairs so that you can wash them and have enough even if it's a rainy day and they aren't drying quickly. Like we mentioned for menstrual cups, you may want a designated cup or bowl for washing your period underwear. Depending on your flow, period underwear may not be sufficient to get you through a full work day, so you may want to use them as more of a backup to your preferred period product. Since it's super absorbent, depending on the brand and style, it may cause chafing as you work hard and get sweaty - consider getting a style that's meant for sports or bringing an anti-chafing product.
  • Please feel free to ask our staff and crew leaders about their methods, especially if it’s your first extended time or period in the woods. We’ve been there and want you to be as comfortable as possible!
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Pee Rag Example (this one is made by Kula Cloth)
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Stand to Pee Device Example (This one is made by PStyle)
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Waste kit Example (see pack-it-out bag wrapped in duct tape)
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Menstrual Cup Example
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Period Underwear example (these are made by Thinx)

Natural Hair Care

Full disclosure - none of our staff has natural hair. But we're always doing research on how to support our members in the field, and we've come up with these things to consider as you plan for your season with SECC. Please check out the articles and posts linked below for information from BIPOC folks with natural hair!
  • Your crew will be working in all conditions, including in the rain and in windy, dry environments. Try to consider how you’ll approach these challenges and bring what you’ll need out in the field.
  • You may want to consider a protective hairstyle to cut down on washing and maintenance needed in the field
  • Some folks may prefer to wear a silk/satin-lined cap or wrap under their hardhat to prevent moisture loss during the workday, as well as using a cap to sleep in
  • If you’re buying a new rain jacket for this experience, consider one that has a large hood that can go over your hardhat (or just over your hair and under your hardhat) to protect your style from the rain.
A compilation of stories and advice from several BIPOC adventurers, including some advice for helmet-wearing!
Style suggestions and hair care packing lists for different length trips in the outdoors.
Tips and tricks for hiking and backpacking with natural hair.
Thoughts about natural hair outdoors in the summer.
Aimed toward cyclists, but some good advice for helmet-wearing and styles that fit under a helmet.
A list of camping style suggestions from an annual weekend event in the UK. Geared towards short term camping.
A description of one woman's experience - many folks empathize or offer suggestions in the comments.
A woman talks about her changing perception of her hair throughout her life and adventures.
Considerations for exercising outdoors. Focused on runners, but you'll be getting hot and sweaty outdoors too!

Poison Ivy

“Leaves of three, let it be.” Poison ivy has a stem with two smaller leaves shooting off the sides and a larger leaf at the end. The leaves can be smooth or notched on the edges, but they all have pointed tips. The leaves are reddish in the spring, green in summer, and yellow or orange in the fall, and might have a waxy or oily appearance. When poison ivy is touched, especially if the stems are broken, the oils in the plant are transferred. These oils are what irritates the skin. 
​Your pants, your shirt, and your gloves are your first line of defense from contact with poison ivy. Do not touch your gloves to your face or eat with your gloves on. When you get back to camp at the end of the day, we recommend you use your gloves to untie and remove your boots, then carefully remove your gloves and change out of your work clothes. Keep in mind that the oils can remain in your clothes, so keep them separate from your other gear and out of your tent. Once you’ve changed, wash from your elbows down with soap and water right away. If you get a poison ivy rash, let a crew leader know. If your crew will be working in a heavy poison ivy area, you'll be issued Tecnu, a special soap that can help prevent and reduce severity of rashes from poison ivy.
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Example of Poison Ivy

Ticks

Ticks are small parasitic arachnids that feed on blood and can carry diseases. They have a flat, oval-shaped body and eight legs. Ticks can carry diseases like Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Alpha-Gal Syndrome (a red meat allergy). In general, ticks must be attached for 36-48 hours to transmit Lyme, so daily checks are a huge part of preventing tick-borne illness. Once a tick is attached, it is important to remove it promptly and properly (tweezers or tick key, see below) and to tell your crew leader any time you have an embedded tick. We keep a tick log as a record for potential worker's compensation cases involving tick-borne illness.
If you are bitten by a tick, try to identify the type, as different ticks carry different diseases and this information may be helpful. We don't want to scare you, but we do want to encourage caution and preventative measures, as ticks can be one of the more dangerous things that we encounter in our work.
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Examples of different types of ticks

Avoiding tick bites:

  • Daily tick checks are essential! Get a friend to check your back, strip down entirely to check yourself, and bring a small mirror to check hard-to-see areas. Make sure to check your hair too!
  • Treat your clothes with permethrin. We will make this available to you during training, but you are welcome to treat your work clothes (pants, socks, gaiters, boots) in advance.
    • Don't spray permethrin directly on yourself - it is only meant for treating clothing and can be an irritant when wet (once it has dried, re-wetting isn't a problem; it bonds with the fabric!)
    • ​Don't use permethrin on underwear (but do treat your socks)
    • Fully dampen your clothes with the permethrin solution and let it dry completely before wearing (don't dry in direct sunlight, as UV rays break down the permethrin more quickly)
    • Dispose of any extra permethrin carefully - the liquid is toxic to fish and can't be put down a drain! (it's recommended to let it evaporate in a sunny area or to simply save the extra to use later)
    • Use caution around cats - they are sensitive to permethrin even in the low concentrations used for clothes
  • ​Consider using gaiters. Some are pre-treated with insect repellent but even untreated gaiters make it harder for ticks to get inside your pants, and you can always treat them with permethrin.
  • Tuck your pants legs into your socks. This makes your socks act like gaiters, keeping ticks out of your pants.
  • Use bug spray, particularly on ankles, wrists, waistline, and neckline - anywhere that ticks could get into your clothes.
  • Bug sprays containing DEET may reduce the effectiveness of your sunscreen, be aware and reapply sunscreen as needed.
Ticks can be removed with tweezers or a tick key. All ACC first aid kits have tweezers for this purpose. It is important to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and to make sure you remove the head. Your crew leader can help you; we've all been there so please don't feel embarrassed asking for help removing a tick!
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If you become ill, particularly if you develop flu-like symptoms, tell your doctor that you have been working outdoors in tick habitat, even if you have not noticed any tick bites - your doctor will likely want to test for Lyme Disease or other tick-borne illnesses, which are generally easy to treat if identified early.
Blog posts about tick-proofing clothes & gear:
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Example of tick key

Mental Wellness Overview

Self Care

Self care is the practice of taking an active role in protecting one's own well-being and happiness, particularly during periods of stress. Self care can be broken down in many ways, but some helpful distinctions are listed below, along with some factors that can affect each one:
  • Physical - Basic or Functioning needs
    • Sleep
    • Nutrition
    • Movement
    • Fresh Air
    • Hygiene
  • Social - Interpersonal or Relationship needs
    • Social Time
    • Alone Time
    • Connection to Peers
    • Connection to Home
    • Connection to Place/Community
  • Mental - Emotional or Intellectual needs
    • Self-Expression (journaling, art, music, etc.)
    • Learning & Inspiration
    • Experiencing Mastery
    • Connection to Purpose
    • Gratitude
  • Spiritual - Soothing needs
    • Breathing Exercises
    • Meditation
    • Yoga
    • Self-Reflection
    • Grounding/Mindfulness Exercises

Physical Factors

Challenges you may encounter in the field:

  • Different sleep schedule
  • Sore muscles
  • Establishing new hygiene habits

Potential ways to mitigate these challenges:

  • Listen to your body - take breaks & stretch often
  • Let your sleep schedule adjust - be patient and talk to your leaders if you're having trouble
  • Keep yourself clean - this can impact mental health
  • Drink extra water - you need more than you may think!

Social Factors

Challenges you may encounter in the field:

Potential ways to mitigate these challenges:
  • New social group
  • Disconnect from home & family
  • Immersion in group - always being around the same people during work and camping
  • Take alone time when you can - usually after work
  • Talk to family and friends before you go - let them know you may be out of cell service so they won't worry
  • Give ACC staff's contact info to your family so they know who to contact in case of emergency

Mental Factors

Challenges you may encounter in the field:

  • Disruption of habits and routines
  • Increased stress in new situations

Potential ways to mitigate these challenges:

  • Start or continue self expression (journaling, music, etc.)
  • Bring a favorite snack for yourself
  • Bring familiar comforts like favorite books or music

Spiritual Factors

Challenges you may encounter in the field:

  • Anxiety in new situations
  • Separation from faith community

Potential ways to mitigate these challenges:

  • Practice grounding/breathing/mindfulness exercises to manage anxiety
  • Take personal time each day for faith activities

Self Care Brainstorming Questions

Stress:
  • What are some things that stress you out? (These can be pretty broad, e.g. "feeling out of control of a situation" or "feeling inadequate")
  • What are some things that you do to relieve stress?
  • What are some ways that you could adapt these stress relief techniques to the conservation corps environment? 
Challenges:
  • Consider the four self-care categories discussed above. What is one thing in each category that you think will be a challenge for you in this program?
  • What are some ways you could address each of these challenges?
  • Would you need to bring anything into the field with you to enhance your self-care? Make a packing list for a small self-care kit that you could bring with you. (consider things like paperback books, a journal, a meditation app, a favorite snack, etc.) 
Guiding Statement:
  • ​Think about why you joined this program – write a statement to come back to on the tough days that will help remind you why you are doing this and what you will gain from it. ​