Would you allow a 14 year old to go camping overnight with friends of same age

mandragora_2

I'd let mine do it (and did do) - you're describing sensible kids, who want to be a bit independent. How elsse will they grow up? It's exactly the kind of thing that makes being a kid, in England, in the summer, fun.


In an organised way, things like this are part of the D of E award, scouting etc etc. To get their awards, the kids have to do an expedition in a group, without adults there.

More harm in wrapping them up in hyper-cotton wool, in my opinion.

mountainofdebt

Provided the 17 year is equally sensible then I would let them go - after all, even to me camping in the back garden sounds a tad too childish.

However, to ease your mind a little why not get the boys to have a trial run in putting their tents up in the garden (so they know what they are doing!) and practise cooking ....so you'll feel confident that they will observe the country code?

jax-21

I had another chat with ds and have hopefully come up with a compromise. We have a large park just along from the house which has been used in the past for camping when we had our village festival and if I remember correctly some local teenagers camped there last summer (not sure if they had permission though ). I am going to phone the council tomorrow to check if they will be allowed to put up their tent. If they are, the tent could be positioned so that we could see it from our bedroom window and they would feel that they are far enough away from the house to have their bit of independence.
They wouldn't be able to have a campfire but we have told them they could use the barbeque in the garden and still do their own cooking. Fingers crossed.

Mollymop5

I have a 15yr old DS who is very sensible and so I thought were his friends.I said no to a camping trip a few months ago.I just didn't feel comfortable about it.I was the only parent to say no.His other 5 friends went.They drank heavily( something they weren't used to) and one boy got so drunk the others got worried and tried to carry him home middle of the night.I was woken with the noise in the street.It was a miracle he didn't die of alcohol poisoning.I was so pleased I'd said no.I'm all for letting them grow up and explore but I'd say go with your gut feeling.

Toothsmith

Absolutely YES.

vaio

jax-21 wrote: »

…….. I am going to phone the council tomorrow to check if they will be allowed to put up their tent…….

I’d just let them go. But, you are the parent and if you aren’t happy with it then they don’t go.

Re the council idea, I’d be staggered if you can get someone to say “yes”

Let us know the outcome please

Woby_Tide

I only remember doing this once and was surprised to be allowed.
a) Asda trolleys hurt when you hit a kerb and are in one.
b) Sherbet Lemons explode in many directions when placed on a fire.
c) If you've relied on Mums cooking for 14 years the first time you cook a frozen sausage on an open fire you end up 24 hours later on the toilet as you get impatient and end up eating it early so you can move onto a) and b)
d) If you all look 14 then the Asda security guards will be chasing you out without any alcohol so you'll be stuck with limeade and coca cola


Part of growing up really, that said I'd probably be more wary myself now as a parent.

barnaby-bear

mandragora wrote: »

I'd let mine do it (and did do) - you're describing sensible kids, who want to be a bit independent. How elsse will they grow up? It's exactly the kind of thing that makes being a kid, in England, in the summer, fun.


In an organised way, things like this are part of the D of E award, scouting etc etc. To get their awards, the kids have to do an expedition in a group, without adults there.

More harm in wrapping them up in hyper-cotton wool, in my opinion.

I did scouting and DofE we basically wandered 10 miles a day to a field and camped at 14, cooked for ourselves etc.... best thing I ever did.... we did a few camp outs and yes with Venture Scouts (I guess I was around 16) the older ones with cars and fake ID did get a few cans occasionally - but to be honest we did our independence thing in a really safe environment (knowing you could be checked up on was enough) - 2 cans in a 14 year old in a field is pretty safe - it's a field; let it happen for the first time at 18 in a nightclub with aggressive chavs up for a fight, alcohol on tap, dodgy minicabs to get home by, a few pills floating around - no chance.... to be honest at 14 melting crisp packets on a fire was enough... there weren't mobiles around... actually thinking about it my grandfather was working full time as an agricultural labourer at this age

barnaby-bear

Mollymop5 wrote: »

I have a 15yr old DS who is very sensible and so I thought were his friends.I said no to a camping trip a few months ago.I just didn't feel comfortable about it.I was the only parent to say no.His other 5 friends went.They drank heavily( something they weren't used to) and one boy got so drunk the others got worried and tried to carry him home middle of the night.I was woken with the noise in the street.It was a miracle he didn't die of alcohol poisoning.I was so pleased I'd said no.I'm all for letting them grow up and explore but I'd say go with your gut feeling.

I bet all of those kids grew up a hell of a lot.....

barnaby-bear

Burlesque_Babe wrote: »

15 minutes away from home in a field on their own at 14 with no house nearby. Do you know for definite there is a mobile signal if they have an emergency? It's not across the road - I'm thinking it must be a good 2 or 3 miles away?

It sounds a bit too far away for their first camping experience together without adults within easy reach.

Mobiles didn't exist when I did DofE/Scouts..... kids two years older than than 14 are allowed to sign up for the armed forces..... if the OP lets them go they have the option to pop in even use the threat that they *might*