Son about to embark on first cub camp - what advice to give?

Counting_Pennies_2

Hi all,

My son is about to head off on his first ever trip on his own. He and his sister have once or twice stayed at Grandparents over night.

But never been away on his own or camped.

He will be sleeping with 5 other cubs in a tent and will need to find his way to an outside loo in the night.

He is so excited about it and can't wait to go. I am anxious and not sure what or how to give him advice without my anxiety coming through.

The organisation of the Leading cub helpers is pretty dire. Paperwork not as it should be and I am not sure if I am overly happy with the general attitude of those at the top recently. There are some parent leaders who are going and I am happy with which is helping me stop cancelling the trip as my son would be devastated.

I am sure it is just my anxiety fueling my concerns, but how would you go about preparing your 9 year old for going away for the first proper time.

Many thanks

mrcow

You may get lots of advice, but the real advice is the following:

Pack soap, but don't expect it to be used.
Pack toothpaste if you like, but it will come back unsqeezed.
Pack changes of underwear if you wish, but they will come back unworn.

And be prepared to sling him in the bath tub when he gets back.
And have his bed all nice and clean......he'll adore you for it after sleeping on the floor for a week.
And have something nice prepared food-wise and he'll love you forever because the food at camp is very "samey" due to the limitations with facilities.

He needs a torch.
He'll be fine, don't worry.
Don't stop him going. it's just about the most fun a 9 year old can have.

fozziebeartoo

Definitely needs a torch.

And at least twice as many pairs of dry socks as you were planning to pack.

His feet WILL get wet, very wet, very often........even in a drought.....

No idea how or why, it just happens

Alikay

Just tell him you'll be thinking of him, and to have a fantastic time! Having been a helper at many cub camps, I wouldn't worry too much: The kids all tend to eat well and most sleep soundly after a day racing around in the fresh air. there won't be much chance to call home or have you call him so reassure him that it won't be necessary...in general it's counter-productive and can upset them more if the trip is just a long weekend.

Please don't give a list of food likes and dislikes...he won't go hungry, and may try stuff he normally won't eat when his appetite has been sharpened by fresh air and activity (obv food allergies are different and the leaders will need to know). Don't pack a load of snacks...they attract ants, cause squabbles and put kids off their proper meals.

All scout campsites have had risk assessments, and leaders are trained to keep your kids safe....there ARE accidents, but usually just the normal falls, sprains and grazes you'd expect on a normal trip spent being very active in the outdoors.

Oh and be be prepared to bring him home stinking like a polecat, falling asleep for at least 12 hours and wearing someone elses underpants!

joannasmum

The advice I would suggest you give him is. Make sure he has a wee before bed! Also make sure you pack him warm clothing for bed and advise him to wear it!. There is nothing worse than being cold in the night when camping, even when your 9

Try and relax, he will have a ball. He will be exhausted and filthy when you pick him up so be prepared with a bath and easy to eat meal!

apesxx

My dd has just come back from beavers camp and she was absolutely filthy on her return but had a fantastic time. Try not to worry and I'm sure your son will have a great time. My dd is 6 BTW but is very confident to go off and sleep in different places x

Alikay

joannasmum wrote: »

Make sure he has a wee before bed!

The leaders will take them all to the loo after the campfire and cocoa - he won't have to remember himself . And if the worst happens, there will be spare emergency sleeping bags. It does happen, and gets dealt with without any fuss.

pigpen

Behave.. Do as you are told and .. Have a good time!!!

That's all he needs to know

fannyadams

Just seconding everything everyone said so far. especially the bath, bed and food.
Pack charity shop bags to bring home the stinky kit in as black bin bags can be mistaken for rubbish bags and get left behind or chucked in the skip (bye bye clothes)
Don't send expensive clothes as they might get ripped/torn/snagged/drenched/rolled in the mud (i usually go to the charity shops and get t-shirts, jogging bottoms etc from there)
please put his name on EVERYTHING but don't expect to get it all back when you pick him up. Named stuff usually ends up on the 'is this yours table' on the meeting night after the camp and will get returned when the other cub's adult notices something new.
stick to the kit list (no electronic games i.e. DS, no moblie phones - the leaders are responsible for your child not their expensive electronic kit)

and only adding one piece of advice to give your son - try everything twice (activities, food, etc), as you can't be sure you really hate it after just one try.

cutestkids

To be honest you really do not need to give him advice as such, just make sure he has the kit list that is required including things like a torch etc and give him a hug and tell him to have a great time.

I work with children and have done cub camps etc many times over the years it was always the parents who were more worried than the kids.

They just get on with it and they will not be left to deal with problems on their own, that's what the leaders and helpers are there for.

valk_scot

Both my kids have been in the Cubs from 7 years old, DD is now 11 and a Scout, DS is 16 and an Explorer Scout. They've been going camping with the Scouts since they were 7, we've been going camping as a family when they were months old. My OH is a Cub Leader. I've been as a parent helper to several camps, when they needed a female helper. I would hazard a guess I know quite a lot about this sort of thing...;)

Firstly, the Cub Leaders may look a bit casual about all of this but that's because they've been doing it for years, they've seen everything and they know what the overwhelmingly likely response by the cubs will be...they'll get filthy dirty, not wash, not sleep, run around non stop, whinge about the food but eat four portions anyway and have a great time. In many ways it's the newbie parent helpers that cause most of the troubles because they try to make the kids behave, wash and brush their teeth, quieten down, sleep etc. Which is all a bit futile tbh, the kids are there to have a fun outdoor experience. The Leaders will have a program of activities though, the kids will be kept moving through this and there is structure, just not an obvious one. If there are Scout and Explorer helpers then they'll help sop up of the random energy, usually this involves a football or one of the hundred Scout versions of tig.

Anyway, tips for you...

Pack his oldest clothes, they'll be filthy when he comes back. Wash them anyway, he'll need them for the next camp. I've got a drawer for each of my kids just for old Scout/camping clothes. Stained, slightly torn, slightly small, doesn't matter. Label them all if you care about getting them back.

Good sturdy shoes. Walking boots are ideal, failing that sturdy trainers. Two pairs are better but you'll get away with one for one night. Wellies are useful but not essential.

Shorts and thick ankle socks are better than long trousers which get wet and flappy round the bottom and this transfers onto your bedding.

Lots of layers, including a good waterproof. NOT a thin nylon thing.

PJs are a waste of time imho. Most Cubs seem to sleep in their clothes, Scouts are a bit more civilized and sleep in their underwear and that day's t-shirt.

Four pairs of socks a day is my personal rule of thumb.

Torch plus spare batteries.

No electronic games, no phones. They're not there to be crouched over their phone wailing to their mum that it's the wrong sort of cocoa. Plus if one person has one they'll keep the rest of the tent awake all night. Cub Leader will confiscate it anyway.

Don't send them with lots of sweets, they'll be hyper enough. Or crisps that will make them thirsty half the night. Or drinks that will make them get up six times a night. Send a waterbottle though (a washed out 500ml coke bottle is fine) for walks.

If you're sending in a mat and sleeping bag, make sure the sleeping bag is an outdoor one. The sleepover type is unsuitable for camping, your child will have a really miserable night. Leaders always bring a pile of itchy old wool blankets for shivering Cubs with inadequate sleeping bags but really, a good Vango or Outwell or Coleman sleeping bag is a worthwhile investment if your child is going to do this regularly. £25 or so, get a 3-season adult one. Kids grow!

As for mental prep for your child, give them a hug and say Have Fun! That's it, the vast majority of kids have a great time and of the ones that don't it's usually because their parents have filled their heads with anxieties or because they (the child) has been so used to being fussed over re food etc that they've no clue as to how to cope solo in a normal group environment. But as I said, the Cub Leaders will have seen it all x100. And anyway, it's only a one night Cub camp, they're not going wild camping up Ben Nevis for a week and having to backpack in everything including their food. That doesn't happen untill they're Explorer Scouts at aged 16 by which time they'll be well used to this camping malarky. And you'll be more used to it too, trust me!