Dilemma - Cub Camp

Mumstheword

Ellie2758 wrote: »

Why would it be church-associated?

the beavers/cubs/scouts association is a church association:)

ruthyjo

As a school governor I have been involved in helping staff conduct risk assessments for school trips. This has involved such delights as visiting the planned destination to photograph the toilets (!).

How can the pack leader have conducted an adequate risk assessment when they have changed plans at this short notice? I think you are well out of the camp which sounds inadequately organised and heading for difficulties. Badly planned trips occasionally ends in tragedy and adults involved can be prosecuted so I think your OH would have taken a risk by going. I really hope all is well for the remaining participants of course.

By the way Alton Towers has been a bit of a disappointment to my children and full of mega queues.(Although it's not, in my opinion, as bad as Blackpool and I am from Manchester, not the South.)

Savvy_Sue

Mumstheword wrote: »

the beavers/cubs/scouts association is a church association:)

I don't think so ... Many Scout Groups are church-based, and a (decreasing) few require attendance at church, but it is NOT explicitly a Christian or church-based organisation, although it does have a foundation of belief in God.

The Group DS2 used to belong to met in a hut completely separate from the church, and they have no church links at all, beyond 'requesting' that they attend St George's Day Parade once a year. The one BIL helps lead meets in a church hall, and they have church parades, but no sanctions if the members don't go.

Kimitatsu

The Scouting movement is not church based as in it is not funded by the church.

It is however broadly christian in its outlook, and if you do not believe in god then you cannot become a scout/cub/beaver/guide/brownie/rainbow leader, however you do not have to prove your attendance to any church.

The scouting movement is a seperate charitable organisation in its own right and recieves no outside funding from the church as far as I am aware.

I would agree that on the face of it this does not seem to be a well organised cub pack, but the first thing that strikes me is why you are going so far away for a camp? I know Walseby is a good camp site but I am sure you have many just as good closer to home!! I would also question if this is your boys centenery camp, this year is the 100th year of scouting, and there are special neckers and woggles for those children that fill the four criteria of joining in, going on a centenery camp, sunrise service on the 1st August and bring a friend to a meeting.

If you have a complaint then you can complain to the District Commissioner of your area or direct to the scout association which can be found at https://www.scouts.org.uk, I hope this helps, but in their defence any scout leader does this on a voluntary basis not a paid one.

BernadetteN

Kimitatsu wrote: »

The Scouting movement is not church based as in it is not funded by the church.

It is however broadly christian in its outlook, and if you do not believe in god then you cannot become a scout/cub/beaver/guide/brownie/rainbow leader, however you do not have to prove your attendance to any church.

The scouting movement is a seperate charitable organisation in its own right and recieves no outside funding from the church as far as I am aware.

I would agree that on the face of it this does not seem to be a well organised cub pack, but the first thing that strikes me is why you are going so far away for a camp? I know Walseby is a good camp site but I am sure you have many just as good closer to home!! I would also question if this is your boys centenery camp, this year is the 100th year of scouting, and there are special neckers and woggles for those children that fill the four criteria of joining in, going on a centenery camp, sunrise service on the 1st August and bring a friend to a meeting.

If you have a complaint then you can complain to the District Commissioner of your area or direct to the scout association which can be found at https://www.scouts.org.uk, I hope this helps, but in their defence any scout leader does this on a voluntary basis not a paid one.

Yes Walesby Forest is an awful long way from East Kent to travel but it was chosen for its proximity to ..... Alton Towers!

I do feel a bit of disappointment for them that it is centenary year but there are just too many reasons now not to go, such as the added travel distance to Blackpool, the possibility of another disasterous falling out amongst the adults, and the fact that my husband was travelling 1500 miles from Moscow to join the Cubs for the highlight of their centenary camp which was their now cancelled Alton Towers trip. Unfortunately Dover District has also decided NOT to hold a sunrise service which is also a great disappointment, bearing in mind that Dover will be one of the first places in the UK to see the sun actually rise (instead we are having a "sunrise" service at Dover castle some time like 9am)! So really it's not a great centenary year in Scouting in East Kent.

NAR

BernadetteN wrote: »

Unfortunately Dover District has also decided NOT to hold a sunrise service which is also a great disappointment, bearing in mind that Dover will be one of the first places in the UK to see the sun actually rise (instead we are having a "sunrise" service at Dover castle some time like 9am)! So really it's not a great centenary year in Scouting in East Kent.

What a pity, especially with such a beautiful backdrop of Dover Castle.

vaio

pulliptears wrote: »

………. After all, by far the best part of camp is settling down with a glass of wine when the kids are all asleep!..............

It was a long time ago but from what I remember the time when the kids were asleep stretched from 02.30 when the giggling by torch light stopped to about 05.30 when the little darlings were up and playing football

that was cubs, maybe girls are better

melancholly

just have to say, i drive from nottingham to manchester weekly - and it's not a fun drive - adding on the bit to Blackpool, in tourist season, sounds just pointless! they will spend more time on the motorway than in Blackpool (regardless of whether it's worth visiting or not!). i would not want to be on a coach load of hot, tired cubs/beavers for that length of time lol

Carmina_Piranha_3

owner wrote: »

How stuck up are you southerners ? Blackpool Pleasure Beach knocks spots off Alton Towers. Cut off your kids noses to spite your own snobbish face why don't ya ?

what's snobbish about preferring the towers to the pleasure beach? it's a case of personal preference surely. if the op hasn't been to alton towers i can see the big rides being quite a pull. i know i'd rather go to alton towers and that's not because of any snobbery.

off topic but the adrenaline week (early november) at alton towers is great - almost empty so the rides are walk-on (front row of rita is a must!). the entry is cheap too and accommodation might be cheaper at that time of year. they don't open all the rides but the main big ones are open and a selection of toddler rides, with plenty for that awkward size when they're under 1.4m tall too.

theme parks aside, i wouldn't send my kids to a camp with adults like that.

Carmina_Piranha_3

i don't know blackpool's opening hours, but whenever we've visited they have opened at around lunchtime and stayed open late. alton towers is more of a 9-5 thing, so perhaps they thought blackpool's hours were more travel-friendly.

forgot to add, about the november thing at alton towers - oblivion is fab in the dark, you can't see the track so it's like going into a black hole. okay, i'll shut up about alton towers now :rotfl:

we're boycotting the pleasure beach this year anyhow, because of what they did to southport. traumatiser is just a poor man's nemesis anyhow.