To think this is a stupid rule - no calls home on scout camp!

100% this, i thought it was great just because parents have seperation anxiety doesn't mean kids need phones constantly

Mobile phones are a scourge on childhood.

Even before widespread use, children did not phone home from camp - the main reason was homesickness.

If an urgent message needs to be passed, it can go through the leader.

The daily WhatsApp from the leader means that you can still live vicariously through your son. You can have a real catch up when he gets back.

I love it that my teen gets to experience life without a phone on camp. No news is good news at these events.

I'm just back from Wings - so a similar event. The group leader allowed phones and tbh, they were a pain. Girls would come back from the guilds early and just sit on them, one would sit and watch TV and then have a breakdown because her phone & Powerbank were flat and the fuss she made about wanting to go to the trading post where she could charge it!
There's also the additional risk of it being damaged....

So absolutely support your son's leader, they should have a home contact in place & hopefully, like us, have whattsapp or similar to keep parents updated. The digital detox is great!

Scouts at Kernow last year. Ours have never been allowed phones. It's brilliant. DS has done this since he was 10.
The tent next to them had phones, they were up all night, a total pain and got constantly told off by their leaders.

This is normal. My child has done two PGL trips in primary and then secondary and the rule was the same. I totally get it. It’s not like you won’t be contacted if there is an issue. It’s good for kids to be without devices, they cause nothing but problems.

No child needs their mobile phone on a Scout trip - as much as they’d like them. They’re there to switch off from tech and enjoy outdoor adventures and time with friends.

Its also a massive safeguarding issue for leaders to manage - groups of teens together away from home with phone my be encouraged to take photos/videos that cause distress to other Scouts.

Theres also the issue of losing/breakage and leaders being held responsible

If a Scout is in distress and cannot be settled they will always be allowed to speak to parents via the emergency contact given.

Scouts is one of the few places that kids can still be kids

Firstly, phones stop the children interacting with each other.
Secondly, in my experience, phoning home brings on homesickness.
We all used to survive a few days without being able to contact our parents and it’s not a bad thing for children today to experience.

One of mine is also at Poacher!

If a 7YO at beavers/brownie camp can cope without needing to phone home then it’s laughable really to suggest that a 14YO needs to. Not to mention kids often don’t fully engage with the activities when their phone is an alternative and most importantly the huge concerns around safeguarding.

No adult is going to give their time to taking children away to have an exciting experience only to police phone usage the whole time.

There are countless reasons why phones should not be taken, and none why they should be.

My DS aged 11 is just back from a 7 night scout camp and wasn’t allowed phone, he was absolutely fine! The leaders had our details and we had theirs. If there had been any kind of emergency the right calls would have been made!

I’ve got a child at Poacher currently - the third Poacher in a row I’ve sent one of mine to. I am very grateful they’re not allowed phones and I’m surprised your child’s friend was allowed to take one. They need to be talking to one another, not their parents. He’ll come home full of stories, it’s a very well run event.

Gosh, however did us Guides etc and leaders cope without such thing in the 1980's? I know we were just having too much fun to miss home.

Whats the point of doing a camp if they’re going to spend all the time on the phone. It’s not necessary. Let them get on with enjoying that and leave them be. This sounds more like the parent wanting control from afar.

Cut the apron strings a little...

No phones means the kids actually learn to communicate with each other properly.

Glad to see Poacher is still running. I went 30 years ago, and no, we didn't phone home then either...

Kind of nice for them to get away from screens for the week, I appreciate this about scouts. My DS is much younger and in beavers, I love the good old fashioned fun they have.

Having said that, my DS is in cadets and they allow phones. Obviously the children’s responsibility so if they lose it, that’s on them.

So the scout leaders collect them in and what happens if one or two or all go missing or they get damaged? Some little scrote doesn’t hand his back and records your child in the shower(lol they don’t wash) or in a vulnerable position, and sends it to friends or posts it online? Would you be happy? Logistically they don’t have a safe to put them in. They are at a camp where other kids adults are on site. This measure is purely for the protection of your child and their property and the about leaders protection. Trust me, scout leaders put up with a lot on camps, add to that precious parents who want their child to phone every night but also look after personal property is a bit much.

This is normal for us. No phones on camps or residentials.

I wish they had this rule at my daughter’s residential in September. Sounds great.

He is a scout, not a Beaver. He will be fine. You do not need to be in contact. Hope he comes back with lots of tales of the fun he has had.

If you've ever been on a residential where a parent has turned up because their dc phoned in tears saying they couldn't cope - and you've had to take them round to see their their dc is happily joining in without a worry in the world, then you'd agree with the policy.

Problem is kid has a wobble, low moment and has their phone. They phone thinking it will give them some reassurance, and find that actually it makes the homesickness worse. They come off the phone, and someone calls to them and they go and join in... and find that actually they're enjoying it and are happy.
Meanwhile parent worries because they've had that phone call. Kid won't answer it (because they're now having great fun and aren't thinking about their phone) and so they decide they're going to have to go and rescue their poor child.

If they don't have phone, they have to go through a leader to speak to parents which means that firstly the leader has a chance to distract them (which works most of the time) and also then the leader is aware that they're struggling and so can keep an eye on them.

OP, is your username because of the Scout camp or just general? Because it is a bit unhealthy to be worrying about his lack of phone if it is to reassure you at his age. The phone policy is very sensible - it’s just too hard to police, especially at such a massive camp. Try to see it as a learning and positive experience for him - lots of adults go to no phone retreats!

My son went to his junior poacher day today - he’s had an amazing day, I hope your son has enjoyed it. It makes me nostalgic for being a scout, though all my camps ended up in downpours and a more mudpit vibe than they’ve got this week. Part of the freedom is being free to experience things without fear of being filmed or worrying what you look like or who’s watching. If there was an issue, all the leaders will have phones so he’d be able to call you from their phone.

I’d be applauding this, not questioning it.