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

No I think its the height of reasonableness. But if you dont like the idea, don't send your kid.

we weren't even allowed phone calls home back in my day, before the rise of smartphones

it actually helps kids be less homesick / be more present in the moment

Yabu. I'm shocked you didn't realize this is normal. At aged 14 your son must have gone on school trips and other scout camps. You are being updated by the leader.

It's normal, we had this at school trips, DofE trips and camps.

It’s standard. We managed on trips and residential without phones. I went to Spain on a PGL holiday at 14. No calls back home were allowed.

My 9 year old has done a residential recently Mon - Friday about five hours away. No phones.

It builds independence.

It's a huge mixed sex event.

The last thing anybody needs somewhere like that is a bunch of teenagers with phones.

It stops them being fully present in the experience, and also makes them homesick.
It stops them going to leaders on-site with problems, they could usually help but not if they never get to hear about the mean child/homesickness/injury until an angry parent turns up having set out on a mercy mission after a tearful secret phone-call.
Phones have cameras, social media and the Internet, and you don't want any combination of those in a tent of unsupervised kids.
They might lose or break it (or have it stolen or vandalised).

I think this is a good thing.
My son recently spent five days away at scout camp. They are not allowed phones, and there are no calls home.

He's 14 FFS, he'll be fine.

It’s a great idea. 14 year olds should be able to do without phones for a week. It will be good for him. If the leaders are keeping a WhatsApp group updated, what other info do you need?
Surely your child can just have a conversation with you about his time personally when he gets home. This is an experience for him, not one for the family to share.

You clearly have no idea of the dramas and safeguarding issues that can be raised by teenagers having smartphones with them on camp. It’s a very sensible rule and perfectly understandable and preferable to any parent who looks outside of their own bubble for more than thirty seconds.

Lots of reasons this is a good idea.
Phones are a constant distraction from the activities.
Safeguarding, some kids have porn / horror films/ a million other unsuitable things on their phones , they WILL share this with others. The scout leader cannot control this if phones are allowed.
Phones being lost/ damaged/ stolen. As a scout group helper I have seen scouts attempt to get in a canoe one handed whist holding their phone!
No one needs their phone on Scout camp.

DGS won’t poo at school in case someone photos under the door and post it on line -not great

This is not a good idea - just makes them homesick. I’ve done dozens of scout and school residentials, phones are NEVER a good idea.

Absolutely this!!
The people who do it, know what works.

Absolutely essential rule. My DS went on a school trip in Y10 where the stupid parents kicked off and got the no phone rule overturned and my poor DS had to spend every bedtime listening to his friend wittering on to his girlfriend for hours 🙄. He was lonely and bored as he had not taken his phone as wanted to enjoy the trip.

No child needs to face time their parent to share the experience - they can tell them about when they get home 🤦‍♀️

I think it’s great. I don’t need a FaceTime. Mine have been going to Beavers camp from 6 and eldest went for 4 days in Wales with Scouts. She also did 6/7 days in France with school, also no phones allowed. If they are missing home, they can absolutely speak to a leader and ask to call home.

But for safeguarding reasons, they really shouldn’t have phones. Our scout group only recently changed its policy and now allows phones on overnights, which is crap. I didn’t want to but felt pressured to send dd with hers because everyone else was doing it. She was 11 at the time. One of the other girls taught her how to circumnavigate the parental controls and they spent the whole night in their tent on TikTok (which dd is also not allowed to have) and prank calling restaurants instead of actually engaging with the activities and the leaders just let them get on with it.

They can stare at screens at home. A bunch of 13/14/15 year olds sent away with their phones will not be using them to call home every night. I don’t think dd has ever called me when away. They’ll be on social media and taking selfies.

Normal. I am a former Scout Leader who left finally because of 2 horrible parents - exactly the types who would kick off if mobile phones were lost, not charged etc. etc..

Not saying you are one of those OP but this is the reason for it.

Absolutely safeguarding nightmare all those kids with phones. Plus why not just let them be kids?? You need to cut the cord op!

Love how people who have never taken a group of children away before decide clearly thought out decisions are rubbish, without considering the people who have done it a dozen times before might have made a decision for a reason.

I could see an argument for maybe letting them be used for a call home every couple of days if they’re gone for a week+.

But being phone free except for that would be part of the appeal of them going, to me.

Is he ET 😜

Its a great idea.

Parent of two Scouts here - I don't think anyone (day or week) should be allowed phones for the same reason.
There is another thread about a 14 year old who is constantly messaging to go home, and the more you can message, the more likely you are to feel homesick.
The other 14 year old has other issues (which it sounds like are affecting other campers too - the other teen's dad is there and agrees about the issues) but the more you phone home, the more homesick you get.
Last week, my DD (12) was at PGL and they were allowed to phone home after tea but only on the landline and only with a member of staff supervising (and making sure they were actually speaking to parents - an unsupervised teen could easily be ringing a friend to say they'll sneak off camp to meet them!).

We have been going through the illness and unfortunately death of my mum recently and we decided not to tell her till the camp finished and DH could tell her in person when he picked her up. Our decision was much easier when we could know the only phone calls were from the centre landline and that staff were listening in case of upset or any issues.

Completely normal. We had this at school residentials from the age of about 11

It's part of the whole thing, staying away from screens and mummy and daddy. He's 14 not 4!