Cub Camp/ Residentials- Experiences reassure me please

[clareykb]

Just after info and reassurance, DTs (aged 8) are off on their first cub camp in a few weeks- They are over the moon excited and I am so anxious it is unreal - Trying my very best not to project on to them.

Irony being I spent years as a teacher taking kids on residential trips and telling anxious parents that they will be fine but now its my own I am so worried that they will get lost or hurt themselves! I like and trust their leaders so all of this is pretty irational. They haven't really done sleep overs before other than with family with lock downs etc but we do camp lots as a family so that bit won't be unfamiliar.

For context DTs were born prematurely and we had a rocky ride in the early days- They are our only ones after a history of pregnancy loss so there is an element of PFB about them that I am totally aware off.

Anyone had a similar experience and want to reassure me fire away!

I used to be a Beaver leader and a Cub leader and I only ever had to ring one parent to collect early , I never managed to lose or maim anyone ( except myself ) they will be fine and have a great time .

thanks @Floralnomad thats what I need to hear... I keep reminding myself that in all my years of school resindentials the only person I ever had to send to A and E was the over confident trainee teacher who hurt himself showing off...

I've just come back from a beaver/cub/scout camp and if your DT's do feel home sick or experience the usual sort of mishap (grazed knees etc) they'll be plenty of reassurance/ help from leaders/parent helpers. Even if you do need calling to collect them if the camp is close enough they could always just go back the next day. It's all about having fun and experiences to help them grow so take a deep breath and wave them off with a smile.

Mine are older now and growing in confidence and one is only a year away from university. I look back and am sooo grateful to those who took them away from home overnight and gave them such fun experiences when they were younger. Many volunteers. All of them passionate about giving young children good experiences. It has gone such a long way to making them confident young people now and I hope will continue to set them up for life. It’s such a gift both you and the volunteer leaders are giving them- reflect on the fun and new experiences, self confidence and resilience they will be getting when they are away from you: it might not be easy for you but it is amazing for them. Well done for permitting it. You won’t regret it.

Leaders are well aware - always - of all the anxieties and worries of both dc and parents. This Summer they have added to that the fact that we have had these very strange last two years and that they will likely be taking a whole pack where no-one has camped before, or with very limited experience of camping as cubs.
All that will be taken into account in the planning and the Risk Assessments that have been done.
I worried far less when mine were on cub / Scout / Explorer camps than when they were ever away with anyone else.

Oh, and everything @Thethingswedoforlove said.

They'll have a blast. I say that as a Brownie leader- the leaders will keep them busy and will manage any homesickness.

I wouldn't have let mine go at age 8. Similar circumstance, I just think it's too young. They're not overly convinced about the y6 residential coming up. Youngest in the year and very prem so there's a huge difference between them and the early September norms

I've got a Cub, and I'm involved in his group and my own group. I try not to get involved in his camps because he needs that genuine experience without me hanging around.

For obvious reasons our Cub pack is less experienced than usual as most are. We recently had a couple of nights camping to warm up for a bigger camp. For some it was their first ever night away. One didn't like saying goodbye, but he settled quickly after. It was DS's first night like that in 2+ years and he was fine. As things were going well, I did dip in and out to support. If he'd been clingy, I'd have kept away rather than aggravate the situation.

It does feel very different when its your own child. I sometimes get the surreal experience of being there but not there on the wider site with my other group which is the worst of both worlds 😂

It's well worth sending them, they get so much from it.

They will have the best time. As leaders we are aware of the last 2 years and so are being more 'gentle' than usual with them.
I'm sure this applies to all leaders. The safety of the children is always paramount. ( And we don't want to be up all night with a sad child- so you'd be rung sooner rather than later. )

Thanks everyone it is just 2 nights and fairly local so I could get them if needed. Their pack did a residential trip (not in tents) back in October but kids had just gone up from Beavers so didn't go then and were super disappointed. Deep down I'm sure they will have a blast, their prematurity doesn't really effect them maturity wise now @nearlyspringyay its more when I think about the early years, They are also early September born so don't seem younger than their peers but I get your point there used to be a big gap when they were younger.

I completely understand the anxiety about them going away for the first time.
I worry constantly.
Seriously though, they're likely to love it!
I went away with Brownies at that age and my youngest DS is an Explorer now (next one up from Scouts) and been going on a night away since approx age 7 at Cubs.
I see it as they learn great life skills and have fun at the same time, and try to keep myself busy so I'm not thinking about it at the same time lol

Ds (9) is heading off on his first cub camp too, but it's 2.5 hours away so I really hope I won't get a call! I'm more worried about him being homesick so if we get him on the bus, I think all will go well. He had his first non family sleepover over the recent holidays and loved it so I hope that helps.

Hope your twins have a ball!

So slightly over the top but to help ease my anxiety I got my kids personalised ID bracelets which say "if lost please call xxx" and they know if they ever get lost they should go and find an adult lady and ask for her help. I got them from Amazon and they wore them when we have been to festivals, when we go skiing, theme parks etc.
Might be worth considering of them getting lost is your main concern.

I took my Brownies on Pack Holiday in January for the first time in almost 3 years (we had been due to go not long after first lockdown started so it was already almost a year since our last trip). It was the first time staying away from family for almost all of them, and they all did absolutely brilliantly! No homesickness, no disasters, no A&E trips. We're going again in three weeks (I may be insane.) I hope your DTs have an amazing time!