to be a bit grumpy with cub leaders?

[Mummyinthedark]

Well, DSs went to a cub camp this weekend. They had a lovely time despite the rain but...seemed to me to be poorly supervised on a few counts. Things that have made me grumpy are:

• neither DS cleaned teeth or washed (3 days 2 nights) the whole time and are adamant they were never asked or told to do this - or to change their clothes
• dinner finished very late each night - one night it was around 11.30 pm before they got the last cup of hot chocolate done - admittedly this is according to one of the children there, may be an exaggeration
• they got back an hour and half late. Given that they'd all had a big weekend and had to get up for school today this was not helpful.

• one boy who is a good friend of DS2 spent half a night with most of his body outside of the tent so got very wet and cold and is now unwell

Yes, I do appreciate the hard work and effort put in by the leaders and am normally quick to remind other parents how brilliant it is that they do all that they do just for fun...but, really, AIBU to think they should be a bit more organised and a bit more on top of routine and health/hygiene for the children in their care?

I didn't exactly expect them to go meekly to sleep at 8 pm but they don't seem to have been encouraged to settle down and given the sort of routine I usually associate with the scouting association.

Well said, Scholes.

OP, glad you realised YWBU. Standards are very different on camp. As another poster said, being tired and grubby is all part of the experience.

I regularly take children away as a brownie leader. The children are all reminded to brush their teeth etc but if they don't it isn't going to kill them! Going to bed late usually means that the brownies going to sleep, put them to bed earlier means they're still awake but much harder to supervise. You're boys sounded like they had a great time I hope you thanked the leaders for giving up their time. My son is in scouts and has had some fantastic experiences thanks to camps etc. Whinging parents are responsible for leaders giving up. Unless it's a safety issue you are being v unreasonable to complain. Sorry rant over!

You're right, I've been too wrapped in other stuff to appreciate how much the leaders have put in this weekend.

I guess I've been too involved in worrying about my mum etc., and I didn't "get" that the camp would be organised differently to my own childhood experiences. Clearly, I do now.

I am quite ashamed of myself, especially as I remember the reaction of one of the leaders when the DSs gave them presents and cards at Christmas - she said it was the first time she'd had a Christmas present from one of her cubs in nearly 20 years.

Last night I asked MNHQ to remove this thread as I was worried that one of them might come across it and be hurt - as other scout and guide leaders have done, and for which I apologise. They won't do this.

I would be grateful if no one else posted on here now. That way the thread will get less airtime, and be less likely to upset anyone.

If anyone wants to say anything further about my OP to me please feel free to PM me.

thanks

The fact you bothered to send the cards show how much you do respect what they do. With everything else going on its understandable that the small things become big things. Nothing for you to feel bad about

Thank you for that, Mummyinthedark

Maybe you should volunteer to go and help and sleep for 3 nights in a tent in the rain?

I'm an assistant leader for beavers - we have a one night camp this weekend and only one parent has volunteered to sleep over at camp. Many others just look on it as a cheap night's babysitting.