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Original poster

PGL camps, is 7 too young

43 replies

lessthanBeau · 04/03/2014 22:26

I fully intend on sending my dd(currently 5) off to camp for a week as soon as she is old enough, they take them at 7, is this too young, she is extremely sociable and makes friends easily, my friend thinks it is too soon.
she goes away with family for holidays already and doesnt miss us at all.

OP posts:
Seeline · 05/03/2014 08:50

I don't think 7 is too young when with a group they know eg Brownies. My DD went for a weekend with Brownies and had a great time aged 8. However, she came home exhausted - I think a week at that age could be too long. Kids get very emotional when very tired at that age.
I cannot imagine sending a 7yo away for a week utterly alone - even a cousin of same age, unless they were very close, for such an activity break.

Kerosene · 05/03/2014 09:14

I was sent to PGL when I was 7. I had to get from Northeast England to Somewhere in Wales on my own (not actually on my own, there were minders the whole way).

I occasionally like to point out to my mum that she sent me to Wales! On my own! When I was 7! Oh, the neglect, the abandonment, the inhumanity! How Very Could She!

She tends to point out that I a) asked to go back for several years b) developed a lifelong love of outdoorsy stuff that's resulted in my current awesome career c) gave me sacks of self-confidence and the ability to do my own thing d) I got my own back decades ago by turning vegetarian on one of my PGL holidays.

If your 7 year old is independent enough to enjoy it, I'd happily recommend it. I don't recall any kids being homesick - it was one giant adventure, and we all made friends quickly enough that it was exciting, rather than scary. Some of my best childhood memories were formed on those holidays Grin

littledrummergirl · 05/03/2014 09:20

I went to a pony camp aged 13. All the others were roughly the same age except one who was 9. Although my friend and I took her under our wing(meaning we didnt get to fully enjoy the experience) there were a couple who were entiltled and spiteful and tried to make it difficult for her and then us.

I wouldnt even have considered sending mine away by themselves at that age.

Crowler · 05/03/2014 09:22

I have a confident, sociable 8 year old who is totally ready for a sleep-away camp. My 11 year old is still not ready, unless his brother is with him (he says out of earshot of 8 year old).

PollyIndia · 05/03/2014 09:28

I went when I was about 8 and my sister was 7 and we both loved it. We then stared going to something similar in Somerset called mill on the Brue from about 10-12. I have the best childhood memories from those holidays.

toospottytofly · 05/03/2014 10:18

I worked for PGL for a few seasons while I was a student. I would definitely send my DS there, but when he's a little older (10/11, I think). The only bit that worries me is that while the majority of the staff are amazing and will keep a really close eye on the kids, especially the younger ones, there's always one or two that are less so (the staff social life is lively). If she's with her cousin, knows how to contact you if there's a problem, and has done a taster session, I'm sure she'll be fine. It's a great experience!

Original poster
lessthanBeau · 05/03/2014 10:36

thanks everyone for your replies, I would like to point out to the dick in an earlier post , even though I fully intend to send her, I am canvassing opinons on the age range, I wasnt sure if 7 was too young or not, after all this is a forum for talk and opinons, is it not? do some people just lurk around waiting to make a dig? for instance it hadnt crossed my mind about the taster weekend, which we will definitely try, and thanks to everyone elses thoughts and experiences, I may be inclined to agree that perhaps 7 is a bit young for the full week.
halfwildling the image you conjured up for me is the deal breaker Grin

OP posts:
mercibucket · 05/03/2014 12:18

cheers for thatGrin

guess you werent at all hoping for a controversial slanging match then?

but as it didnt work first time round, why not throw a few insults and see what happens

BrokenToeOuch · 05/03/2014 13:00

Brokentoe - going with a group from school or brownies is VERY different from going on your own which is what most respondees are assuming the op means.

Oh I understand, thanks BackforGood. I have only heard of PGLs in terms of residential schooltrips, not general holiday camps. In that case, I don't know. Mine would more than likely have been very much up for it, but I know a few friends of mine whose children would not have liked it.

whois · 05/03/2014 13:09

I went on PGL holidays from the summer between y5 and y6 (so what would that have made me? Nine?)

Anyway I loved them and probably would have been fine to go a bit earlier too but totally depends on the child and if they are happy in groups of children they don't know and happy to spend nights away etc

flipchart · 05/03/2014 14:32

I remember talking to a group of mums nearly 11 years ago when DS1 was 7 and they got wind that DS was going on a PGL holiday at 7 and they were horrified.

As I said in an earlier post he loved it. I tried the taster weekend and he was told to give it his best shot but if he was really unhappy he could come home. He didn't want to come home........at al!! He wanted to stay on!

After that I had no qualms and the kids have since been abroad several times without us ( scout trips, school trips and more recently with mates) without a backwards glance.

I believe it did my kids a lot of good. The only trips they hated were the Do it 4 real holidays because of the other children. Both boys begged not to go on them again!!

flipchart · 05/03/2014 14:33

whois you would have been around 10/11.

Whathaveiforgottentoday · 05/03/2014 14:42

My confident DD went with the brownies last year age 7 and I thought she was just old enough. However she did go with one of her best friends. I wouldn't let her go on PGL yet as I feel she's a bit too young particularly on her own. I might consider it with a friend or if it was only one or two nights away.

NotEnoughTime · 05/03/2014 19:44

I think the earliest I would send my boys are aged @10-11 years but obviously all children are different so do what suits you and your child.

Im just gutted that Im too old to go on a PGL holiday as they look like they are great fun

dogindisguise · 05/03/2014 20:16

I went on a week-long PGL activity holiday when I was seven and had a good time and don't remember being particularly homesick, although my memories of it are quite vague. I wasn't even a particularly sociable or outgoing child. I think my mum thought it was too young but I read the brochure and told her you could go at seven.

I think it really depends on the individual child. Some might not enjoy it or find it too long. I think going on quite a few trips from a young age helped me not to get homesick. My friend at school didn't go away without parents until 13 I think and probably found them harder it get used to.

Whether I would send my children away at seven is another matter! It seems so young now I'm a parent myself.

exexpat · 05/03/2014 21:28

NotEnoughTime - you're too old to go by yourself, but if you can drag the DCs along, they do family holidays in the summer.

ConfusedPixie · 05/03/2014 21:38

It depends on the children. I worked there for a summer and some loved it and were fine, others couldn't cope. Do a taster or two, see how she feels. Quite often the confident kids were the ones who struggled, because they were out of their comfort zones.

NotEnoughTime · 05/03/2014 21:42

Thanks exexpat I shall bear that in mind for next year Smile

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