Guide Camp

[MoanyMum12]

To think that £40 is a ridiculous amount of money for Guide camp?!
Two nights in a tent for £40...

Yup trainee guide leader here so still getting to grips with how it all runs and that sounds about right. One of ours ended up coming slightly under budget so the families got a refund (I think we changed location to a free one so it reduced costs).

Apparently transport isn’t provided because it is only 30 minutes away.

You are sounding like one of those parents OP!

I think that's reasonable

Seems fair to me.

My daughter camped out in the school field with her class for one night and it cost£40!
Ok it was teepee wigwam thingy with some activities ... but I thought it was a bit much.

DC is going next month. £70 for 2 nights.

I paid £210 for ds to go on a 7 night international Scout camp last year and I didn’t think that was bad value. They had all their food, a couple of trips and loads of activities, plus they no doubt have to have all sorts of insurances.

So what would you consider a reasonable cost OP?

Of course transports not included for that price! Where else can you get childcare for 2 nights away for £40! And the reason it's so cheap? Because the leaders give up their time for free to give the kids this experience. If money is an issue do talk to them, they will be able to help, just don't go in complaining about the price like they're the unreasonable ones!

Tighty McTightFace

Most army cadet camps in my area are around £30 per weekend..

£75 for summer camp (8 days)

No breakdown ever given.

Scouts/Guides etc totally undersell themselves in this regard. Who else would give you childcare, accommodation, meals and activities all for £20 a night? They also subsidise children who couldn't otherwise afford to go on these activities and trips. My DC loved every minute of every camp they attended and I'm grateful for the leaders for inspiring, caring and the sheer hard work (and the free time :o ) We're not rich but I would have paid more.

£20 a day for food, activities, accommodation. Sounds like a bargain. Cinema and popcorn isn't much less for just two hours.

If they were providing transport, it could easily add another £10-20 onto the cost. Coaches/minibuses are bloody expensive these days.

How much is your babysitter per hour?

How many hours is your kid going to be looked after?

And what extra benefits is your daughter going to get beyond just someone keeping an eye on her?

YABU

Seriously. You are complaining about paying £40 for 48 hours babysitting that includes all food, accommodation, activities, souvenirs, badges, first aid supplies, loo roll, liability insurance, leaders' costs, leaders' expenses, crafts, leaders' residential training and first aid training.

Get a massive grip and realise what an ungrateful _ you are being and how you are making it much easier for the volunteer to decide to use the prep time or annual leave to spend time with family or just with people who give back to them for a change.

Going to join the chorus of people saying YABU, I'm afraid.

It's certainly on the cheaper end of the scale. If it's an outdoor activity centre type camp, then it's an absolute steal! If not, the leaders will be arranging the activities themselves which might involve more craft type things and the associated expense for the materials.

I usually budget for £10 per head per day for food which will include snacks and drinks as well as meals. Being out in the fresh air all day gives children good appetites. The budget also needs to include things like accommodations costs, purchasing craft materials, hire of equipment, purchasing badges, stocking the first aid kit, printing costs, etc. Leaders costs get added to the budget and paid by the girls, although we usually pay our share of the catering costs (if leaders are eating at camp, they are not eating their own food at home)

Replacing any crockery / plates etc
Loo roll / washing up liquid / bin bags / firefighters
Obligatory marshmallows and biscuits for camp fire

As an ex-guider may I just say how pleased I am for modern day guiders that they get Firefighters attending camp

£40 total bargain & life skills, fun & wonderful experiences- invaluable!

Where else would you get two/three days of 24hr childcare/entertainment/education with accommodation and food for £40 all in?

Last year my brownie indoor holiday cost was £60 and Guide camp £55.

My volunteer leaders paid £0 towards accomodation or food for the privilege of giving gave up their weekend to look after other people's kids.

I reimbursed car mileage. Two volunteers were taken the rest of the way home in an uber that I insisted was reimbursed and I paid for a takeaway to arrive about 45 minutes after they got home.

#SorryNotSorry but there's a volunteer vacancy with your name on it.

I would also say it is very good value but do let the leader know if costs are a struggle for you. They wouldn't want to exclude children for financial reasons.

I know it's been said, but, fuck. Actually, how dare you? Posts like this make me so cross. That you even had a thought like thiscrossing your mind is awful. Your only thought should have been 'thank you guide leaders for giving up your time and giving my daughter the opportunity of a great weekend away at cost. Thank you.'
£40!! For 48 hours childcare, food, activities, bed. Fuck me. Moon on a stick anyone?

YABU

if you think you can run it for less then by all means set up a unit and try it.

Guiding and Scouting are charities. The leaders are all volunteers, if they’re at a Guiding or Scouting owned site then all site fees will be going towards maintaining and improving the site, not profit making. Nobody is making any money from running this! And £40 is bloody cheap!

£40 will be covering site fees, food, activities, maintaining and replacing equipment such as tents, cooking facilities etc, Even if travel isn’t included, leaders are entitled to claim for petrol (though most I know don’t) for getting themselves and all the kit to the site. And leaders portion of site costs and food will be covered by the charge for the girls (I hope you don’t think volunteers should pay for the privilege of looking after other people’s children all weekend!)

If you think it’s a rip off then don’t send your daughter but do so without moaning. If you genuinely can’t afford it then please do speak to the leaders, most will want to support girls in cases of hardship if they can.