To think that a child who has never been camping is not necessarily from a ‘deprived’ background

[Urbandweller]

DD’s school organised a camping trip for Y5. DD is younger and didn’t attend but her class teacher went to chaperone. I was chatting with her about it today and she said she was so glad the school was able to organise the trip as so many of the Y5 kids had never been camping and would never otherwise get the chance to go. It was clear that she felt sorry for the children who hadn’t been before and was shaking her head sorrowfully, saying many of them are the same poor kids who have never been to the beach and this is one of the saddest aspects of deprivation...

AIBU to not see the link between camping and deprivation? We’ve never taken DD because it’s my idea of hell, nothing to do with lack of funds!

YANBU I've never gone camping either. It's just not my thing.

YANBU at all. I hate camping. I only do it at a festival (if I must). I don't see how not sleeping under some sheet and using communal showers means you're deprived.

She is probably only talking about specific kids who are on FSM or cared for. She won’t be meaning anything beyond that.

YANBU. Camping is utterly shit and there are plenty of ways to enjoy a holiday or day trips.

My idea of camping is a suite in the Marriott. This is what I did when invited camping in Yosemite.

Yeah my kids have had some cracking holidays but they've never been camping. It's a nice thing for school to do but hardly an indication of deprivation.

Odd. Skiing, yes. Camping, no.
I wouldn't go camping if you paid me.

Well, I don't think its "deprivation" in the traditional sense, but it's truly a wonderful experience for children, and it's sad that some children don't get to experience it.

There is absolutely no way my son will experience camping unless someone else takes him.

I loved it as a teen at festivals, but decided I was too old for this shit aged 21. I'm now nearly 40 and I can assure you, the years haven't improved the chances of my sleeping on the hard ground in a fabric conservatory.

My parents never took me camping. They did take me to very nice hotels and villas in several countries. I went camping for the first (and last) time as an adult. I really don’t feel that I missed out on anything.

Well, I don't think its "deprivation" in the traditional sense, but it's truly a wonderful experience for children, and it's sad that some children don't get to experience it.

For some children. I'd have hated it as a kid too.

’saying many of them are the same poor kids who have never been to the beach’

Now I do find that sad. Never having seen the sea.

We went camping because it was all my parents could afford. I did love it though so I'm kind of glad they couldn't afford hotels.

I've never camped. My kids haven't either. I'm Jewish, we just don't do that sort of nonsense

I'd consider myself deprived if I'd been made to go camping tbh

I’ve never been camping.
If the good Lord wanted people to sleep in a tent he wouldn’t have invented 5 star hotels.

I love camping but I think that's nonsense. It simply doesn't appeal to a LOT of people.

Not going skiing is not being deprived.

A camping holiday is not cheap. You are being very naiive OP.
It requires quite an investment.
Taking a family with a couple of young children on a camping holiday takes resources.
A car- very hard to take a family of 4 camping on public transport.
Tent, sleeping bags, mats, torches, cooking equipment.
All very costly.
If you are living hand to mouth this is not possible.
I grew up in poverty.
A camping holiday was a pipe dream.

Agree, some children may love camping but others would hate it. I just found the supposed correlation poverty and camping a bit bizarre!

I must say op, I do think going once is a fun experience and I feel guilty not taking them but we have done other nice trips usually caravans.. There is something cosy about a caravan.. The rain...

YouMadeABear
It's a nice thing for school to do but hardly an indication of deprivation.
It is though.
I never went on holiday as a child.

How bizarre. I am far from deprived and didn't go camping until I was 45 and harangued into it by my daughter!

Urbandweller
. I just found the supposed correlation poverty and camping a bit bizarre!

That is verging on offensive.

Of course you aren’t unreasonable. A lot of people don’t see the point in going away to be cramped and damp. DH would rather cut his own head off with a rusty butter knife.