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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

513 replies

Urbandweller · 16/07/2021 20:57

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!

OP posts:
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6
SilverOtter · 16/07/2021 21:12

Ooooo I must tell my friend. Her husband poured scorn upon the notion of camping as something "generic poor people do"🤣, rather than the other way around!

I've just got back from taking my children camping. I love it but my husband absolutely refuses to partake! Guess it's like marmite😂

InpatientGardener · 16/07/2021 21:12

Crikey all the holidays we ever had as a kid were camping at a youth hostel because we couldn't afford to stay in it! Did not think it was the privilege of the well off.

GreyhoundG1rl · 16/07/2021 21:13

@speakout

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

That is verging on offensive.

How?
Angel2702 · 16/07/2021 21:13

Ours have only been camping with beavers, Cubs and scouts from age 5. If they weren’t in Scouts they wouldn’t have been as I won’t go camping.

tartanblanketdog · 16/07/2021 21:14

I do feel kids should experience camping and they are poorer for the lack of it.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 16/07/2021 21:14

I've never taken DS camping. I've taken him on many holidays abroad, including Lapland at Christmas. And he has horse riding lessons. Not deprived at all.

I've been camping once and hated it, I will never go again.

BrozTito · 16/07/2021 21:14

If jewish people dont camp how did they manage to wander the desert for years with Moses?

Original poster
Urbandweller · 16/07/2021 21:14

@speakout surely the cost of a camping trip depends on where you stay, the amount you spend on equipment etc? A lot of the equipment you list is quite inexpensive and can be picked up second hand.

In any case, I’m not saying it’s something a poverty stricken family could easily afford. I just don’t think that a child who hasn’t experienced camping = a deprived child.

OP posts:
Waxonwaxoff0 · 16/07/2021 21:14

@tartanblanketdog

I do feel kids should experience camping and they are poorer for the lack of it.
Why though?
Blossomtoes · 16/07/2021 21:15

None of ours have been camping. It’s our worst nightmare.

Ohanaa · 16/07/2021 21:15

Iv never been camping. Sounds like hell.

My daughters been camping once with a school friend and their family.

She’s not deprived. She’s been to Mexico, Disneyland Paris, multiple caravan holidays, log cabins with hot tubs.

PhillipPhillop · 16/07/2021 21:16

Old style camping maybe where you learn how to cook, light a fire (and keep it going), make a warm, dry shelter, collect edible plants etc. And when I went to Brownie camp we dug our own cesspit. Not that I've ever used that 'skill' again! But generally excellent basic skills if only to make you appreciate how soft our lives are Grin

Ohanaa · 16/07/2021 21:16

@tartanblanketdog

I do feel kids should experience camping and they are poorer for the lack of it.
Utter crap.
DysmalRadius · 16/07/2021 21:17

Camping is generally considered a cheap holiday (and can be, if you can borrow kit) - it sounds like the teacher is saying that some kids won't have even had the chance to go on the cheapest type of holiday and that's a shame.

I'm sure she would have explained her reasoning if she'd realised that you would interpret it as a comment on your lack of enthusiasm for camping- I don't think anyone thinks it's sad that children who are otherwise given plenty of opportunities to experience the world don't experience camping specifically.

PattyPan · 16/07/2021 21:17

Yanbu, I went on holidays as a child but never camping as my mum hated it. To her disappointment, I love camping now Grin
I’ve still never set foot in a caravan though

igelkott2021 · 16/07/2021 21:17

Not camping = deprived? Ha ha.

I have been camping a couple of times as a child, but I would never do it as a adult. I like a functioning toilet, thanks. And some luxury.

DS has been camping once with school and has no desire to repeat the experience.

Not sure DH has ever been camping. If I suggested glamping he'd laugh.

I thought camping was something you did if you didn't have money, but of course glamping changed that.

Thisusedtobeaniceneighbourhood · 16/07/2021 21:18

I’m trying to persuade my child to go on beaver camp so I don’t have to take him. I agree with her that it’s something all children should experience. I have experienced camping as a child in the guides. I have no desire to do more camping

igelkott2021 · 16/07/2021 21:18

I do feel kids should experience camping and they are poorer for the lack of it

Ha ha ha. MN does throw up some gems at times.

speakout · 16/07/2021 21:18

GreyhoundG1rl

I have explained.
Camping costs money.
People are relying on food banks to feed their children. Saving up a few pounds to feed the electricity meter.
Are there middle class rich too dumb to realise how people living in poverty can't afford to camp?
I am dumbfounded
Oh Yah, just buy a big tent all the equipment, throw it in the back of the 4X4, cheap holiday,
Easy peasy.

Sindragosan · 16/07/2021 21:19

Is there an implication that if they're not in Brownies/Scouts they're being deprived? There is a bit of competitive parenting about children's activities.

I hate camping but have gritted my teeth and done it for group outings and because the children love it. Wouldn't consider them deprived if we hadn't!

RestingPandaFace · 16/07/2021 21:19

Is it a correlation between deprivation and camping, or between deprivation and a lack of experiences?

It’s fine to choose never to go camping and do other things instead, but it’s sad that there are children who would love to go and will never have the opportunity.

igelkott2021 · 16/07/2021 21:19

Actually just remembered DS has been camping with cubs and scouts too. He didn't mind that, he didn't enjoy the experience with school though (didn't help it was New Forest with constant tick warnings and there was a massive thunderstorm too and tents blew away and got flooded).

squid12346 · 16/07/2021 21:19

Yanbu. I wouldn't mind going camping but DH is a bit snobby and doesn't want to go.

Maybe shes talking more about the kids that haven't been on any holiday before and means that they haven't even had a camping holiday.

Namechangeforthis88 · 16/07/2021 21:20

Like @Ozanj says, she'll have meant some families living in deprivation can't manage to give their children even a relatively cheap holiday or day out. Not that children who have had skiing, AI, package or even caravan holidays but haven't been camping are deprived.

Needcoffeecoffeecoffee · 16/07/2021 21:20

Did she mean to go on/experience a holiday rather than specifically camping?
Tents can be really expensive and this year campsites are more expensive than ever

Being on the beach depends on your location. It could be a 2 min walk or a 2hr car journey.
I think being able to afford a variety of experiences can be a by product of deprivation and that includes holidays etc