Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
Thread gallery
6
CornishPastyDownUnder · 16/07/2021 22:51

this post@Urbandweller really stuck a chord..i travelled a lot with my 2dc when they were younger-running a business online meant i could pretty much go where we liked..hands down the least favourite holiday was camping.I invested in a huge"pop up " tent, a heap of gear&after2days they wanted to go-im really adventurous/outdoorsy&love it all but its not for my kids! ..im reminded that camping is like kipping in a bin bag every time i suggest it-out of some old-timey nostalgia,or what i dont even know myself..and that they want a bed&facilities.
Far better family getaways have been
backpacking around Asia,all inclusive resorts in Europe,winter skiing inJapan and visiting remote locations-using hotels or holiday parks in Australia(where we live)..
Our country is mad on camping and my kids would simply rather stay home than entertain the subject!More recently a camping trip with ranger guides came up-my DD went for3nights and came back saying how all the teens were joking they need to plan their own city breakGrinfor the next stayaway..Horses for courses.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 16/07/2021 22:52

LOL you really are not in touch with the Camping Community as represented by thousands and thousands in many Facebook Groups.

Well that is true to say.

cabbageking · 16/07/2021 22:53

We have children who have been on safari but have never seen the sea or climbed a tree. What people consider as deprived varies wildly,

DoorAjar · 16/07/2021 22:56

Camping is overwhelmingly middle-class in my experience. It’s also not an obvious alternative to ‘no holiday’ for many people. I grew up WC in the country, so have no lack of familiarity with rural life and nature although we never had holidays, but we found the idea of people who weren’t from here coming to camp in a field in the rain deeply weird. I think we just found the idea of the countryside being considered anything other than a working place/somewhere you just lived a bit touristy.

FrangipaniBlue · 16/07/2021 22:58

I just don’t think that a child who hasn’t experienced camping = a deprived child.

But that's not what the teacher said. She was referring to a specific group of children in that particular school who have never been camping (or I'm assuming on any holiday) and have never been to the seaside, the reason being that they are from deprived backgrounds.

It's a big leap to get from that to "ALL children who have never been camping are from deprived families" Confused

PolkadotZebra · 16/07/2021 22:59

@speakout

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.

But if a kid was desperate to go a parent can find someone to borrow a tent from, take picnic food and just go for one night somewhere nearby? It would actually save money on electricity etc when out of the house! I was extremely broke for many years but can't understand your comment, it seems a bit OTT.
Itsmemaggie · 16/07/2021 23:00

I fucking love camping, and have had some amazing experiences where at the end of the day I went and either slept in a tent or stayed out under the stars.

Itsmemaggie · 16/07/2021 23:01

I just added that because I felt an overwhelming need to defend camping because of the bashing it’s getting on this thread.

Biancadelrioisback · 16/07/2021 23:02

I adore camping and I think it teaches some very valuable skills that I want my kids to learn too.

I love having no internet and sitting around fires talking etc too.

Surely the 'deprived' comment comes from those who would never have the opportunity to camp for financial or neglect reasons rather than parents who can camp and would just rather not/do something else together instead?

viques · 16/07/2021 23:02

Went camping once. Greece. August. Discovered on the first night that DD is claustrophobic. Tent was next to a broken wire fence , beyond the rusty wire fence was a main road with drunk people on motor scooters. Fun. Not.

me4real · 16/07/2021 23:03

I'd be very grateful for any organisations that would take my girls camping!

@Xmasbaby11 How's about the Brownies? Brownies is very sweet.

Bbq1 · 16/07/2021 23:04

@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!

It's not just due to a lack of funds etc deprivation is so much more than that. It goes so much deeper. Years ago, I took a little boy out for the day. He was from a very deprived, chaotic household. We went to the beach which he lived 5 minute away from by bus. He was about 9 but had never been to the local beach and he was awestruck later telling me that it had been the best day of his life. It was so sad and has always stuck with me. That's the type of child the teacher was referring to not just your 'average' family who don't like camping but go on other holidays instead.
PolkadotZebra · 16/07/2021 23:04

@Itsmemaggie

I just added that because I felt an overwhelming need to defend camping because of the bashing it’s getting on this thread.
Lol. That sounds fantastic on a warm, tropical beach. In the UK, not so much. Even on the warmest days it's cold outside at night! But each to their own. Smile
TickTockBitches · 16/07/2021 23:06

I have never been camping. Two of my children have on activity breaks, but the other two haven't due to covid happening.

Maray1967 · 16/07/2021 23:07

It’s not exactly fun for kids with hay fever. DC2 braved it twice in Cubs but will never go again unless his hay fever reduces.
I had to go a couple of times as a kid and hated it. Never again for me.

EmeraldShamrock · 16/07/2021 23:09

50/50 IMO. Forgetting camping some DC from deprived backgrounds never get a holiday or even an icecream on the summer holidays.
There are some DC around here who spend all day every day 14 hours playing in the street with no fun or parenting input for 8 weeks.

entropynow · 16/07/2021 23:10

@mrsm43s

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.
Speak for yourself. I didn't like camping at all as a child, and went several times.
PolkadotZebra · 16/07/2021 23:11

It's not just due to a lack of funds etc deprivation is so much more than that. It goes so much deeper. Years ago, I took a little boy out for the day. He was from a very deprived, chaotic household. We went to the beach which he lived 5 minute away from by bus. He was about 9 but had never been to the local beach and he was awestruck later telling me that it had been the best day of his life. It was so sad and has always stuck with me. That's the type of child the teacher was referring to not just your 'average' family who don't like camping but go on other holidays instead.

That's so sad, the best day of his life. Sad A child should not be living with parents who clearly do not give a damn about him. I suspect is far more of a common issue than people not being able to borrow a tent for a day; parents just not bothering to think about their children's needs and making their worlds so, so small. That poor boy. And I'm sure there are tens of thousands like him.

When I was working with children in a very poor country is was common for them to never have left their village and we sometimes did trips like this. The excitement and amazement on their faces was beautiful but also so sad. But it is a disgrace that this is also something that happens in the UK. I don't believe that it is impossible for any parent in the UK to afford at any point in 9 years the fare for a 5 minute bus ride to make that little boy's day.

Purpleweeks · 16/07/2021 23:12

I've never taken my kids camping but I have sent them camping with guides and Duke of Edinburgh awards. 😁

Hugoslavia · 16/07/2021 23:15

Aside from the weird comment about deprivation, I concur with the teacher that it is a shame if children don't get to experience going camping or to the beach. Both are the type of experience that most children really enjoy. I have recently rediscovered camping and enjoy it, not for the joy of lying awake in a cold tent and having to endure toilet trips in the night, but because it's lovely to watch the kids enjoy such freedom and make new friends. My kids have such a fantastic time, so my enjoyment comes from that. I wouldn't go though if it wasn't for the kids.

SuperCaliFragalistic · 16/07/2021 23:16

@Maray1967

It’s not exactly fun for kids with hay fever. DC2 braved it twice in Cubs but will never go again unless his hay fever reduces. I had to go a couple of times as a kid and hated it. Never again for me.
Some people with hay-fever live in the countryside and "brave" it every day. Its fine not to like any particular holiday but saying your child will "never go again" is possibly depriving him of a number of new experiences (festivals, rambling) that he could enjoy by taking a tiny antihistamine.
ChaToilLeam · 16/07/2021 23:18

We weren’t deprived, but there wasn’t a lot of spare cash when I was young and our family holidays were spent either camping in the Scottish Highlands or visiting relatives. It was okay during the hot summer of 1976, the rest of the time it was bloody miserable, and on one occasion a torrential downpour meant sleeping in the car and then packing up and driving through the rain at sunrise to seek refuge at my great-aunt’s house.

Our best childhood holiday was 5 nights spent at a proper hotel, with beds and a restaurant and everything. I hated camping and still do, there is no way I will ever do it again.

Angliski · 16/07/2021 23:21

@beattieedny you and me both. My parents would have laughed their asses off at sleeping under canvas. I quite like camping now but mostly in a van.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 16/07/2021 23:22

@mrsm43s

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.
Is it though? I never went camping as a child and didn't feel remotely deprived. Did it a few times as a young adult and was immensely glad I hadn't had it forced upon me as a child. Have resisted it as a parent because I have a bad back and pelvis - sleeping on the floor is not my idea of fun. Sharing a tent with other people is not my idea of fun. Not having easy toilet access is not my idea of fun.

Not everyone likes the same things, amazingly.

jihhy · 16/07/2021 23:27

Surely she's not talking about kids who go to Mexico or Barbados but don't camp but talking about kids that have no holiday not even a uk camping trip?

Swipe left for the next trending thread