Reassure me I’d have been called if DC wasn't ok on Camp?

[FirstCampDC]

DC on their first camp with scouts. They’re 8.

They have some SN but absolutely love Scouts, are invested and absolutely love all the activities. I was against them going I didn’t think they were ready but DC wanted to go and the leaders felt they could manage and did everything they could to assure me DC would be 100% fine. It was only 1-night, last night.

DC was extremely nervous when I dropped them and some of the others where crying which made them worse. We were hurried out the door after a quick hug.
I’ve had 1 photo from the leaders to the general group and DC is not visible in this photo I think I can see the top of their head but that’s it – we were told at the parents meeting that it was up to the children if they wanted to be photographed and if they wanted photos sending to their parents. No other photos have been sent, some of my friends with DC in the same group say they’ve had private messages with photos of their DC, so I’m panicking that DC isn’t ok.

Pickup isn’t until 3pm and I so want to drive up and pick them up now. They're only half an hour away so won't be getting back on the bus until 2.15ish.

Reassure me that DC is absolutely fine and just a bit camera shy? And tell me some funny stories of your own camps/DCs camps please?

How did it go OP? Xx

Very tired but very happy DC.

They did a Christmasy craft and DCs accidentally got broken, DC said they cried but one of the Leaders gave them a hug and helped them make a new one so in their words "It was good again".

They stayed up late, watched a film with popcorn, went walking, and just generally got to be kids without technology.

DC says they don't want to do the two night one yet though

I'm so glad!! It sounds like they had a great time overall.
Hopefully this will give you both more confidence for the next time 😊

Here’s a funny camp story for you. I went away with my friend’s Scout unit, despite actually being a Brownie leader. The kids were planning a hike, and were walking about following the river. I was confused, there was no river anywhere near us. I asked them to show me the map. “This blue bit here, that’s a river”

Nope, that would be the M25, let’s not go for a hike along that!

The same group put an unopened tin of beans in the fire to heat them up. It went bang. I didn’t know baked beans could travel so far.

They were lovely kids, but had forgotten to make any common sense that weekend.

LOL at all those thousands of teachers, scout and guide leaders and others who give up time to take kids away all coming to the same conclusion after years of experience: that it works better without phones.

What evil horrible child-hating people they all must be.

And so many scout camps are in an area with no signal. And batteries run down faster in colder temperatures. Imagine the panicking / anxious / catastrophising / helicopter parents who found they couldn’t interrupt contact their child even though they had given them a phone, oh the horror!

It would be a ‘no phone, no attendance, no discussion’ if I was a leader.

But someone who considers a tent as an alien environment that is a risk to ‘comfort health’ probably isn’t going to want their child to experience adventures anyway.

OP: we’ll done your DC, sounds brilliant.

We've had a domininoes and I've told DC how proud I am of them because I really am!

That sounds great.

Brilliant @FirstCampDC
So pleased for both of you.

I was a brownie leader for a while and once didn't go on an overnight: instead I was the at-home contact who would have passed on messages to parents in case of emergency - there is always a plan!