To not let her go to Scout Jamboree in S Korea

[Iamnotausername]

Or should that say what age would you let your child go to South Korea on a worldwide scout camp?

Would it depend on if they were a boy or girl?

The next scout jamboree is in S Koea in a few years time. There may be about 10 people including leaders from her troup or region who are going.

This is ignoring the financial aspect.

My 16 year old boy is going. They have been fundraising for about a year now to cover the cost so surely this can't just have come up?

I don't think anyone can tell you whether you are unreasonable or not.

What about it concerns you?

World Scout jamborees have been run for many years and there is a huge amount of work to ensure the safety of the young people who attend.

Also this. It's rather late in the day. The young people I know who are attending have been fundraising for ages.

It's 14 up for the jamboree that seems a good age to go on a structured trip abroad. I went on my first long haul trip abroad with school at 13 I think bordering on 14.

Why would it depend if they were a big or a girl?

Would you let them travel abroad on a school trip?

If they're old enough for the Scouts to take them then they're old enough to go. Obviously all kids are different- some get homesick on a camp near home, but assuming they're a normal independent child, why not?

Do you have concerns about South Korea particularly?

Friends did this when we were teens and it looked amazing. I’d be keen to try to get my DD that experience.

Also are you sure you have the date right? It's not a few years away, it's summer of next year.

My son went to the last one in the US - was 16 at the time. Had a brilliant time

I did a Jamboree as a teen - fantastic opportunity that I loved! I’m 45 now and it is still one of my best ever experiences. Why on Earth wouldn’t you support this?

I assume you have to be a teen to be in the Scouts. I'd have let mine go definitely from any age really. Fantastic opportunity

I used to get sent to Outward Bound week long camps in the summer holidays from 9 upwards

We've got friends who are going. 14 yo girl, 17 yo boy. My 14 yo is very jealous, but I couldn't face the fundraising. I wish I had the energy to let her apply because I know she'd get a lot out of it.

A scout jamboree is one of the best experiences they will have as a young person. I (female if that makes a difference) went on a couple of European ones at that age and had an amazing time. Other friends went to Mexico, Japan and India the same year and all came back unscathed. The leaders taking them will be qualified as you have to do extra qualifications to take guides and scouts abroad and will be able to provide you with extremely thorough risk assessments.

Probably about 14+, I always found that my children were probably safer with Scouts that they were even with me! I'd have no hesitation in letting them go.

It's a Scout jamboree, so it's appropriate for any child who is old enough to go to Scouts. The adults accompanying them are trained/qualified to do so. It's no different from them going on a school trip abroad.

Why would it make any difference if they're a boy or a girl?!

my teen did the worldwide jamboree in USA. She was one of the youngest to go from the UK, 14 and a couple of months. She only joined explorer scouts at age 14.
She (and 1) fundraised for 2 whole years. We are a low income family so we had to raise every penny.
I am so proud of how much she did to get on that trip. The process and the trip were life changing for her.
I would absolutely recommend a trip like this for a teen.

The trip was so well organised that I had no fears about her going.
I was pretty pissed off with the scouts over the lack of suport in fundraising though, it was a long slow haul raising that money

My immediate instinct was 13/14. I think most kids would get an awful lot out of it. I remember going abroad (Europe) with a different org at 16 and the freedom and latitude we had was insane - I had a whale of a time! I imagine it'll be a lot more rigorously risk-assessed for Scouts though 😁

My DD is going to WSJ2023 and has been fundraising for this for a year. It has been an amazing experience for her so far. She has swam, walked, hiked and presented to local groups about her fundraising. She has got herself out of bed at 4am to prepare for a bake sale the next town over. She has babysat, dog walked and made hundreds of cakes/burgers/sweetcones etc. The change in her and the tangible skills she has already gained will help her though life. This is without the actual trip, which I am sure she will remember forever!

I cannot believe a parent would stand in the way of this opportunity for their child without al least understanding more about it. All children are different but to write this off without a thought seems counterintuitive.

However I think your question is hypothetical as the chosen Scouts were selected a year or so ago. If I am honest your post reads with a little jealousy/superiority rather than from genuine concern.

Also to add the fundraising has been tough and we have had to do it alone but she has persevered and has raised 80% of her target so that alone has taught her lots.

Dependant on the child. One of mine would have wanted to do it from 8+, I'm fairly confident my adult son wouldn't want to do it now (as in he doesn't like being away from family, his own now but us growing up)

This is one of the things I wouldn’t even think about, if it were within my ability to assist, it would be a yes.

Yes I would facilitate this if I could.

Why would their gender matter?

I think it would be a great experience if a DC wanted to go.

South Korea is not North Korea. It is a highly developed Liberal democracy, with a successful economy - think Japan/Hong Kong. Famous for high speed trains, Samsung, cinema and K-Pop. It will be amazing!

Sorry, yes, next year. I think I got muddled because I started typing a few months away. 🤣

It's come about because a funded place is now available after someone dropped out. Which was why I said to ignore the financial aspect.

She will be just old enough.

The boy/girl question was just curiosity. Well, partly. She's pretty and looks a lot older than she is and gets a lot of attention from boys. She isn't particularly interested in that yet. She's sensible but also quite young for her age if that makes sense and I'm concerned she'll end up in a situation she can't get out of. I wouldn't have that worry with a boy.

I do trust the leaders. She went to the jamboree in Lincolnshire this year and had fun. We think. She won't tell us much but was very happy.

It's such an amazing opportunity but it's so far away if there is an issue. Plus, yes Scouts will make sure it's safe but there are different definitions of "safe" / insurable depending on where places are.

I would let my 14-17 year old scouts on this trip as this is the age it's for. My DS2 is 11 and would have loved to go - he wants to apply for the next one.