Aibu to not help Scouts…

[SecretsOfSunshine]

Name changed as identifiable.

Ive caused a bit of fall out, and didn’t expect it. I’m a bit of an accidental scout leader, not the main Akela but there weekly. My children went through scouts, the youngest is aging out. I’ve always been happy enough to help, I like kids. It’s not however something I’m hugely attached to either. I stayed mainly as they were short of leaders, and I enjoy it enough when there.

A parent complained that at camp they are feeding and housing the adults, we don’t pay to attend camps and we do eat.

Group section leader agreed, apparently other local packs do charge leaders for food over the weekend.

I didn’t get funny or stroppy, but I did say I’m out for camps. I said I don’t mind giving up my time, but it was a line for me to give up my weekend and pay for the pleasure. If I ate at home (large family) my food costs no where near the cost as the difference between cooking 5/6 portions is absorbed in the weekly food bill the same. Plus the scouts tend to overbuy and spend a lot more than is really needed tbh.

Another leader has now contacted me to say how strongly they disagree with me, also that I’m jeopardising the camp as they are already short on leaders. GSL has implied if I’m not committed maybe I should leave. Parents are moaning apparently.

The more I think the more pissed off I am. Tbh I’m ready to leave anyone between the increase in behaviour issues and local politics in the district. Camps have a horrible side of severe sleep deprivation and I also sometimes lose work shifts going or family commitments.

Is it really normal to begrudge volunteers their food and board in exchange for a weekend away for £50 and amazing activities laid on? I know when I was a teacher we were also included in costs spread among the kids. With 30/40 kids it’s hardly the bulk of the bill either

Nah! Fuck ‘em. Sounds like a thankless task and you’re best out

You give up your time weekly for scouts, planning events, buying resources and parents and some leaders are wanting you to pay to give up a full weekend away with the scouts!

id leave, no chance would I pay for my own food as a leader and as a parent I wouldn’t expect a leader to pay either. You give up your own free time to ensure youngsters learn life skills, make friends and have fun!

ridiculous.

The parent who complained needs to give their head a wobble, and explain exactly why they aren't volunteering to help and pay for the privilege 🙄

YANBU.

I'd just be happy someone took the time out to ensure my kids had that amazing opportunity.

Big shout out to our scout leaders they are fantastic!

It’s not just them though, it’s like it’s been flagged as something unreasonable like we’ve been cheating them. At least one other leader agrees and the group section leader. Apparently other local packs too!

Ffs I bet they wouldn't go and help. That's ridiculous

The next parent who moans, you should suggest they take over your responsibilities. Bet they won’t.

Whilst I don’t buy resources I do end up driving around for them, driving to visit sites and driving there- so I do incur costs already beyond parents and the time away

Do any of the moaning parents offer to give up their time to help run the pack/arrange the camps/help with the camps? No? Thought not. These complainers never do. Decent people would not begrudge the adult VOLUNTEERS their meals.
We used to turn up to collect with bottles of wine and chocolate for the leaders and helpers and would have been mortified if we had known they were having to pay for their food.

Well if the "free camp" was that much of a perk, they wouldn't be short of leaders, would they?

Quite a lot of parents think Scout leaders get paid. Given how low subs are, compared to other out-of-school activities, I've no idea where they think the money comes from.

Regardless of the rights and wrongs for paying for food, I’m pretty sure if someone rang me implying that I’m not committed I would have replied, ‘you’re right, I’m done’ or similar.

I did 😂

Now camp is at risk of not going ahead

Well obviously you just dont care!
So why dont you just step away?

But be very careful not to get mown down in the absolute RUSH of parents desperate to take your place....🤔🤔

£50 for a whole weekends childminding is an absolute bargain.... but they want more.....yeah.. thats sounds about right.

Reclaim your life and let them all get on with it... cheeky buggers the lot of them.

If you enjoy volunteering there’s plenty of other scout groups, kids groups and other organisations that are crying out for help and try to make the volunteers feel valued.

it one thing if they disagree with you- it’s another to be bitching and moaning behind your back. If the parents are that concerned about the viability of the camp if you don’t go then one of them can step up to help out

Stand your ground and don’t go. Make them see the direct consequences of their complaint.

I'm a brownie leader and this also also suggested to me. I simply said that there was no way that I was going to ask any of the assistant leaders to pay and that I wasn't going to either!

Bloody cheek.

Time to walk away, both my boys go scouts and I wouldn't dream of calling out the volunteers for not paying their way. They do an amazing job, give up their spare time and the scout leaders teach our youngsters such amazing life skills. Don't ever feel obligated to pay to volunteer your time to look after other people children!! Maybe those parents should step up and volunteer..

It’s costing you to volunteer. It’s not a jolly like you say you are sleep deprived and responsible for their children all weekend. It sounds like you are feeling taken for granted as a volunteer and I’d leave now if you are feeling that way.
I’m a guide leader. If it’s a residential for our girls then we leaders don’t pay food/accommodation we factor it in.
We do pay personally to attend larger scale trips. I think parents would be shocked if they knew that. I’m paying full price £380 for a trip where I’ll have little sleep and need 2 days annual leave (also paying same for dd to go as a leader) But no one forced me I volunteered and if I didn’t pay to go our girls couldn’t go.

I was chair of the school PTA and we needed volunteers for the monthly school disco. Once every two years would’ve been more than enough but people refused. So I cancelled one of them with two days notice but I’d warned after last disco that volunteers were needed. I got so much abuse for disappointing their child etc.
I resigned after that because I wasn’t prepared to be abused by other parents who were happy enough to send their children to the disco but not to help out.

My child didn’t even like disco so he didn’t attend most of them which didn’t help how I felt abused.

Guide Leader here - adult volunteers and Leaders costs are absorbed by the unit. Gratefully as without their time none of this would happen.
I'd step away from this unit - these are shoddy attitudes. If you still want to volunteer there will be other Scout or Guide units very happy to have you.

I've been a Scout leader for 6 years now. I've paid for food once... on a week long camp, the leaders chucked in £20 each as the budget was a little short. Our food cost more than that though, plus our activity cost wad covered.

The parents will soon realise there will be no camps if they charge leaders the same price as the kids.

I went on summer camp and had to pay £50 for a week for food. Even that pissed me off as I'm very frugal and pay £120 a week for food for 6 of us!

And damn right on the sleep deprivation, having to deal with mud, rain, illness, unruly kids etc. Yes, it's a rewarding time, seeing what the kids can achieve, but it isn't a holiday!

I wouldn't blame you for walking away. I can't believe the other leaders agree with paying!

Seriously what is it with some parents. Begrudging you what’s probably basic food (that you’ll be cooking!) for safely minding their children all weekend for free.
Theres so much I buy and don’t claim back.
Any extras like a coffee on a day trip leaders pay for themselves.

I used to do Brownies and unfortunately there are a lot of leaders who say "it's my hobby, I should pay to do my hobby" which leaves the rest of us for whom it's volunteering and/or a way to help out with their own DCs' activities going "well I'm not going to" and looking unhelpful.

I'm with the OP, no way would I pay and no way would my DD's group expect me to.

We are a very large scout group with 1x squirrel, 2x beavers, 2xcubs and 2xscouts so about 150 kids in total. We do a lot of camps and activities and leader costs are always absorbed into the price of the camps.
the only exception is our international camp as it is quite expensive. We are however applying for grants etc so will possibly subsidise some of the leaders costs.

leaders give up a lot of time, energy and money already to run activities, meetings, facilitate badge requirements, keep up to date with training, admin etc etc.
food on a camp for 25 people would be no more than £10 per weekend. So each person is probably paying about 40p each towards each leaders food!