Kids and beaver overnight camps...

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My 6 year old is meant to be going away on a scout overnight camp. It's a big one with lots of kids from other groups/ages. Dh thinks it's totally fine but am feeling a bit uneasy. I know the leaders going with them but is 6 a bit too young for such things?

It's absolutely dependent on the child & parent whether they are ready for overnights. There shouldn't be any pressure to go & in beavers it's probably a 60% ish uptake and the majority are older beavers in our group

I agree with PP - I think a night in dorms is a better first night away for little ones than tents, as there are toilets and you have your own space in a comfy bed. Less new stuff to deal with. Particularly our of season.

If you're worried, volunteer - get to know your leaders! My children have definitely gained confidence from being a leaders kid, and I've been present on the periphery for several of their camps which I know they like.

At 6 years old? Absolutely not

Beavers are great, our last sleepover combined Beavers and Cubs we had 16 kids and only 1 had a little wobble. She is one of our more anxious Beavers usually, but a 5 minute chat sat next to me, a trip to the toilet and she was happy to be tucked back in and go back to sleep.

It really is a matter of trust, I would hate to think the kids or their parents didn't trust us to care about them and keep them safe.

My very shy 7 year old did a 2 night sleepover with brownies this year. The leaders said she joined in on some activities and chose to sit out and watch for others. When I picked her up she said she liked it but wouldn’t want to do it again. However, a few months later, when I asked what her favourite memory this year was; she said it was the brownie sleepover.
I never would have thought my DD would have gone to be honest, but I was underestimating her. It’s definitely improved her confidence a lot and she’s made some really good friends out of the experience.

Six is too young. No I would t let them
Go and I am quite relaxed normally. Don't see the need for it tbh

I'm a Beaver and Squirrel leader so I'm having these conversations about Squirrels (4-6 year olds) they all love it. It's always the thing we get asked to do more of. Some are nervous the first time, but keep coming back. We've had children for whom it's been their first ever night away from their parents.
In my years of doing sleepovers and camps we've only had two go home. If they aren't settled and asleep by 10 we'd call the parents. We don't allow children to come for the day and go home as this is what unsettles the others. Especially if their friend goes home and they don't.
The bit that's frustrating is parents complaining their child didn't get badges etc when other children did. Some activities may only get done on camp. The big one is the Bronze Chief Scout award, you need to have done one night away on a camp.

No, why would it be? If your child isn’t up to it then that’s an issue with your child, not the concept of a night away. Both ours are in Cubs/Scouts and love it, they learn so much on the camps.

My 6 year old went on a week's camp this year. She insisted as her older sister was going. When I was collecting her, she stumbled off the coach and burst into tears. I felt hugely guilty. Turns out she didn't want to come home and is insisting on doing 2 weeks next year.
Kids are more capable and resilient than we think they are.

Kids are more capable and resilient than we think they are

I agree. The thing is, you don't know how they'll cope until they give it a go. If they want to go, I'd let them. If they are really miserable, the leaders will call you. Nobody will force a child to stay if they really want to leave. But you will probably find that your child will have a great time, albeit with a possible wobble here or there.

Our Group has our Squirrels having Sleepovers in the Hall, they don't all go but the ones that do love it.

I've taken Beavers away on full Group camps, but always inside, then I get a bed too.😂

Yes. It’s too young.

I have friends in Poland whose children attend a summer camp run by their kindergarten - it’s for 2 weeks in the Polish countryside. These kids are as young as 4! I guess they cope ok and the kids are used to the leaders as they see them every day, but no way would I let my 4 year old go away for a fortnight!

Ooh your squirrel leaders are brave. 🤣 I wouldn't fancy taking that age group.

Good on them though.

I’m a Beavers leader and did my first camp last weekend. There is absolutely a need for it! I had ten children there with eight other adults/young leaders (Explorers who the children are very familiar with). The children all had an incredible time and we saw them really blossom in so many ways over the three days. We had one child get teary on the first night and we comforted her and offered to call her mum if she wanted to - she called her, mum reassured her, and everything was fine.

I help run a uniformed youth group and my kids all had nights away from me under canvas from 6. All very happy.

All of you saying "I don't see a need" there are lots of reasons why there is a need to at least try if the kids are willing.

1. It gives us extra time to attempt activities it would be impossible to do in our usual hour. They really like cooking and fires. If we are at a campsite, they get to do site activities. We are not going to offer campfire sing along but our local campsite runs a crazy one that the kids love.

1. It helps them feel included lots of kids are really sad when they see their friends being presented with badges they never had the opportunity to earn. Kids that treat camp as a pick and mix and only do the bits that appeal make it harder for the other kids, but it also means they end up missing bits of badgework that we have to fill in another time so they don't feel left out. I adore my Beavers and they are worth the effort but sometimes it means I am doubling my planning and prep time. I also do Cubs and Scouts so sometimes I am also having to fill in gaps for the ones who haven't done any nights away.

1. It makes it so much harder for them to feel confident in the older sections, I have said this over and over again, as leaders we are as patient as we are able to be but everything takes longer the first time you do it. Cubs and Scouts who haven't done a night away in Beavers find it harder and the other kids are not always so patient, especially if it's cold and wet and they just want to get the tents up or start the activities. We all do our best if they start with us at Cubs or Scouts but it is harder. Skills are variable, practise is essential and the more they can do it the easier it all is. Nothing can beat the Beaver on their second night away who takes a newbie under their wing they are so insanely proud of themselves.

Same here! ☹️

My 6 year old just went for a Beavers Camp at the end of July for 2 nights.
He absolutely loved it! And he'd never done anything like that before.

But why limit your child’s experiences due to your anxieties?

Bullied? Completely unacceptable and not tolerated. And at 6 especially, if there are 2 kids with issues they are easy enough to separate. Tbh - in 20 years I’ve only ever met one young lad who at beaver age had a streak in him that wasn’t pleasant. Always wonder what happened to him…. A bigger issue when they are older tbh - but zero tolerance still.

Abused? All adults on camps are fully dbs’d (or whatever the term is now, I forget). All adults follow a code of conduct - not being alone with a scout etc. Safeguarding is a huge thing- rightfully so. Reality is this is a lot less likely at a scout (or guide etc) camp then it is in the home.

Scared? Maybe - but their friends and leaders will help where possible. And if not possible, parents are called. No one wants to make this a bad experience. You don’t like it? Go home, try again next year. In reality, few ever go home - and that is not because leaders are keeping them against their will!

FYI - Leaders also worry the other way. For a few of our kids, being on camp (that we keep as cheap as possible and often subsidised) is one of the few times where some Scouts get 3 decent meals a day.

I help out with a Beaver group. Mine did his first one night camp at 6, I was there, he wouldn’t have been ready if I wasn’t on site. The next one he will be 7 and will be ready for me not to go. I agree with the rule of thumb that if it’s their first ever night away from their parents, they’ll struggle. If they’ve stayed over with family etc they’ll probably be ok. Night time toilet issues can be managed discreetly. A teddy is mandatory on our camp - some beavers (and cubs and scouts!) need one, so if everyone takes one then no one stands out.

Personally, I’m much happier with the idea of camp than sleepovers with friends. Leaders are very experienced and spot any bullying etc quickly. Whereas staying over at a friend’s house, is that friend’s parent really going to spot if their child is being a shit to mine?

Camps are not mandatory but they are a core part of scouting and they offer so much. To me it’s not so much independence at this age as seeing what they’re capable of. As parents it’s so often easier to just do things for our kids, but on camp we have the time and space to show them what they can do for themselves. So if your child isn’t ready at 6, that’s fine, but aim to get them on a camp as soon as they (not you!) are ready.

All of this. My son has gone through beavers, cubs, scouts and is now an explorer. He did sleepovers and camps all the way through. He’s done week long camps with scouts and also completed his bronze D of E. he absolutely loves it. It does totally depend on your child though.

I'm a Beaver leader and would suggest that before making a decision you speak to your leaders about what happens at camp (including sleeping arrangements, night time plans etc). I've known a lot of parents who are worried about sending their child but reassured when they understand exactly how things will work.
At our large camps we have a separate area just for our Beaver unit and start settling down for night time much earlier than the older children do. We have a full day of activities, some sort of joint evening activity (camp fire/sing along/games etc) then Beavers go to their accommodation to get in to pyjamas and have a drink and some toast before bed. They are very, very closely supervised at all times.

My experience is that the children who come to camp get a lot out of it in terms of confidence and building bonds with other children that they didn't know that well before. When we have a full day of activities as well as a sleep over we offer parents the option of collecting their child in the evening if they don't want to sleep over. Quite often those going home say that they wished they were staying and parents tell them that can stay next time. We always have loads of activities and the children sleep surprisingly well. I've only had one child want to go home in many years as a leader (and of course we called parents who collected him). This wasn't due to any bullying etc (in fact his friends were comforting him), he just got home-sick.

I am a scouter but not in UK so some things may be different.

We do take our beavers on camps but these are always one night and either close to home (so we can call for collection in case of nighttime issues) or with the option of a parent present. Parents are allowed to come under our rules if they do some safeguarding training and follow some rules (largely only being alone with their child). We tend to do beaver camps in halls or forms so scouters are close at hand or do family camps where families can come but all in their own tent.

As said by PP it really depends on the child and we have had five and six year olds come alone and be absolutely fine. But we do find many at this age need support. You could see if attending with you child is an option? Or just leave overnight camps until they are a bit older.