to not let my dd go on brownie camp (longish)

[Madsometimes]

dd1 is 7 and really wants to go on brownie camp in July but dh and I think we are going to say no.

I know that she really wants to go and will be very disappointed, but we feel nervous because we do not really know the adults who are going. I know that they are experienced guiders who have had police checks and training etc but they have a lot of children to look after.

dd1 gets very silly and over excited and is immature for her age. At the end of April she went on a trip to a theme park. It was a blistering hot day, and although we had covered her with sun block before getting on the coach she came back burnt and incredibly thirsty. She was given money to buy extra drinks (in addition to packed lunch) but did not do so.

She also bumped her head on one of the rides and had a big lump on her head. That night she was nauseous and dizzy, so we had to keep her awake for a few hours even though she was sleepy. I don't think dh was very impressed and he in particular is very against her going away for 2 nights.

She does have a residential trip with school planned for September which she is going on, so I am not a total control freak - just nearly one!

sleep! That's a laugh! They don't sleep on the first night and the following night they are so pooped from having so much fun, they are begging to go to bed!

I'm a Guider and I can promise you, she will have a ball! Is it more about you being nervous? Totally understandable, but really, its so well organised, more than a school trip imo. We do Guiding because we love kids and we do it for nothing, so in a way everyone of our girls are our own.

BTW, for whoever asked earlier in the thread, Brownies are not allowed to sleep under canvas. They will be in a purpose built Brownie house, I expect. The Guiders will know the place inside out and will have been hundreds of times before.

Please let her go. This is just the sort of thing that I wouldn't have been allowed to do as a child because of my mother's anxieties and I would have loved it. It really didn't help my relationship with my mother one bit and made me feel like it was my fault that I couldn't do the things that my friends could.

I'd let her go the only way she will mature emotionally is if you give her the tols and opportunities to try new things, and whether she gets it wrong or not - thats where the growth comes in - and your relationship with your child becomes stronger, as she realises that you trust in her abilities and are there to help if she falls.

Sorry to hijack -maureeen, how's your dd getting on?

Brownies are allowed to sleep under canvas and have been for a few years now.

She will be very well looked after if you do decide to let her go. If you have particular worries then do speak to Brown Owl about them - we'd always rather know beforehand than find out once we are there!