School trip and my baby

coulditbeme2323 · 2026-05-27T09:50:29+00:00

Kids school offer some really cool school trips. School have organized a school trip to ski/snowboard this November in Whistler Canada which is about 80 miles from Vancouver. Ok sounds great, but it's for my boy in year 6. AIBU or is it too young? He really wants to go, his brother has been, and Husband thinks he should go. So am totally prepared to be told he isn't a baby and IABU.

MajorSamanthaCarter · 27/05/2026 10:52

Year six is not a baby!

Bedroomdilemmas113 · 27/05/2026 10:53

I’m a bit confused. Canada from the UK or you live in Vancouver? I am struggling to understand the relevance of the distance from Vancouver to Whistler otherwise.

Either way, if my child wants to do a school trip I’m thrilled and excited for them.

Buscobel · 27/05/2026 10:53

I was part of a school skiing trip to America, but the youngest children were year 8. It was a mix of year?8,9 and 10. Is he year 6 now and will be year 7 in November, or year 5 now.

Bedroomdilemmas113 · 27/05/2026 10:53

And obviously he isn’t a baby, you don’t need to be told that. You were there when he was born.

JustAnUdea · 27/05/2026 10:57

If his brother went to Canda in Yr6, yabu to say he is too young. Just because he is your youngest, doesnt nake him a "baby" abd infantilising him us not fair on him.

If you are think a transatlantic trip is too young for any Yr6, that is different.

Original poster

coulditbeme2323 · 27/05/2026 10:58

Bedroomdilemmas113 · 27/05/2026 10:53

I’m a bit confused. Canada from the UK or you live in Vancouver? I am struggling to understand the relevance of the distance from Vancouver to Whistler otherwise.

Either way, if my child wants to do a school trip I’m thrilled and excited for them.

Sorry, from The UK.

OP posts:

Original poster

coulditbeme2323 · 27/05/2026 11:00

JustAnUdea · 27/05/2026 10:57

If his brother went to Canda in Yr6, yabu to say he is too young. Just because he is your youngest, doesnt nake him a "baby" abd infantilising him us not fair on him.

If you are think a transatlantic trip is too young for any Yr6, that is different.

His brother was year 7 which is what it has been every year since they have been at the school.

I know it's only a years difference, but still.

OP posts:

FeliciteFaff · 27/05/2026 11:06

as a Canadian a Brit a teacher a parent of 4 and a skier with yearly passes for whistler. I'd say it's a bit much for year 6 without a parent present. Year 8 onwards is fine and also it depends on the child. My v independant nephew travels since aged 9 unaccompanied to his father in Vancouver. But he then stays with a parent for the duration of his trip. He is 15 now and that independant travel has made him super confident which I love. My kids started skiing at 1.5-2 so for them that part was fine. It's being away from family at a young age that is harder. I take kids on a yearly trip to Iceland and I can see my year 9's struggling. But they have a wobble and then it's back to having fun. Year 6 is a different matter.

Original poster

coulditbeme2323 · 27/05/2026 11:06

Bedroomdilemmas113 · 27/05/2026 10:53

And obviously he isn’t a baby, you don’t need to be told that. You were there when he was born.

There is no need to take things so literally!

OP posts:

Lovingbooks · 27/05/2026 11:06

If he’s year 6 now nov will be year 7. Taking kids from uk to Canada on a school trip sounds excessive and expensive but maybe OP moves in different circles, most schools who have parents who can afford skiing take trips to Europe. Year 6 or year 7 isn’t much different I suppose depends on the kid. I always judged school trips on if my kid was going with friends no point spending lots of money if they going with strangers unless the kid is very outgoing.

Original poster

coulditbeme2323 · 27/05/2026 11:07

FeliciteFaff · 27/05/2026 11:06

as a Canadian a Brit a teacher a parent of 4 and a skier with yearly passes for whistler. I'd say it's a bit much for year 6 without a parent present. Year 8 onwards is fine and also it depends on the child. My v independant nephew travels since aged 9 unaccompanied to his father in Vancouver. But he then stays with a parent for the duration of his trip. He is 15 now and that independant travel has made him super confident which I love. My kids started skiing at 1.5-2 so for them that part was fine. It's being away from family at a young age that is harder. I take kids on a yearly trip to Iceland and I can see my year 9's struggling. But they have a wobble and then it's back to having fun. Year 6 is a different matter.

That was sort of my thinking - year 7/8 onwards.

OP posts:

Original poster

coulditbeme2323 · 27/05/2026 11:08

Lovingbooks · 27/05/2026 11:06

If he’s year 6 now nov will be year 7. Taking kids from uk to Canada on a school trip sounds excessive and expensive but maybe OP moves in different circles, most schools who have parents who can afford skiing take trips to Europe. Year 6 or year 7 isn’t much different I suppose depends on the kid. I always judged school trips on if my kid was going with friends no point spending lots of money if they going with strangers unless the kid is very outgoing.

How dumb am I being?

Of course he will be year 7 thing, so nothing has actually changed!

OP posts:

mindutopia · 27/05/2026 11:10

Can you afford it? I think it’s a great opportunity, though it a bit annoys me these sorts of trips being offered without alternatives for all the peasants who can’t afford a £3000 school trip.

My eldest went to France for 6 days in Y6 (admittedly, it’s only a ferry ride away) and Germany in Y7. She had a great time and I was never worried about her.

We have not taken up the ski trip offer (and neither has anyone else by all the desperate emails we keep getting from school), but that’s because mine don’t ski and aren’t interested and it’s stupidly expensive.

Dollymylove · 27/05/2026 11:15

All the way to Canada for skiing is a long way. What's wrong with the ski resorts jn Europe, a couple of hours away?

ColdAsAWitches · 27/05/2026 11:16

coulditbeme2323 · 27/05/2026 11:08

How dumb am I being?

Of course he will be year 7 thing, so nothing has actually changed!

Show quote history

Seriously?! 😂

MinnieMountain · 27/05/2026 11:22

He should go.

I'm echoing PP saying that it seems an unnecessarily long way though. DS's state school and DN's private school both go to France or Italy for ski trips.

EmeraldShamrock000 · 27/05/2026 11:22

It’s a long trek. If he is interested in going there then I would not put him off going.

Octavia64 · 27/05/2026 11:22

He’s in year 6 he’s not a baby.

Original poster

coulditbeme2323 · 27/05/2026 11:27

mindutopia · 27/05/2026 11:10

Can you afford it? I think it’s a great opportunity, though it a bit annoys me these sorts of trips being offered without alternatives for all the peasants who can’t afford a £3000 school trip.

My eldest went to France for 6 days in Y6 (admittedly, it’s only a ferry ride away) and Germany in Y7. She had a great time and I was never worried about her.

We have not taken up the ski trip offer (and neither has anyone else by all the desperate emails we keep getting from school), but that’s because mine don’t ski and aren’t interested and it’s stupidly expensive.

It's by year group, not all are long haul.

Year 7 Canada
Year 12/13 South Africa are the only long hauls the school do.

The rest is Rome, Paris etc.

OP posts:

Original poster

coulditbeme2323 · 27/05/2026 11:27

Dollymylove · 27/05/2026 11:15

All the way to Canada for skiing is a long way. What's wrong with the ski resorts jn Europe, a couple of hours away?

I don't make the rules!

OP posts:

ktopfwcv · 27/05/2026 11:28

YANBU. There is no way I'd allow this but then your older son went so the waters are muddied.

Just seeing that they go to south Africa too. Is this a private school? I've never seen such extravagant trips!

Original poster

coulditbeme2323 · 27/05/2026 11:29

ktopfwcv · 27/05/2026 11:28

YANBU. There is no way I'd allow this but then your older son went so the waters are muddied.

Just seeing that they go to south Africa too. Is this a private school? I've never seen such extravagant trips!

It is.

OP posts:

Motnight · 27/05/2026 11:31

Octavia64 · 27/05/2026 11:22

He’s in year 6 he’s not a baby.

Neither is year 7 😬

Original poster

coulditbeme2323 · 27/05/2026 11:35

Okay I AIBU.

He was never not going it wouldn't be fair on him, I just wanted to see if I was BU.

It turns out clearly I am!

OP posts:

BoredZelda · 27/05/2026 11:44

mindutopia · 27/05/2026 11:10

Can you afford it? I think it’s a great opportunity, though it a bit annoys me these sorts of trips being offered without alternatives for all the peasants who can’t afford a £3000 school trip.

My eldest went to France for 6 days in Y6 (admittedly, it’s only a ferry ride away) and Germany in Y7. She had a great time and I was never worried about her.

We have not taken up the ski trip offer (and neither has anyone else by all the desperate emails we keep getting from school), but that’s because mine don’t ski and aren’t interested and it’s stupidly expensive.

There are plenty of trips most schools run for all pupils, and often subsidise trips for those on low incomes. It frustrates me that parents who can afford trips for their kids are constantly told they aren’t available because not everyone can afford them.