AIBU to not want to camp

[TellMeWhyIHateSundays]

I’m a scout leader and because of some of my other voluntary roles I’m a Duke of Edinburgh supervisor/assessor. I’ve been asked by another group if I’d help out with their gold expedition this half term as they desperately needed another supervisor.
Yesterday when I asked about details I found out that I’m expected to camp for four nights! I’m in my mid 50s and just a bit too old for this, especially as I’ll be packing up each day and moving to the next campsite so I can’t even take a decent sized tent with campbed etc! I’m just not wanting to sleep on a foam mattress in a tiny tent

What annoys me is that the two (much younger!) leaders from this group have a campervan they’ll be staying in. So they just assumed I’d be camping and ok with that. Nothing has been sorted about meals so I’ll be left to cook on a camping stove whilst they’re in their warm cosy van or paying to eat out.

Of in giving up my annual leave to help out AIBU to expect a bed for the trip?? I know they want to keep costs down but we could have found a bunkhouse, scout hut or hostel if we looked in advance. Taking care of your volunteers is surely part of the planning

Will make sure I ask the details before offering to help next time. Of course I’ll suck it up this time, not letting the young people down.

I'm a guide leader and for many years I was a leadership mentor. My camping days are behind me. These days I will only go to camps/residentials with an indoor option with actual bed. Otherwise I just go for the day. I dont understand about the camper van? If they are driving their camper van to the next location are they not walking with the scouts?

Pretty mean of them not to offer you a place in the van- unless it’s a tiny one.

Could they carry your tent in the van- that way you could have a bigger 2 or 3 man sized one and a better amount of bedding?

I used to love camping when I was younger but now I'm in my 50s I'd really not fancy it

If they're taking a van can you get them to ferry around a bigger tent and comfier camp bed for you at least?

I dont give up my annual leave any more either but I am old and cynical.

If you don't want to camp, don't be such a martyr, just tell them you can't come any more.

I would expect them to be carrying all of your things in the campervan and cooking your meals too OP.

Can you not do a b&b or a hostel and meet them early morning? Or is this not permitted? Or could you “car camp” with a proper mattress and get take aways for a few of the nights.

If that's the nature of yiur voluntary work, you are being a tiny bit unreasonable. However the yiunhsters, if they need your hands for the sake of ratios, should give you the van whilst they have a laugh, roughing it in the tent.

For full tranparency, I do not camp.

So this is not 'your group' AND you are giving up annual leave to help them out??

In honesty I think they are taking the mick and although i wouldnt let the young people this time, I WOULD be insisting on certain things like your pack goes in the van etc.

We run a group volunteering with young people. When we need extra hands we are so appreciative that they get the better outcome in comparison to us. So if this was us yes one of us might drive the van but we'd definitely offer the bed to those who are going out of their way to help us!!

Well late 50s is not “ a bit too old” for camping at all. A healthy 60year old should be able to camp with no problems or difficulties

however not liking camping in October - we already have had frosts - is legitimate. ( just don’t blame your age ! )

There are many decent sized tents that can be pitched in under 5 mins. And the others can help with pitching - that’s a reasonable request. As is asking about meals and if you can all cook togther in the van. Push back a little to
make this work better

You're not doing much for women of a certain age here! Unless you have a disability or illness, I'm not sure what difference 30 is to 50 when you're camping.

However, I wouldn't camp at any age! I like bricks and mortar, roofs, electricity and running water. It's a firm no from me, I wouldn't even entertain the idea. Just say no.

So just to clarify - it’s a DofE expedition so the young people will be walking independently with us supervising them remotely such as meeting them at checkpoints. So I’m not carrying anything other than my day bag.
As per POR and guidance we don’t even have to be in the same campsite as them but the organising leaders have just booked us in with the young people. We could have stayed in a local B&B, hostel or even a scout hut.
So they’ll be in their van and me in a my tent.

Because it’s a different campsite each night it’ll mean packing up and repricing each night so a lot of hassle - if I was camping for a week in the summer (which I wouldn’t do!!) I’d bring a big family tent with room to sit and cook, table, chairs etc. I don’t have a tent so they’re kindly lending me a small scout two man tent!

Well I just feel I don’t have the energy, enthusiasm or frankly the back to camp for four nights! Or to run to the toilet block in the rain in the middle of the night! Maybe 20yrs ago I would have done

I'm in my 50s with two Scout children, one has a medical condition meaning I was asked to go on the last camp.

I have joint issues and slid off my Thermarest in the night which was blooming uncomfortable but the younger leaders put up my tent for me and the catering team did all the cooking so the only issue for me was the sleeping and the getting up in the night - but it was glorious July weather so that was not a hardship.

I voted YANBU and I'd be booking a BnB near each site and telling the campervan owner to come and pick me up each morning.

The camper crew carry your gear. Decent size tent etc. Take you to nearest pub for evening meal.

Next time verify details before agreeing.

But you are a better person than me using annual leave days to help out someone else's group you have no connection with.

I am a camper (and mid-50s) but there is no way on earth that you’d get me to camp in October half term. You’ll be absolutely freezing. That in itself is enough of a reason to say no.

Not a chance I would do it.
Yanbu.

Whose camper van is it?

Why do those two leaders automatically get the van unless they jointly own in?

I would say at this point that I’m not up for it unless some big changes are made to the plan - it’s up to them to tell you the details, not you to ask!

I am waiting to hear from the organising team if there’s a budget for me to stay in a B&B or similar. We do try to keep the costs down for young people but I feel strongly we need to look after our volunteers as well

If I don’t go they won’t have enough permit holders to run the expedition so it’ll be cancelled. It’s hard trying to schedule a silver or gold expedition with scouts as it needs more than a weekend. School groups have the advantage they can take them out of school - we can’t. So if we don’t do it this half term it won’t happen till spring and it’ll be almost impossible to fit in two expeditions (the practice and assessed) before some leave scouts

The leaders (a couple) own the van. I genuinely think it’s an oversight because they’ve just not thought about accommodation because they’ve got the van

I would tell them that without a bed and breakfast that you're not going if I were you

Can you not just say to the leaders that you’ll make your own arrangements but be at the campsite by 7.30 each day? If you aren’t prepared to pay yourself then yes I think you’re a bit stuck with it, but personally I’d just shell out for a b&b- maybe every other day. You could also definitely get a nice comfy bed. Also lots of campsites do have better options like glamping pods so it might be worth looking into that?

Just book into local b&bs, is the issue you’d need to pay for it yourself?

Just ask the other leaders to help pitch the bigger tent

Probably. Waiting to hear back from the organisers. Four nights in half term won’t be cheap. But I don’t thin volunteers should be out of pocket either.