Camping...

[Dollygirl2008]

So a few of us are taking out year 6 children camping next week overnight - all of them are in the same school bubble and our tent I'll be pitched at a sensible space. Socially distancing economy. However, I offered a mum and her son to share my tent as there are only two of us. It's a big tent so there would be the space to, but since I (hastily) offered, I've suddenly thought about us sharing the same "air". What would you do?

Does it have separate sleeping areas?

That would be allowed I think, you can share holiday accommodation with one other household as long as you social distance, so if your tent is big enough then should be ok, although I’m imagining one of the huge ones with separate rooms. If it’s just one big room it may be more risky but that’s up to you to decide if you want to take the risk or not!

It's a five man one with two separate sleeping areas and a big living space. It's myself and my DD, plus another mum and her DS. To be honest, knowing our other night about, I doubt we'll be in the tent for long.....

Sure that is fine then, as long as your both happy with it. Maybe open tent vents for ventilation and keep sleeping compartment zips closed.

I think you will be fine hope you have a great time 😁

Thanks all. Although we now have another problem... the campsite (field) couldn't accommodate us on 18th, so we are booked for the 11th which is 4 days before they break up from school. Although we haven't kept it a secret, the school have been phoning up parents to find out, presumably they're worried that we're mixing the childrens bubbles up.

It's really difficult - our children are in two different bubbles and we'd always said we'll keep the bubbles apart on the night. However, some of the children are mixing between bubbles at out of school activities (such as football training, karate etc). I'm worried that the school could say that if we go ahead, they'll exclude our children from the final week of school.

Can I ask your thoughts? x

That is difficult. What have you agreed with school for mixing bubbles out of school, has there been any guidance on this from the school?

Although in your first post you say they are all in the same bubble? If they are then surely no problem. If not then you should be sticking to social distancing whilst there anyway so also no problem, don’t think the school can tell you who to mix with if you are keeping to the guidance!

Sorry - what I meant is that some of the children in the year 6 bubble are mixing with other school bubbles in out of school activities.

I've just gone back to the original guidance and it says that they would be extremely disappointed if bubbles mix outside of school due to all the measure they've put in place, they wouldn't be able to stop it. I would just hate to end Primary on a low if the school are cross with us as they've been amazing throughout all of this

Surely they mean they don't want kids from different bubbles to mix with each other as then their efforts have been wasted. Children who are all in the same bubble have been mixing in school so why would it matter if they mix outside as well?

The tent thing seems fine, you're allowed to spend time indoors with members of one other household if socially distancing. They are one other household and if you have separate sleeping areas you are socially distancing (assuming the sleeping areas are opposite sides of the living area.

Personally, I would give the tent sharing, toilet sharing, camping a miss right now.

@Splattherat

Personally, I would give the tent sharing, toilet sharing, camping a miss right now.

Great, more space for us :)

@Splattherat

Personally, I would give the tent sharing, toilet sharing, camping a miss right now.

I don't know, if people are going to go away in groups then camping is probably a great way to do it. Own tent, outside activities and cooking. much less risky than a shared holiday cottage.

Don’t get me wrong I love camping but personally wouldn’t do it now mainly due to toilet/bathroom sharing, washing up facilities.
The fresh air would be ok but in a big group shared cooking, social distancing is likely to go out of the window. I didn’t think the guidance encouraged spending so much time in shared company in the form of a holiday mixing so many unrelated households and social bubbles.

I’m pretty relaxed but I don’t understand why camping is being presented as a good holiday option rights now. It’s the shared toilets/showers etc that will be the problem?

Anyway OP I don’t think the sharing a tent is the issue but the mixing of bubbles?

I actually disagree and think it’s more risky than sharing a holiday cottage with one other household. Multiple people across the campsite using the same loo?

Thanks @Delatron we have cancelled our family holiday abroard this year as we didn’t want to go on a plane or have an unrelaxing holiday with masks, worries and risks.

I agree - I'm not sure I'd want to go for very long, but it's essentially less than 24 hours as we are only staying the one night. I'll use the she-wee if I have to!!!!

I think all we can do is try our best to socially distance all the children. We're doing food per family and treat bags for each child so there should be no cross contamination of food.

Phew - I'll be glad when it's over.....!

Ha yes. I would be she weeing, weeing in bushes! It all sounds fine just avoid toilets/ communal showers.

I wouldn’t share a tent.

You will be sleeping quite close, separated only by very porous polyester.

Otherwise, all fine, outdoors, keep your chairs apart, you don’t need to shower on a one night camp, wipes will suffice, and you won’t need to linger in the toilets.