Brownies Camp - Has anyone any info about what happens?

[paranoidmother]

DD has joined a new Brownie group in September and all of them are new to Brownies including the leaders.

DD is 8 and wanting to go but I wanted a bit more info on what happens etc or if anyone has any advice about what she should take etc I would be grateful.

She's been away to stay with Grandparents but never camping etc.

All Advice will be gratefully received.

Ask the Brown Owl. My DD's one can usually give a rough itinary and if the need much special equipment they can often borrow. Will she be camping or staying in huts?
A lot depend on where they go and the theme of the holiday. It usually involves lots of practical stuff, special visits and crafts. My DD has enjoyed them far more than school trips.

When I did cub camps we provided a list of what was needed , ask the leader to do the same. Camps vary greatly depending on time of year and what sort of site you are going to . We always did an activity based winter camp and a more relaxed hiking / camping skills type in the summer.

Ime "camping" for Brownies, is generally indoors in dorms. They take a theme (eg Finding Nemo) and they then do activities round the theme. They'll have outside activities and a book of puzzles to do inside.
They'll do cooking/washing up and maybe (depends on your place) cleaning. And Brownies are little delicate things so the Brownie organisation insists they have a rest after lunch. Although when I was a Brownie we spent it seeing how quickly we could get round the dorm without touching the ground. But we were officially resting .

She'll love it.

Thank you, our Brown Owl Called Kiwi hasn't done it before so doesn't know anything about it yet. She says she'll let us know nearer the time (which I've found so far means the week before - she's a bit forgetful)

Do we have to pay anything towards it? It's a Friday - Sunday thing but I'm assuming it starts after school as it's a school day.
I'm wanting her to do it but if we need to get anything extra I need to save up for it or find someone to borrow things from and I don't want to leave it till the last moment as I hate not being prepared.
Thank you

We did have to pay extra, it was about £40 I think. They did some activities. - Outside adventure type activities, and had very little sleep according to dd1, and all but her and another girl were told off (again according to her), she doesn't go to the most genteel group though. She loved it.

There will have to be a qualified and experienced leader there. She needs to send out letters now, and get replies saying who is going and a deposit. She needs to then have a set date for the final balance to be paid. She also needs to organise a meeting for parents of the Brownies going. There are also official permission slips that have to be filled in, along with medical forms, and ours usually come with kit lists etc. the Brownies often do something to prepare eg. Make table mats which are then laminated.

She also needs to ensure she has enough adults etc.
If this is her first time, then it might be better to go with another Brownie Pack, my DD's often do this, and it becomes more fun.

Could I just say that if the leader in charge hasn't camped before she'll be undertaking her residential licence and receiving training. She'll have a mentor during the preparations and you'll be sent a kit list, a health form and a consent form, and have a parents' meeting before the event. The chosen site will have been approved as being safe and the leader and her team will plan meals, activities, and just about everything else under the sun! The first trip is often a practice, but when she takes her test she'll be assessed by an experienced leader, who will check everything is as it needs to be to ensure that the girls are safe and having fun.

At this stage, there may only be a 'save the date' notification (some places charge a hefty non-refundable deposit so we often ask for an indication of interest before making the final booking) but there'll be a lot more preparation before the event . If you have any questions, please do ask the leadership team.

Thank you JennyWren I might drop her a quick line just to ask whether she's got any more info on it, money etc and whether we're going with another group. We're only a small group of ten ish at the moment and have 2 leaders. We've been told the date but that's all. I'm afraid I'm a bit of a planner so as soon as i know about anything I like to have it all planned as much as possible.

I'm hoping mummytime that it's with another group as I like the idea of them making new friends.

Thank you

they will do all the same stuff they usually do but more, bigger and better! An obligatory late night secret sugary snack usually features, ime.

DD went to camp at 7 barely knowing anyone, never having slept away from us & having only been in Brownies for a few months; had a blast, didn't want to come home.

We always have 'rest' hour after lunch on Guide camp. Always after they have had some kind of sugary pudding. I can't imagine why our attempts to get them to rest always fail.... Still, as leaders we quite enjoy the hour of the day when they are not allowed to talk to us (unless it is an emergency) and we can sit in a chair with a brew.

In terms of what your daughter might be doing on Brownie camp, ask the leader. Although remember that final details may not have been confirmed yet - at the moment for our camp in the summer all we know is where we are going.

Before that camp I have my 'test' camp to do where I will be assessed on my ability to plan and carry out a camp - all I know at the moment is our venue and a ballpark figure for the cost.

For a weekend, we normally charge about £30, but it is often slightly cheaper for Guides as we stay in tents rather than in a hut.

In terms of what she will need, that largely depends on the venue. Some huts have bunk beds, others don't so she would need some kind of camping mat (you can get them for about £7 from Millets / Sports Direct - avoid the £5 ones from Argos - they are awful quality, or at least were a couple of years ago). She will also need a sleeping bag and pillow (unless these are provided) and maybe a blanket. Clothes is usually Guide wear so for a Brownie would be yellow tops and brown bottoms (doesn't have to be official uniform usually, just the right colours). Often units will have stuff you can borrow in the right colours (we hire stuff out for 50p). If they have outdoor activities planned she may need things like a waterproof jacket and wellies. If she is in a hut, crockery will probably be provided (at Guides they have to bring their own unbreakable set - most, including me, have a cartoon character melamine set).

Sorry I've rambled on a bit - your leader should give you a list of what she'll need but hope this gives you an idea.