To let her go camping?

[herewegogogox]

My extremely extroverted DD who is 8 started cubs (scouts) 2 weeks ago, she loves it already but as she has only been there 2 weeks naturally hasn’t established any concrete friendships… the club is mostly boys but there are 2 girls & all the leaders are female.

they have their end of term camping trip in 2 weeks, DD is DESPERATE to go … shes never been camping so i will have to buy everything but I don’t mind that I’m more worried how she will get on, she’s only ever stayed at grandparents & loves home.

the camp is a 30 min car drive at most so i can easily get her if required, its also for 2 nights. DD is under CAHMS review for possible ADHD she has sensory aversions, has to shower nightly & is a very picky eater which worries me!!

would you let her go?

If the leaders know everything that you’ve written in that last sentence and are happy to take her, yes I would.

Talk to the leaders about the showers as they are not always available on camp sites. I would also mention the equipment as they will have some to loan you. Otherwise I would let her go. These are really well planned events.

I would speak to the leaders. They might struggle to accommodate the nightly showers and picky eating easily at this short notice as menus might have been confirmed. You could maybe look at her spending the days with them and coming home at bedtime so she gets a feel of camping but keeps her normal evening routine.

In terms of buying equipment, they may well have things you could borrow.

I agree with @DustyLee123 the leaders will probably have been away multiple times, as long as they are aware of your DD'S needs I would let her go.

Also have a word with them about the equipment, they may have some bits you can borrow for her first trip to reduce the initial expense.

Let her go, she’ll have a ball. They don’t really need to know anyone - there’ll be loads of activities which they’ll be put in to groups for.

Leaders are well used to picky eaters. I’ve just been on our camp. For an example we had pasta bolognaise one night, with pasta, sauce and cheese all served separately, every child was able to have something they were happy with, even if that was plain pasta.

Ask the leaders if there’s any equipment you can borrow.

Make sure that they know everything in your last sentence. We have easy access to decent showers where we camp, not everyone will.

Agree clear lines with the leaders about when to call you. Standard late night tears/worries don’t warrant a call home, as virtually every child can be settled.

Let her go. She sounds like the sort of kid who will absolutely thrive at a scout camp. Just make sure that the leaders are aware of issues.

Mine has just done her first camp, she's slightly younger and it was only for one night (but pretty much two full days), but I had much the same worries as you. My daughter isn't very independent, still cosleeps sometimes, it's a picky eater, very emotional etc, and I was convinced we'd get a call to collect her.

We didn't, and she had a brilliant time. I'm glad I let her go :-)

I'm a Guide leader. If we had a child like this we would absolutely support her to come along. Scouts should be the same.
I recommend you have a chat to the leaders and fill in an adjustment plan (may be called something different at Scouts) so that the leaders know what she would need to feel comfortable.
Lots of little ones do get teary. Might be worth speaking to the leaders about their hugging policy. For my Guides who are all 10+ it must be initiated by them and out on the open or with another leader present otherwise we just rub their backs (after asking if that is ok). And again depends on the leaders themselves, their experience , how well they know the kids.
Both my DS are Cubs. Younger one is a similar age and clingy so rather than the Friday night drop off when he is tired I'm taking him very early in the Saturday so he has a day of fun activities to help him settle and then hopefully he'll manage to stay over. They have a new female leader who seems to understand him although he admires the main male leader (who is exceptionally good with the smaller ones)
If you're worried about kit costs then Tesco (and I suspect other big stores) sell inexpensive sleeping bags, roll mats and fleece blankets. All of these are useful for sleepovers as the children get older.