Allowing my 6 year old to go to Beaver camp?

[Learningasigomom]

The invitation came out at the start of the year to let us know there would be 2 camps this year for the Beavers to go to. I had a conversation with my 6 year old as soon as the email came out and he was unsure but open to the idea. We went last year to a tent camp with the Squirrels as parents were allowed, however now he is in the Beavers parents aren’t allowed. They also won’t be sleeping in tents, it will be bunks indoors. When the time came for a definitive answer either go for the day and do the activities and then go home or all day and stay he chose all day and stay. Fast forward to now and the camp is this coming Saturday. He’s now unsure he wants to stay, all the reassurance has been given. He’s aware if it all becomes too much and he wants to come home it’s not a bother, he gets the leader to phone and we will go collect him any time.

He only mentions his worries at night prior to going to bed. We were out shopping today to buy stuff and he appeared very excited about it.

Something else to note, his best friend is also going and staying. We have gone camping as families before and spend a lot of time together so they are used to being together.

Basically have I been crazy in the first place to agree for him to go? I’m worried that he will hate it and never want to go again. I grew up going through all the Guides sections and absolutely loved going to the camps however, I was much older than he is.

Thank you for reading!!

Wow what an amazing opportunity!! This definitely makes me feel so much better. Did she go with just the Brownies and the leaders?

Aw his brain is working overtime with the "what ifs". Maybe sometimes when things are full-on it looks like a leader might forget something- maybe some reassurance that they definitely would not forget that type of thing, and he could of course ask again might help.

As other posters have said in general the young people are shattered when they get into bed and are out like a light. We often played a very simple cartoon or film at bed time on a big screen to help with wind down and the vast majority were asleep within minutes. We were well aware of any young people who were finding it more tricky to fall asleep and our day didn't end until every single child was asleep- even then if anyone wakes up we work in pairs or threes to offer reassurance etc..

My DD went on her first Beavers camp at 6 years old, was doing 3 night camps with Cubs a couple of years later and happily went abroad for 2 weeks with Scouts at 14. If he can call home if he wants to then let him give it a go and see what happens.

It's also a good opportunity to give it a go whilst it is just one night and close enough to come home. Some of the Cubs camps were a couple of hours drive away and for longer which would have been a bigger step if my DD hadn't been used to shorter camps.

@WorkingHarder where is that? Do parents have safeguarding checks?

How many nights? My son does beaver but they’re not going this year. However , they’re going with school for one night. Just reassure him he’ll be fine and hopefully he’ll have an amazing time !

Yeah it’s only for one night. He’s a definite over thinker, but I know for sure he will have a great time. He always does for anything he’s an overthinker with.

One of mine went at 6, one of mine went at 7 but he has SEN and didn't think it was fair on the leaders to send him until we were at least 50% sure he'd participate when he got there!

He'll be grand and my experience is that my DCs' involvement with the scouting movement has had the single biggest impact on improving their personal resilience. Even if he decides to come home which is unlikely, he'll have learnt that he can cope and come home if he needs.

@crumblingschools my district haven't held any family camps so I have no personal experience. However I can confirm that every adult attending a family camp is required to have vetting and disclosure checks carried out.

I believe also that the ethos of a family camp is that the family unit is very much maintained throughout all activities and living arrangements.

My girls have done it with brownies. Loved it. They slept in the guide hall with mats and bags after staying up to after 11pm watching movies. Campfire on the beach with marshmallows. Best night ever. I’d agree with a Pp that after a full day and a late to bed then they are completely shattered and drop off easily.

My 6 year old has been on 2 Beaver camps so far (with 2 more coming up before she turns 7). One I was roped into helping (we're in Scotland, I have a scouting pvg for other reasons and have done all their safeguarding training) and one she went by herself. She had a fabulous time on both trips.

We covered every scenario I could think of before she went. She helped pack/label all her stuff and everything was separate so she could easily find her nightwear etc. The leaders were well aware it was her first night away from us and sent the odd update (some general to the wider parent group, some more specific to her just to me) which was lovely to see.

I'd be encouraging him to stay with the reassurance that if any issues arise you'd come and get him. A childhood friend of mine still regrets not staying the night at a Brownie weekend camp circa 1988 because she was having a fabulous time when her parents rolled up to collect her as prearranged.

No way, a 6 year old is far too young.

I remember a leader once saying to the parent they'd call immediately if the child wanted to be collected but on the night the child was sobbing for home, they didn't call home as it would have 'upset the other children' and make them want to call home so they were made to wait until the next day. Child wet the bed that night (not a normal occurrence ) and has been really impacted many years later.

I'd say daytime only.

lol at too young … mine went age 5!! Loved it.

As a scouting leader I'm devastated to read this happened. It is certainly not in line with the procedures that are set down by scouts and there is no way that I or any of the leaders I've worked with would allow that approach to be taken.

I can only speak directly WRT scouting procedures which have been in place for the last 14 years- as that's how long I've been involved.

For the record every leader involved has a duty to call out anything they are uncomfortable with, or which isn't inline with official scouting procedures. If you're not prepared to do that then quite rightly you're not able to be involved. In addition I'd expect any leader thinking it was ok do that to be asked to step down immediately.

There isn't an appropriate age that applies to all children, because it depends on the child.

One of my friends has a son who wouldn't do an overnight until he was 13, and her other son headed off without a backwards glance at 6.

The thing is, no one can tell you the answer as only you know your DS and the camp leaders. It would have been too young for my DC. DD was quite adventurous, and ready to go on sleepovers with friends from when she was 7. I would be concerned about a child having a poor experience and it putting them off camps in the future.

I used to get excited about Brownie camps but hated them when I was there

I would encourage him to go. Be light and breezy about it. Sell it to him that he can always go for the evening and if he really doesn’t want to stay, you can pop over and bring him home for bedtime.

My dc was the same before first Beavers camp. He had never slept away from us ever and to top it off, I was in hospital that week for urgent surgery so life was chaos and he was already really emotional being away from me. He had the absolute best time. They all did. He still talks about it. They are all really nervous and reluctant. I think when they get there and see friends and start having fun, the wobbles go. If not, just go get him and at least he gave it a try.

Both my kids have done nights away with Beavers, Cubs, Scouts since the age of 6. Had amazing times and built up tonnes of confidence. It's definitely not too young!

I worked with a man once that volunteered for a beavers overnight trip who wasn't DBS checked. Would never risk it

That definitely does not happen in our area. I know as I had to have a disclosure to go camping with my son last year with the Squirrels. They were also looking for volunteers and stated that they would need to have a disclosure done prior to starting.

As a leader, I have a full DBS.
A couple of years ago it was accidentally deleted by an administrator at District... I had to have a couple of weeks off even though they knew it was their error.

However... my Cubs have seen DH come on camps. They may think he's a random man... he's actually a leader from a different area. Similarly I turn up on his camps when they need a woman.

Beaver Leader here, the Beavers love being away and even the ones whose parents say they are not sure about staying away have been absolutely fine.

We keep them really busy with lots of outdoor activities and they stay up later than they usually would at home so the majority of them are asleep very very quickly. (We do read to some of them if they need some help getting to sleep). We encourage them to bring a teddy/snuggly toy to sleep with.

There are plenty of head counts during the day to ensure everyone is together and all adults on camp are DBS checked and have undergone the relevant training.

Leaders don't sleep very well on camp and go to bed late and are up early, so if a child awoke in the night s/he will be heard and walked back to their bedroom.

It would be a hard no from me. 6 is way to young. It’s just not necessary at that age.

As someone who has organised several of these events 9 out of 10 times it is the parents anxieties rubbing off on the children. Your son may be hesitant now but chances are he won’t even think about you once you are out of the room.

the leaders will have sufficient risk assessments for all eventualities, your son is statistically safer sleeping there than with family members

Lots of things in life aren't "necessary" but they still enhance peoples lives.