How old was your child when they first slept over at a Scout / Guides type camp

[MonChoufleur123]

DS who is 7.5 has been invited to go for a camping weekend during school summer holidays with his Scouts group. He's in Beavers but there will be Scouts up to the top age group there (18). It's 10am Saturday to 4pm Sunday.
He's been going for about 9 months and knows two others in the Beavers group well from school. I'm worried he'll find it overwhelming and feel uneasy about it being such a large age range. We'd be about 45 mins drive away if he wanted to come home early. Or I'm wondering if I could ask if he could just go for one of the days.
How old were your children when they first did something like this? Would you let your 7 yr old go? Not sure how to approach concerns with the group leader.
Thanks x

Ds was 7.5 years old

Two nights, three days

He had a blast

That was with Scouts

My DD went on brownie camp at around 8/9. But that was just her Pack and in a bunkhouse.
Guide camp at 11 I think.
Loved both.
Is it all his beaver group? And his leaders?
Has he stayed away over night before?

Both my children went to an overnight camp with infant school, year 2 - I was terrified but they both enjoyed it!

7 with Brownies. She loved it.

The leaders are used to a range of ages, and also that the youngest might be away for the first time. Have a chat with them if you are worried.

DD came back and announced she now knew how to.use a sharp knife for cooking - she did as well! Cut down onto a chopping board etc far better than if I had taught her...

Both were 7 or 8 with cubs. They were fine.

Ds1 joined cubs age 8 and three months later they went on the train to London to do Dinosnores at the Natural History Museum. Dh and I were mildly terrified but he had a blast. He's quite adventurous with that sort of thing really.

Ds2 didn't go to any camp til he was 9 due to covid. He wouldn't have wanted to any earlier though as he's a home body.

Their latest district camp had 4yr old Squirrels staying in the barn , most had a parent with them. I wouldn't have liked that at all. Plenty of 6 and 7 year old Beavers were there in their units from Friday to Sunday though. They had a great time.

Dd was 7 and went with beavers. She loved it!

At mixed age range camps we (guide leader here) don’t put Brownies (7-10) in tents with Guides (10-14) or Rangers (14-18) in with either younger sections.

I believe Scouts have the same or similar rules. Kids usually get to go in the same tent/dorm as at least some of their friends.

Normally there will be age appropriate joint and some separate activities during the day.

Dont worry- your little one wont be put on his own with a tent full of 17-18yr olds😁

Oh, and my Grandkids have attended camps from before their 1st birthday…

Both DS and DD where only 6 and went on camp/overnight with Beavers. They both only did one night the first time though.

DD was not bother in the slightest, DS was a little more apprehensive. But normally they keep them way to busy during the day for them to worry about anything.

A mixed camp is normally split down into the different sections as they can't all do the same activities. But often the older ones especially explorers will have some young leaders with them who will happily help with the younger kids.

DD has just graduated to an adult leader and DS is a young leader and helps with Cubs. So.you can see how much they both enjoyed it 😁.

Eldest was probably 9 (COVID) but youngest was 6. He is quite a sensitive soul and had never slept away anywhere before. It was also an hour away - and to top it off, I had to be in hospital for surgery that week, so life was chaotic. He was absolutely fine and had the best time.

Around the same age.

This sounds like a beaver sleepover at a larger, longer camp for the older kids. They’ll be given their own area slightly seperate from the cubs, scouts and Explorers and have their own leaders and likely their own activities. They won’t just be dumped in with the teenagers and left to fend for themselves. It’s just to give them a taste of what they can look forward to if they stay on for the older groups.

the teenagers won’t want to babysit the little ones either!

6

These troop camps are so good. They see and aspire to the things the older ones are allowed to do. The older ones play games and help the little ones. It’s great. They will have a ball

All mine went to beavers camps from 6. I think it’s such a wonderful opportunity for them. As pp have said they will be well supported and not all mixed in with the older groups.
Chat to the leaders they will be used to parents letting their DC go away for the first time.

6 - he had a blast but was exhausted afterwards.

Both mine were 6 when they went for the first time (with Beavers). Dc2's second camp was a whole Group Camp with another Scout Group and she had a fabulous time. Made lots of new friends (she was the only girl in her Beaver pack at that point).

DD was the Same age as your DS, she was a bit nervous on the run up but she had a fantastic time, absolutely cream crackered when she got home though 😂 They’d been up late both nights and busy as bees all day doing outdoorsy activities.

DD was 7, had only been in scouts for a couple of months, if that. There were scouts up to about age 13/14 I think, if I remember right. Only one night and she had a great time - was in the autumn and there was early snow so snow on the ground. Everyone slept together in one big tent that had a wood heated stove to warm it and they all took turns being stove guards during the night, to make sure the fire didn't go out. Proper Scout experience.

The next summer, when she was 8, she went to a massive Scout camp with scouts of all ages from all over the wider area - several thousand of them, and had the best time!

Pony club camp at 10, I don’t think I’d be comfortable with any earlier.

5 and they absolutely loved it.

This is reassuring to hear thanks so much everyone who's replied! Really nice to hear all the positive experiences.

DD was 8 with Brownies. About an hour away from home for two nights. She loved it!

Ds didn’t get into beavers but joined cubs at 8 I think? And went straight to a weekend indoor camp. He went every year and had his first whole week with scouts at 11.