WWYD re: five day outdoor activity trip

[sweetiesue]

Long story but here goes. DD (10) has had letter home regarding a five day outdoor activity trip that is happening in late summer. Two points that I need a little input with.
Firstly, the cost is £250 (not subsidised by school/fundraising/PTA)for the trip, this doesn't include spending money or any additional kit or clothing required.
Secondly, the location is a Christian Activity Centre (their words) and according to the website a Christian theme and message is used within all activities including a nightly meeting/discussion on Christian values and themes.

Now as a family we are not religious and have the approach that everyone is free to practice and believe whatever they choose but do not feel it should be something that you cannot opt out of or should be "forced" to join in with.
What are your thoughts and are there any words of advice you can give me? Do not want her to be the only one not going but really not very comfortable with both cost and religious input. HELP!!

Cost sounds about right if it includes activities - we paid about £180 for a 3 day PGL trip. Spending money is likely to be minimal. Similarly normal casual clothing and waterproofs should suffice, specialist stuff is usually supplied.

Not sure about the religious aspect - does that same philosophy apply to externally run groups as well as those they organise themselves, are topics general such as teamwork, friendship rather than didactic. Is it a C of E or RC affiliated school btw ?

Thanks Pixie. We are in Scotland so I believe the way it works here is all schools (unless affiliated to a particular religion ie Jewish, Catholic) follow a broad curriculum looking at different world religion including Christianity. Our school attends a church twice a year for a non-denominational service including representatives from all "churches" in the area. Moral education including team work, respect etc is not a problem and has my total support just a bit regarding the religious input.
In terms of cost, I appreciate the cost is the cost but I suppose what is niggling most is that there has been no lead up to this or attempt at fundraising. Also payment by end March for a trip in September is a bit quick.

Should have said although they are away Mon to Fri they are only doing activities Tu,Wed & Thurs because of travel time required to get to centre.

Religion - I'd personally not speak to the school/the centre, I'd just have a word with your DD to tell her to just sit there quietly with minimal input during the bible sessions.

The outdoor activity stuff sounds like amazing fun TBH, I loved that sort of thing when I was that age. I would put the religion stuff aside, your DD is old enough to speak to you about the fact that some people are christians, she's not, that's fine. Re the cost - not sure what to say. Do it if t won't cause you major suffering.

The Parent Council does a lot of fundraising for school funds. From there depts can apply to the Parent Council for funds to buy or subsidise certain projects, activites or trips. Previously, they have subsidised DofE, Orchestra, transport for day trips, library resources, ICT equipment.
The cost for us can be covered but isn't disposable income just waiting to be spent and will have to come out of another "pot"

Are you sure you'd be the only one not attending? Ask what the other Mums think...

Often quite a few kids don't go and it's not a big deal.

But if you choose not to go make it clear to the school why.... So they can learn for next year....

IndigoBell, thanks for response. DD has gone to school today (after half term last week) to find out who in her class are thinking of going and to chat things through with her friends. When the trip went last year 10 out of 63 didn't go and attended school as normal for the week. DD's year is quite small at only 36 children so not sure how numbers will work out.
Will try and catch some mums at the gate this afternoon to see what thoughts are, also mums of those who went last year to get opinions.
I think this is the second time they have used this particular centre, previously they have gone to a PGL run centre. Wonder why they changed, maybe need to ask the question??

I would say the cost is normal. There is normally nothing to buy, so spending money would be maybe £5/£10 for ice-creams/souvenir badges/pencils etc. No special kit unless the school try to encourage you to buy a 'class of 2011' activity sweatshirt!

Regarding the Christian content. Have you looked on the website? On one, it seems every evening is taken up with the message and for 4 nights this might be interpreted as quite heavy indoctrination. For myself it would be the sticking point. Dd3 went on a weekend to a similar type of outdoor centre but as it was only 1 night I wasn't too bothered. For 4 nights I would have to do more investigating. The school should be able to tell you more if they have been before.

Have just seen your last post. Definitely ask the school why they have decided to change from PGL.

Hocuspontas, thanks.
Website is very informative, but does put a great emphasis on it being a Christian run centre with staff who have strong Christian beliefs and who promote the Christian way of life as the bible advises.

When you go into the "About us" section it strongly promotes the teaching of the bible and the associated way of living your life. Now as I have said before, I am not Christian and therefore have limited knowledge of how this would be carried out.
As for the evening activity - not sure how they would do this but it def puts an emphasis on promoting the Christian message. My understanding is that this happens every evening, therefore each evening for the 4 nights they are there. I agree this is a sticking point for us. One evening, no problem sit quietly and respect that others may want to take part but I think a little unfair if she has to do this for four evenings.

Phoned the activity centre for more info. Evening sessions are about an hour to hour and half long and consist of a brief ice breaker before games/puppet show/quiz/play/songs about the teachings in the bible. They are held every evening and although not compulsary they do not advise you withdraw your child as it can create division in the group. The centre say they don't promote the Christian faith as such, but there is no mention of other religions and what they believe within any of the evening activities.
The school can request that the sessions do not take place but it is unusual. Looks like I need to speak to the school to find out what they are requesting for their trip.

Sounds like thinly veiled preaching to me, and my child wouldn't be going - but then I am quite militant about this sort of thing! Shame, but there must be providers of activity weeks who don't have the unnecessary religious padding as well.

I think I would still want to know a little more about the content of the sessions. If they focus on moral/ethical points like 'Love your neighbour' I wouldn't mind it, but if it's a lot of biblical stories and emphasis on how Jesus loves you, I wouldn't be happy with it. I'm not Christian, and while I believe it's vital for children to learn about other religions, I wouldn't want my DD involved in sessions where Christianity was presented as truth.

I would be quite about the choice of this centre for a non-denominational school.

Cost isn't outrageous tbh; there probably wont be much on top - I think wesent £10 when SA went on a similar thing and all of it came back again.
The centre provided waterproof jackets and trousers, boots too I think. We were just asked to send in "normal" clothes foe layering up.

I wouldn't worry about the religious thing too much tbh. It will probably just be presented as stories as it would at school. I think if there was too much "indoctrination" then the school probably wouldn't use the centre. Most schools are multicultural these days and I think the centre would find their bookings were down if they were too pushy!

Have spoken to one of the teachers who is organising the trip and he was very helpful.

The reason they use the centre is because the facilities are extremely good and represents good value for money compared with the alternatives.
At the moment they are discussing whether to withdraw from the evening activities because they felt they were too "heavy handed" last year but are in discussions with the centre regarding this. The teacher said they are more along the lines of Jesus loves you, you are one of Gods children rather than love thy neighbour and the good samaritan where morals and good citizenship comes into play.
He is going to approach the Parent Council regarding a possible grant/subsidy to cover transport costs. This would be less than 10% of the total cost per child but agreed that this would be a good idea and would possibly "cushion the blow".
Additional expenditure would come in the form of buying any specific clothing/equipment your child didn't have. Specifically, walking boots (or similar), wellies, outdoor trainers for tennis etc, full set of waterproofs, waterproof gloves (ski type), several pairs of trackie bottoms (no jeans allowed for outdoor activities)and sleeping bag were amongst the things he mentioned.
Spoke to a couple of mums who had children go on last years trip. All had a fantastivc time but felt uncomfortable with the evening ectivites. They said any clothing used for the outdoor activities is beyond washing when it comes back so either raid Primark or old clothes and be prepared to throw it away when they get back.
Now that I have found all this out it gives me more to work with to make a decision. Although still need clarification on whether the evening activites will be going ahead and in what form.
Thanks all for your input, keep it coming if there is more