PGL advice

[meredeux]

Has anyone got a child who has been on a residential PGL course through the school?
DS is due to go away with the school next term and I just got the kit list. It says take plenty of old clothes, but we don't have any old clothes in his size because he grows out his clothes before they get to be old!
If your child went on one of these trips, can you tell me how many pairs of trousers etc they needed? I don't like the idea of him running out of dry clothes mid week!
Does anyone know if there is any facilities for drying wet clothes in these places? DS is just about sensible enough to hang up his wet clothes to dry, but only if there is somewhere to hang them.

Hi ! My dd went last months and I have sent her, with 2 shorts, 2 tracksuits (primark), and I cargo trouser.

Thanks. Was that enough for her or did she run out of dry clothes before the end of the week? (I don't know why but I have this idea that they'll be out in the open doing activities every day irrespective of the rain).

Will def take your primark tip though (and label carefully as I suspect everyone else will have the current primark range too!)

DD1 went last month. The kit list is huge. She did get soaked one day, but nowhere to put clothes to dry. She took roughly one outfit for each day. It wasn't hot or cold if you know what I mean so she had similar to shake and wore them all.

A pair for every day they're away and a couple of spare ones in case they get soaked or covered in mud. Too short ones are fine, they can be tucked into socks.

No, there's not usually somewhere to dry clothes.

Nowhere to dry clothes. DD1 dried hers on the radiators in the rooms. DD2 just stuffed hers in a supermarket bag and sealed it up for me to deal with later!

Mine went with tracksuit bottoms, t shirts and microfleeces. One set for each day plus one spare. Then one set of 'good' clothes for evening. Got ultra cheap trainers from Tesco for the wet activities (£2 in sale). We don't have Primark, so did Peacocks instead!

They usually have drying room IME, ask the staff at school to ring up and check or if they have been before they might know.

Buy cheap joggers and shorts from ASDA or sports direct.

Name everything so that if it goes in the drying room they will be able to find it. Stuff that comes out of there will be dry but a bit stiff and stinky by the end of the week but hey, its all part of the fun

I threw most of the socks away, I value my washing machine too much but then again Dd1 was under canvas so walking to the toilet in just socks across the grass.

She loved it so much she went back to work there when she was 18 and had a brilliant summer.

I hope your DS loves it

Is it bunkhouses or camping?

I took my year 6 class just before half term and we were in tents. In fact the weather was lovely, but it could easily have been disgusting. I would say 2 pairs of trainers, one set of underwear + tshirts per day, 1 pair of shorts/trackie bottoms per day, 2 fleeces/sweatshirts. If they are doing watersports like canoeing they will get COMPLETELY soaked - we suggested that those shorts/pants/socks/trainers/t-shirt went in a bin bag that was tied up and put in the corner of the tent - but the drying room is not very effective at the Ross on Wye centre. Head torches are good if they're camping - hands free for book or playing cards!

Its bunkhouses, I think! (actually it never occurred to me that it could be camping although they did suggest sleeping bags...!).

Bunkhouses have radiators, so tell dc to use them for drying! According to dd1 rads in bunkhouses at PGL in Staffs (fotgotten name) were on all the time...

Ah - but will the radiators be turned on at this time of year.......!

meredeux, obviously they don't have to be old, but what they are saying is they will get muddy and they don't want parents complaining afterwards about "naice" clothes being ruined...

Old or very cheap clothes and plenty of them.

They will get wet and they get muddy. If they do the mud challenge very, very, very muddy. And this summer very very wet.

Our lot only go for the weekend so have never tried to dry stuff. I certainly wouldn't guarantee anywhere.

However, they will have fun!!!

My 8 year old went with school in April. Only 2 nights/3 days.

Took nearly all of the stuff on the kit list and he wore it all. It did rain pretty solidly the whole time though. Everything came back slighty damp in black bin sacks, so err on the side of caution.

Pack loads of pairs of socks!

Had the same issue with "old clothes". We bought really cheap trackie bottoms from Asda (other supermarkets are available) - I think they were £3 each - and used his trousers that were getting too short.

Label one pair trouser/top for "party outfit" -they always have a disco.

Hope DS has a great time!

Depends which site they are going to they'll be staying in either bunkhouses or dormitories.

I used to go to these places quite a lot- had an amazing time. Pack as much clothes as they can actually carry.

They'll have a great time, can't wait till DD is old enough!

Mine went and I did a Primark run the week before for non fleecy joggers at £3.50 and long sleeved tops at £2.00 each. They all came back and they have been washed and worn again.
I went with the outfit a day plus two extra ones. My biggest worry was wet shoes as its one of my pet hates but even they came back dryish.

Remember the bin bag for the wet/muddy clothes.