Pencelli / Pen y Fen safe child school trip?

[Lemonbaytree]

I wasn't sure where to post this.

My teenage child is going to Pencelli soon with the school. I was all fine about it until we recently had a meeting about what they will be doing.
Caving that's very narrow, you can't go on your hands and knees and have to slide. I'm worried my child will get claustrophobic and can't back out.

Then there's climbing Pen Y fen which the teacher said they don't go up the tourist way and it takes them 6 hours. They have to keep going and can't go back. Teacher also said once he went it was so windy he was clinging onto a child to make sure they didn't get blown over.
I have anxiety anyway but this is really worried me. Is it unsafe, should I have really put my child on this trip?

No way I would let mine go. I think school trips are great for stretching their boundaries and facing up to some fears but as a child forced to do stuff I developed claustrophobia. Mocked and humiliated by the teacher (early 70s) I would not let my kids go. My 2 went to camp it was all zip wires, tree top walking, raft building and they loved it but caving, no way

They will have to have completed numerous risk assessments. It should be really safe and fun. How does your child feel? Do they have a history of claustrophobia? I would say most people when faced with that situation feel scared/a bit claustrophobic but then push through it which is a really good experience. Unless there's a back story of physical limitations for your child I think it sounds great. Also PenY Fan is tough but plenty of people do it, it's not Everest.

To add my 7 year old went caving with the Beavers when he was 6 and loved it.

Of course it's safe. It will have been risk assessed in great detail.
There will be specialist instructors for things like caving.
Don't pass your fears into your kids. They will have a great time.

I'd let mine go, they'd love it. I wouldn't share your fears with your DC or you'll have an anxious child.

Does your child get claustrophobic?

Are they fit and active?

It was really daft of the teacher to talk of having to cling on to kids, they have no business going out in high winds. Sounds like telling it with dramatic licence.

Does your Dc want to go?

Presumably these activities are led by experienced qualified leaders / instructors?

If Dc’s friends are up for it they will probably all boost each others morale and keep going.

Of course it’s safe! Can you imagine the message in the staff newsletter

“we’ve got this trip. It’s a bit risky. In fact, at points it’s downright dangerous and there’s a real risk to the children you’re taking. Who wants to put their name to the risk assessment and be in charge?”

Hi,
I’ve been there as a teacher. The instructors are used to children that will love it and children that find it physically or mentally hard.

They sill have been in those caves 100s of times and know alternative routes if needed.

But it will be safe.

We went to Pencelli in January (in the late 80's) it was fun. I later went back as a helper in the early 90's. Mine went a few years back in better weather and also loved it. It was also perfectly safe. We slid down Pen Y Fan on bin bags - it was one of the highlights of the trip (that and the Kendal mint cake)

How many hundreds of thousands of children have been to Pencelli over the years? And how many serious incidents have there been?

The riskiest activity will probably be the coach trip there!

Thanks for helping me feel at ease.

My child is a bit nervous about the caving. I haven't said anything to him that will show I'm nervous.
I said that they will be fine and the instructors know what they are doing. I'm good at hiding my own fears!

I've climbed Pen Y Fan - all four major routes - more times than you can shake a stick at, the very first time I was seven. He will be completely safe and people of all ages and abilities go up and down the mountain every single day - it's a very busy place, there is plenty of help should it ever be needed.

In terms of Pencelli, I highly recommend reading their website, it's very comprehensive and they've been doing school trips since the 1960s, they are experts in the area and in the work that they do: https://plaspencelli.co.uk

He'll have a blast, I am sure. Mwynhewch! As we say in these parts (I live an hour from Brecon).

My guide troop went up Pen y Fan when I was about 10. It was the 1970s when H&S was non existant not what it is now. It was perfectly safe and fantastic fun. The beauty and wildness stayed with me and gave me a love of the mountains that has lasted a lifetime.

They won't force him into the cave if he's anxious.

No way would I do caving now, the idea of it gives me spine chills.

However when I was a teen I did it with Guides and had no issues at all, just trusted the instructor and had fun. Young brains have a higher capacity for risky situations than we do. Your DC might be totally fine.

All they can do is say ‘no’ firmly if they aren’t comfortable. If you’ve taught them resilience they won’t have a problem doing that, if you haven’t then well, it’s a bit late to start.

They will have a fantastic time, make great memories h friends and make new connections with children they may not curreny speak to as much. They will prove to themselves that they can do challenging things and have a real sense of pride and accomplishment. They will talk about it for years to come, even as an adult.

My claustrophobic DC managed Pencelli. In the route they took there was a very narrow space, but an alternative route. They really loved the trip and talked Mon stop about it for about a year after.

i completely understand your concern. I felt it too. Has the school run the trip before? Can you speak to a teacher

My child was nervous, found it hard, talked about it incessantly and excitedly for years afterwards and can no longer remember the tricky bits. Let them go. Even if they don’t love all of it, the experience will be amazing.