Boy Scout Summer Camp

My boys are alot younger, but I'm also very protective of them. Six years old seems a little young to go to a camp and hour away, plus that's quite a commitment on your part for transportation daily. Does your town offer any day camps or sports camps that he can join. I know the social interaction is huge, but he's only 6. I don't trust very many people with my kids... and it would be a huge leap of faith for me to send them anywhere where I don't personally know who's in charge.
best of luck,
T.

my sons first overnite (week) camp experience was last year, he was 8, neither my husband nor I attended but he did go with boys from his pack and leaders. I tend to agree with you that 6 is young, at 8 my son had a great time, but did have a rough day or two being homesick and wanting out.. he did stay the whole week and felt a great accomplishment.. a better choice maybe day camps, also they offer weekend camp trips with family or even mom and me trips, he can experience the boyscouting camp life, but with the comfort zone he may ( and you) need still at his young age.. good luck !!

Hi A.,

What does your son want to do? Camp can be a fun and exciting way to spend the summer. Is there transportation? Some camps offer bus pick up and drop off at the end of the day. Maybe you should check the camp out, go there for a visit and talk wih your son and see how he feels about it all.

Hope this helps
M.

I know how you feel. I to have a 6 almost 7 year old. And was told just this weekend that at some point you have to start letting go. I suggest you talk it over with your son if he's ok with the day camp give it a try if that goes ok then consider the over night. Just take it one step at a time. I know its hard because he is your baby no matter how big he gets but as I also was just reminded that at some point they have to take those steps into independence. Plus with any Scout function there are lots of audlts around. Just remind him to alway stay with his group.

A.,

Im a Girl Scout Daisy Leader, I have kids that range from 5-6 years old. We are trained in things according to age group. So we take classes for camping, and "homesick" children how to deal with them etc... I also have a 5 year old daughter that is in my troop. We have to have a certain ratio in order to take the kids camping but let me tell ya...its the best time in the world and it gives the children such an out look...it makes them feel like "big kids". I know when i took my troop camping. I had 8 children. There were my assistant leader and I, a certified first aid person because at the time I wasnt. and a volunteer so there were 4 adults and 8 kids. We each took 2 kids and had the time of our life. I wouldnt hesitate to do it all over again. My daughter has totally come out of her shell since i let go a little. She was soooo shy and to herself I felt so bad. I finally decided now that shes almost 6 i have to let her live her life and explore a little. I got her into Girl Scouts and dancing and shes a whole new person. ITs amazing. I was sooooo overprotective that i was hindering her. I didnt even let her go stay at family members houses because i was afraid that if something happened i wouldnt be there. She lived a horrible life until now. I finally seen what i was doing to her. My family would get so upset with me because my lack of letting her do things without me. Thats how over protective i was. But i dont think sending your little one to camp is a bad idea because it gives them such a new experience and it really is fuN!!!!!!! We as leaders have had more training than i ever expected!!! But its alot of new knowledge on how to deal with sooo many situations. Also...if he gets homesick they should call you. Thats what I have to do. If soemthing happens god for bid! But we are mandated to have a first aid certified person for every 4 or 6 children. We had to do 12 hours of training from everything to scratches and bumps to the worst that can happen. I think you should send him. He will love it!!! Hope that some of my rambles helped ya out :)

Day Camp is a very fun time (I'm a cubmaster). By looking at your sons age, I'm thinking it is more likely Tiger Day than Day Camp. If there is enough Parents and scout staff to properly supervise this event, I think he would have a good time. Its usually broken down into groups moving from station to station consisting of arts and crafts, nature walk, shooting range/archery. My son loved it and still talks about it today (he's 11). Hope this helps.

You're right...overprotective. My mother incognito. When my daughter was 6 she went to a week day camp 40 minutes away..and a night of overnight camp 1 hour away. She told me "no more day camp...2 weeks of overnight!" It made her a strong independent girl and last year at 11, she went every week overnight, just home for clean clothes, no problem. My mother never let me go till I was `12, and it took me years to come out of my shell. Good luck, and let him go.