Girl Scout Weekend Campout

My daughter is a Cadett in girl scouts and has done many GS campouts. She loves them. I can understand that she might be apprehensive about going since she doesn't know the other girls very well. Since you say she is not shy my first thought is that she would be fine. She will make new friends and get to know the other girls better. There will be a lot going on and she will be busy. If it's just one night it shouldn't be that tough on her. Has she done many sleepovers with friends? If so is she ok with being away from you for one night? If she doesn't have any separation issues she will be fine! It's really a fun bonding experience for the girls and I think she'd really enjoy it.

If her issue is really, truly not knowing the other girls that well -- and not her wanting to have you there overnight because she would feel scared -- then I would talk to the troop leader and ask her if she can keep an eye on your daughter and be sure she's kept busy and included. If you know the parents of any of the other girls, you could ask one mom to have her daughter kind of take your girl under her wing -- without the girls knowing it came from you, of course.

You are lucky the troop leader is offering the "leave and sleep at home and come back" option and that is one I would probably take in this case, if you can find someone to do it. If another girl is doing it, maybe that family could pick up your daughter.

If you think there's any inkling of your daughter's real issue being that she isn't used to sleeping away from you (family camping is different from sleepng out in the woods without mom or dad!) -- then consider going or having her bow out. I"m a GS leader and know how tough it is on the entire troop if one girl starts having issues late at night and you end up calling the parents for a late-night pickup. Tears and fears in one girl can spread like a virus to others.

In some camping places it isn't even possible for parents to do a nighttime pickup if a girl is upset -- We've camped in places that, while not in the wilderness, were down tiny country roads and it was just not possible for some parent who'd never been there to navigate it at 11 p.m. and find the camp safely to pick up a distressed girl.

Sit down and have a good talk with your daughter and try to find out if the real issue is sleeping away from you (She's been on sleepovers, but not in the woods without you or dad there); or whether it's the idea of sleeping outdoors (family camping is one thing, but maybe she's heard about bugs or animals or night noises from other girls and is worried?). You might be able to talk to her and allay any fears. If she insists the only issue is not knowing the other girls that well, assure her that there will be lots of activities to do that will help her get to know them (there will, won't there? A GS camping trip should have plenty to do so that girls don't get bored).

Don't push too hard if she is really reluctant. But do consider finding some way for her to go home overnight and still do the daytime activities.

I bet you have neighbors with kids or she has friends in the neighborhood that would love to be on a list of people she can call if she gets upset and wants to go someplace else. She could go to the camp out and stay then if she needs an out she can pull out the list of people and call one of them to pick her up. Then you can take her back the next day.

Otherwise find out who will be bringing their kids back to town and have one of them drop her off at a BFF's for the night. I would not plan on picking her up from there, have fun at the reception and enjoy a late night of it.

Then you can offer to take the kids from the family that brought her back to town back out to the campgrounds the next morning.

As a long time GS leader and volunteer I can tell you it really depends on YOUR daughter.
Does she currently do sleepovers, is she comfortable spending the night in new and different surroundings and among adults and kids she may not know so well?
My older two, especially my middle one, was MORE than okay with this, at sixteen she is my international traveler! But my youngest? Not so much. Doesn't like going anywhere overnight without me, much to my dismay :(
You know your daughter better than we do. If you think it will be a good thing, then give her that little push. But if you think she will hate it then DON'T force it. It may make her less likely to venture out on her own in the future.

She will be fine and she is going to make some great friends.

I suggest you invite 1 girl at a time from the troop to come over and play.. This way she will feel better about these girls.

Maybe you all could bake together, go swimming, or just have the girls play..

Remember when you invite girls over for a play date.. always make sure it ends up with an even number. For some reason it runs smoother.

I won (sold 149 cases of girl scout cookies) 2 weeks of girl scout camp! Loved every minute of it! I only knew 1 person there at the time, but made tons of friends. I also gained a lot of self confidence..

I would encourage her to go.

The biggest question is, if she gets nervous and decides that she can't or doesn't want to spend the night, once she is there, can she back out at the last minute? Would you be able to go get her?

Has she ever camped before? Does she know what to expect as far as sleeping and bathroom arrangements go? Camping is not for everyone. It gets scary when it gets dark and quiet at night and all you hear are strange noises coming from the woods.

I would say if you let her go, but make sure she understands what to expect and that there is no way mom and dad can come and get her.

I would encourage her to go. She will have a blast once there. The girls
are kept so busy there really is not time to feel left out. Just let the leader
know of her concern. She will keep an eye on things. However, I think
you and your daughter will be pleasantly surprised at the end of the weekend.

My thought is she goes camping. You go to the wedding and choose which one will be the designated driver and not drink at all, so if the leader calls you have your stuff ready to go, so you can excuse yourself from the reception and finish the night camping. I believe she will have a fabulous time and so will you. Sometimes just knowing they have an ou will help them go and relax.

My daughters (ages 15 and 17) just came home from a GS camping 100th celebration. Camping with about 1,000 girls for 2 nights. It poured rain with lots of wind. They had a great time.

My girls have always enjoyed going camping with their troops. As long as your daughter is prepared for this type of adventure. (gets very dark at night, adults will not be in a tent with her, may not have flush toilets available, etc). It's a great bonding experience.

My advise... she should go to camp.

What would I do? I'd send her. She'll have the time of her life and make wonderful memories and you and your husband will have fun too.

both my girls went to sleep away girl scout camp at Camp Pokanoka and never had an issue at all with being included, making friends or having a great time. Since this is with her troop she will have even a better time as she will KNOW the kids already. GO FOR IT!! She will love it, and at 10 yrs old it is a perfect age to start doing more w/o your parents around