{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"","standfirst":"Camps and sleepover are those special times when young people make brilliant memories that last a lifetime. However, preparing for a first trip away from home, even for a night or two, may be a little worrying. Here\u0027s some great advice to make sure young people, as well as parents and carers, are ready. ","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EThat\u2019s why we\u2019ve called in the experts.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ELucy Cox is a hugely experienced Scouts volunteer and mum. Lucy received the Chief Scout\u0027s Commendation for her work during lockdown. Lewis Foster, from Go Outdoors, is also a Scouts volunteer and a Queen\u2019s Scout Award holder. They know everything there is to know about camping.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ETogether, Lucy and Lewis have come up with some advice that\u2019ll make a first overnight trip that little bit easier.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/20178/a-boy-cub-is-sat-outside-an-outdoor-den-it-is-nighttime-and-he-is-looking-up-at-the-sky-two-other-cubs-are-sat-behind-him.jpg","width":7000,"height":4667,"altText":"A boy in Cub uniform is seated outside a tent at night.","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWorries, nerves and homesickness \u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELucy:\u003C/strong\u003E The thing is, when you\u2019re young, being away from home for a day or two can seem like a REALLY big deal. Any break from routine can unsettle some young people. So the important thing is to be aware of worries, without letting concerns become the focus.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELewis:\u003C/strong\u003E One of the best ways of avoiding nerves is to talk about what\u0027ll happen and discussing things, such as sleeping arrangements and mealtimes. Telling the young people about the exciting programme they can expect gives them things to look forward to. If they feel like they\u0027re \u2018in the know\u2019, they\u2019ll be much less nervous.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELucy:\u003C/strong\u003E \u003Cspan\u003EInevitably, we see a bit of homesickness at camp or sleepovers. It\u2019s not always the youngest who feel it. I think it\u2019s best to chat about it beforehand. Explain that feeling \u2018homesick\u2019 is different to being or feeling physically sick. It just means being sad to be away from home and your normal routine. Make sure the young person knows the leaders are there to help and talk to, so they should be OK.\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELewis:\u003C/strong\u003E Try to avoid telling them you\u2019ll come and pick them up if they don\u2019t like it, as this may affect their confidence. Instead, focus on your young people being surrounded by friends and volunteers who can help, emphasising the trip is only a short one. Getting \u2018stuck in\u2019 is the best way to enjoy the experience.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELucy:\u003C/strong\u003E\u00A0A good idea is to try a \u2018dry run\u2019 of being away from home overnight. Set up a stay with another trusted adult, such as a family member, to get them used to being away from home. Because Scout camps and nights away are always so busy, with everyone having so much fun, hopefully there shouldn\u2019t be time for too much homesickness.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/20632/lucy-cox-1.jpg","width":1024,"height":1280,"altText":"Lucy Cox stands by a lake with mountains in the background.","caption":"Lucy Cox","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPreparing for the camp or sleepover \u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELewis:\u003C/strong\u003E Spending a little time with your young people, before their first camp or sleepover, going through some basic skills can really pay off.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELucy:\u003C/strong\u003E\u00A0I couldn\u2019t agree more. Already knowing how to do these things will make the whole trip feel that bit less overwhelming.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow to roll \u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ea sleeping mat and repack a sleeping bag\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELewis:\u00A0\u003C/strong\u003ERolling\u00A0a sleeping mat and packing up a sleeping bag\u00A0sound quite basic tasks, but they can be hard if you\u2019ve never done them before. There\u2019s no great skill involved, just a bit of practice. You could make this a fun activity at home before nights away. Even try doing it against the clock!\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow \u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eto wash and get dressed on their own \u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELucy:\u00A0\u003C/strong\u003EEspecially with the younger ones, getting ready independently can feel like a big task. Encourage them to practice brushing their teeth and hair, getting dressed and washing their face on their own. They may do this already, but if they don\u2019t, a little practice will make it feel like much less of a hurdle at a sleepover or camp.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow to pitch a tent\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELewis: \u003C/strong\u003EEven with the best designed tent, if you\u2019ve never put one up before, it can seem tricky. Pitching a tent can be loads of fun, so why not spend some time practising in the garden or in the living room? That way, it won\u2019t be completely new to your young person when their first camp or sleepover comes around. There\u0027re some great Go Outdoors YouTube videos on \u003Ca href=\u0022https://youtu.be/Jtm51h9jGDo\u0022\u003Esetting up tents\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDoing the washing up\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELucy:\u003C/strong\u003E\u00A0Do your kids do the washing up at home? Make it fun and get them involved. It\u2019s a real win-win, as it\u2019s great skill for them to learn, helps you out and prepares them for camp. If they get a taste for it, you could end up with a full-time mini kitchen helper. Remind your young person that, when it comes to helping in the kitchen, there\u0027re Scouts \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/squirrels/activity-badges/super-chef/\u0022\u003ESuper Chef\u003C/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/beavers/activity-badges/cook/\u0022\u003ECook\u003C/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/cubs/activity-badges/chef/\u0022\u003EChef\u003C/a\u003E badges up for grabs too!\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/20628/lewis-foster-3.png","width":2448,"height":3264,"altText":"Lewis Foster wears a neck and backpack, behind him is a large mountain.","caption":"Lewis Foster","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPacking to go\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELucy:\u00A0\u003C/strong\u003EPacking the right way is really important. It can mean the difference between a stressful and a stress free few nights away.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELewis:\u00A0\u003C/strong\u003EFirst up, what not to take. Young people probably won\u2019t need mobile phones, cameras, consoles, or tablet computers. They might to get lost or break, so leave them at home. If your young person needs to bring a phone, such as for a medical reason, speak to the volunteers to see if they\u2019ve a safe storage option/usage policy while on camp.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELucy:\u00A0\u003C/strong\u003EWhat should you take? Your group will provide you with a list. Don\u2019t forget things, such as sun cream, and remember everything needs to be labelled. You might want to suggest bringing a teddy or a book for them to read. My advice is, if it\u2019s a precious or expensive item, don\u2019t bring it.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELewis: \u003C/strong\u003EHaving their own kit, to use on camp, gives young people a sense of responsibility and ownership. This means there\u2019s more chance they\u2019ll use everything they take and (importantly) bring it all back! As Lucy says, label everything. Permanent marker initials, stickers or engraved names on items helps the young person, or a volunteer, find a bowl or coat when several people turn up with the exact same item.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELucy:\u00A0\u003C/strong\u003EIt\u2019s a good idea to pack with the young person. Discuss what each item will be used for as you go. You can talk about what to wear at night-time or if there\u2019s bad weather. Perhaps include a list or a photo record of everything that goes into the bag. This\u2019ll help with getting everything packed up again at the end of camp.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELewis:\u003C/strong\u003E Separating clothes and kit into labelled or coloured bags can sometimes help young people to keep organised. You could pop in an extra bag for dirty clothing to go in. You could have a bag for plates and cutlery too, so a fork doesn\u2019t get lost among their dirty clothes!\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELucy:\u00A0\u003C/strong\u003ERemember, if you don\u2019t have some items, talk to your group before buying anything. They may have spare kit or good advice on where to buy it second-hand.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/19194/squirrels-with-plates.jpg","width":7000,"height":4667,"altText":"Two Squirrels and taking part in a craft activity in a field.","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESome final thoughts\u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u00A0\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELucy:\u00A0\u003C/strong\u003EYoung people sometimes get upset as they\u2019re leaving. It\u2019s understandable and can affect both very young and older Scouts. Setting the tone as they go is important. I\u2018d avoid saying \u2018Goodbye\u2019, which sounds quite final, and try \u2018Have fun!\u2019 or \u2018See you soon\u2019 instead. If anyone does get upset, it\u2019s not the end of the world. They\u2019ll soon get into the swing of things on nights away.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELewis: \u003C/strong\u003EIf you\u0027ve any concerns, chat with the volunteers, who\u2019ll be more than happy to help. Tell them in good time about any additional needs, bed-wetting, allergies, dietary needs, phobias, sleep walking, or anything else they should know. Your young person won\u2019t be the first\u003Cspan\u003E, and doing this will help the volunteers plan and make sure the support they need is in place.\u00A0\u003C/span\u003EThis might be something as simple as making sure tent allocation is with friends or adjusting elements of the event programme.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELucy:\u00A0\u003C/strong\u003EAs someone who\u2019s led camps and nights away before, I\u2019d recommend that you help the volunteers as much as you can, by getting forms and payments to them as quickly as possible. They\u2019ll hugely appreciate it. Don\u2019t forget to say thank you, too. It takes a LOT of work to give your young people an amazing experience.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELewis: \u003C/strong\u003EWhile your young person is at their first camp or sleepover, it\u2019s natural to worry about them, but try not to. We\u2019d recommend you keep yourself busy while they\u2019re away or take the opportunity to completely relax. Remember, they\u2019ll be having an amazing time. Get ready for lots of stories, and washing, when they return home!\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/20187/a-leader-playing-a-game-and-chasing-some-beavers-on-a-field-with-her-arms-open-wide.jpg","width":7000,"height":4667,"altText":"A group of Beavers play a running about game in a field.","caption":"","link":null},{"type":"Promo","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThank you to Lucy and Lewis for your expert advice.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFind out more about \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/running-your-section/nights-away-and-camping/\u0022\u003EScouts camps and sleepovers\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThanks to Go Outdoors for supporting activities like the \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/staged-badges/nights-away\u0022\u003ENights Away Staged Activity Badge\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESee Go Outdoors\u2019 \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/scouts\u0022\u003Ewebsite\u003C/a\u003E for more on the great work they do with Scouts.\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"","image":null,"imageFocus":"","imageId":0,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"19 April 2023","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[{"caption":"","title":"Check out our Nights Away badge","url":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/staged-badges/nights-away/","newWindow":true},{"caption":"","title":"Visit the Go Outdoors website","url":"https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/scouts","newWindow":true}],"relatedLinks":[{"caption":"","title":"Learn about Nights Away and Camping in Scouts","url":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/running-your-section/nights-away-and-camping/","newWindow":true},{"caption":"","title":"Discover our Go Outdoors partnership","url":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/supporters/go-outdoors/","newWindow":true}],"id":76426,"nodeName":"How to help young people prepare for their first camp or sleepover","title":"How to help young people prepare for their first camp or sleepover","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/20636/two-cubs-in-a-den-in-a-woodland-area-theyre-smiling-the-go-outdoors-logo-is-in-the-bottom-right-of-the-image.jpg?cc=0,0.15620312834797515,0.0000000000000001263187085796,0.00010713520462838699\u0026width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1dab817ab5e6620","caption":"Two Cubs In A Den In A Woodland Area. They\u0027re Smiling. The Go Outdoors Logo Is In The Bottom Right Of The Image (1)","type":"jpg","size":11538103,"width":7000,"height":4667,"altText":"Two Cubs In A Den In A Woodland Area. They\u0027re Smiling. The Go Outdoors Logo Is In The Bottom Right Of The Image (1)"},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"How to help young people prepare for their first camp or sleepover","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"Preparing for a young person\u0027s first overnight trip can be stressful. We\u0027ve got some expert advice for making a night away run smoothly.","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC83NjQyNiJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2023/april/how-to-help-young-people-prepare-for-their-first-camp-or-sleepover/"}