Wondering about this.... - camp for a 6 year old.....

punkeemunkee'smom wrote: I have been asked what I think about my friend sending her daughter to Girl Scout Camp. (she is just a little older than Tay) I think the camp sounds like a blast but here is my problem with it. The parents are not allowed on site during drop off (there will be buses from a near by park to camp-to cut down on congestion) or for the week the girls will be there. Phones are not available to the campers except at emergencies that will be determined by camp staff. I know for 100% sure that I would not send Taylor,at 5 years old, into a situation like this. We are looking at the day camps that are offered but not overnight-especially for a week. The same themes are available to day campers (horses,fishing,etc) What do you think? Would you send your 5-6 year old to a week long camp that you are not able to go to OR call them?

mummy2girls replied: nope! That is not safe at all.. i dont think that is!

punkeemunkee'smom replied:
That is my thoughts about it too Shelly! It is not safe...backround checks schmackround checks!

Twelve Volt Man replied: Personally, I'd say no, but my son hasn't even been born yet, so it's hard for me to weigh in on this. I'm always skeptical of a place that doesn't want to be completely open. It makes me wonder what they have to hide. I'm sure they have perfectly logical reasons, but I can't imagine a five year-old not having ANY contact with mom and dad for a week!

holley79 replied: NOPE where ever Annika is will have an open door policy. I would be very leary of the lock down of this situation. I would not be comfortable at all. JMO though.

Kirstenmumof3 replied: That sounds a little harsh! I don't know that my children would have been able to do that for a week and I as a mother would be going crazy not knowing what's going on with my child!

Calimama replied: No way. That sounds beyond unreasonable.

lisar replied: My Mom sent me when I was around that age. My sister was there and my uncle thats our age. We had a blast. Now adays though I dont think I could send Lexi.

jcc64 replied: 5 yrs old at a sleep away camp?! I can't even get my kid out of my bed for an entire night!
That's wayyyy too young- not age appropriate at all, imo.

Kaitlin'smom replied: not at that age. I was in middle school before I went for a week to summer camp.

hoosier momma replied: I agree with everyone else. I think that is way to young to go to an overnight camp. I think so even if the parent was allowed to check it out. Daycamp would be more than enough at age 5/6.

punkeemunkee'smom replied:
I am right there with you Jeanne!

mom21kid2dogs replied: I used to run a respite camp for adoptive families (overnight 27 hours) and it was for kids ages 6-18. I can only think of one family that ever used it before age 8. Most people are just plain uncomfortable with overnight camps before second grade or so.

The other regs sound typical for most camp settings I've worked in. Our local boy scout camp buses kids in too because the road out there past the entrance is one lane and doesn't easily accomodate a million cars coming in & out. I've never known camps to have an "open phone" policy. Some might have pay phones, though. Although parents were permitted to stay at our camp until the kids/parents felt comfortable, we preferred them not to come before the pick up time after they left. It wasn't done to be secretive. It was done because most camps have a schedule which rarely includes sitting. It would be unusual for us to even be around the sleeping or lodge areas unless it was bedtime or mealtime.

I remember scout camp as a kid and I LOVED every minute of it and couldn't wait to go back. That being said, I doubt I'd ever leave my kid under age 8 at any camp overnight. Like Jeanne, though, mine is still in our bed!

gr33n3y3z replied: I think the day camps are the best
Over nights for a week at that age I would never sleep and I would be a basket case

hopefulmomtobe replied: They are too young to be out of contact like that. HECK NO! They have to be where I can see them whenever I want and I can call anytime I want.

Brias3 replied: I for sure wouldn't. Heck, I'm even nervous about sending Ryan (my 8-year old) to a similar overnight Boy Scout camp for a WEEKEND! Last year's was a dad and son overnight, which my boys went to and had a great time at

The part that worries me isn't how he'd do overnight by himself, I know he'd be fine, its just the not being able to talk to or contact him, even if just for three days/two nights, you know? The week long situation you're describing seems like a definite no to me- not at that age.

msoulz replied: Not a snowball's chance in you-know-where.

Nina J replied: No. I don't have a 5-6 year old, but I don't think they're at an age where they would be okay at camp. In a few years they would be old enough to be able to look after themselves to some extent, as well as being looked after by the adults present. But 5-6 is to young, IMO.

hawkshoe replied: In a word, NO.

Hillbilly Housewife replied:
It's like that in my home - of course, the parents are free to call and come by whenever they want to, but I've expalined to them that if they do that, they will not only disrupt the schedule, but then I will have to deal with the kids being wayyy cranky afterwards, and trying to explain to them that no, mommy didn't come to pick them up, they came to see them for a minute, and yadda yadda.... from the perspective of being the one to deal with the aftermath of a surprise visit from mom, yes, I prefer them not to come at all.

It's not that I don't want mom to come by... it's just a pita when she does.

Crystalina replied: No. Not for that age and for me not for any age. Nobody will have my little people and then not let me stop by whenever I want. I don't think they will ever really be able to go anywhere like that until...well never. They've never even been to a sitter. It's just hard for me to except a situation like that.

Who would even think of a week long sleep away camp for 5/6 yr olds?

skinkybaby replied: I think 6 is too young.
I understand the phone thing though. I was a counselor at a camp one summer and there is nothing worse than FINALLY getting a kid over being homesick and then having to start all over because they talked to Mommy and Mommy got them worked up all over again. HUGE pita