Questions to Ask Your Child’s Leader Before Camp

Sending your child away to camp for the first time can be exciting, but it is also completely normal to have questions.

Whether they are heading away with Scouts, Guides, school, a youth organisation or another group, speaking to their leader beforehand can help you understand what to expect and make sure your child is properly prepared.

You do not need to ask every possible question, but there are some important things worth checking before your child leaves.

What You’ll Learn

In this guide, we cover questions you may want to ask your child’s leader about:

• The camp and accommodation
• Supervision and safeguarding
• Activities and equipment
• Food and meals
• Medication and medical needs
• What your child should pack
• Communication during camp
• Emergencies
• Arrival and collection arrangements
• What to do if your child becomes worried or homesick

Equipment

You do not need any equipment for this guide, but having your child’s camp information to hand can make the conversation easier.

It may be useful to have:

• The camp information sheet
• Your child’s kit list
• Medical information
• Emergency contact details
• Details of any medication
• Information about allergies or dietary requirements
• Transport and arrival information

Prerequisites

Before speaking to the leader, read through any information the organisation has already provided.

Some of your questions may already be answered in the camp letter, information pack or kit list. This allows you to concentrate on anything that is unclear or specific to your child.

It is also worth asking your child if there is anything they are particularly worried about. They may have questions that you had not considered.

Instructions

Ask Where the Camp Is Being Held

Start with the basics.

Ask the leader:

• Where exactly is the camp?
• How will the children travel there?
• How long will the journey take?
• How long will they be away?
• What type of accommodation will they use?
• Will they be sleeping in tents, cabins or another type of accommodation?
• What facilities are available on site?

Knowing what the environment will be like can help you make sure your child has the right equipment.

Ask About Supervision

One of the most important things to understand is how the children will be supervised.

You could ask:

• How many adults will be attending?
• How many children will each adult be responsible for?
• Will the children ever be away from the main group?
• How are children supervised overnight?
• Who should my child speak to if they are worried?
• What safeguarding arrangements are in place?

Youth organisations will normally have their own safeguarding procedures, but asking questions can help you understand how they apply to this particular camp.

Ask About Activities

Find out what your child will actually be doing.

Questions could include:

• What activities are planned?
• Are any activities particularly challenging?
• Will children be split into groups?
• Are any activities off-site?
• Will there be water-based activities?
• Will children be using tools or equipment?
• Is specialist equipment provided?
• Are there activities my child can opt out of?

This can also highlight whether your child needs to practise anything beforehand.

Ask About Swimming and Water Activities

If swimming, canoeing, paddleboarding or other water activities are planned, ask what level of swimming ability is expected.

You could ask:

• Will children be swimming?
• Will there be a swimming assessment?
• Are buoyancy aids provided for water activities?
• What supervision is provided around water?
• Does my child need to bring specific swimming equipment?

If your child is not confident around water, make sure the leader knows.

Ask About Food

Food can become particularly important when children are away from home.

Ask:

• What meals will be provided?
• Will there be snacks?
• Can children access drinking water throughout the day?
• How are allergies managed?
• How are dietary requirements handled?
• Should my child bring any additional food?

Make sure the leader knows about any allergies or dietary requirements well in advance.

Ask About Medication and Medical Needs

If your child takes medication or has a medical condition that the leaders need to know about, discuss this before camp.

Ask:

• Who will be responsible for medication?
• How should medication be supplied?
• Where will it be stored?
• What happens if my child needs medication during an activity?
• What should I provide in writing?
• What happens if my child becomes unwell?

Follow the organisation’s own procedures for providing medication and medical information.

Ask What Your Child Really Needs to Pack

Kit lists can sometimes be longer than expected, particularly for camps involving outdoor activities.

Rather than simply buying everything on the list, ask the leader if you are unsure about anything.

Useful questions include:

• Which items are essential?
• Which items are optional?
• Does my child need to bring their own sleeping bag and roll mat?
• Is waterproof clothing essential?
• How much spare clothing should they bring?
• Do they need wellington boots or walking boots?
• Is there somewhere to dry wet clothing?
• Should everything be labelled?

Labelling clothing and equipment can be particularly useful when a large group of children are camping together.

Ask About Phones and Electronic Devices

Do not assume that children will be allowed to use their phones whenever they want.

Ask:

• Can children bring mobile phones?
• When are they allowed to use them?
• Will phones be kept by the children or stored by leaders?
• Is there phone reception at the campsite?
• Is there somewhere to charge devices?
• Should my child bring a phone at all?

The organisation may have a specific policy for electronic devices.

Ask How You Will Communicate

Parents often want to know how they will hear from their child during camp.

Ask:

• Will there be updates during the camp?
• How will parents be contacted if there is an important update?
• What should I do if I need to contact my child?
• Who should I contact in an emergency?
• Should I expect my child to call home?

It is worth remembering that limited communication can sometimes be intentional. A camp may be designed to give children a break from their normal routines and encourage them to participate fully.

Ask What Happens in an Emergency

Nobody wants to think about something going wrong, but it is sensible to understand the arrangements.

Ask:

• What happens if a child becomes seriously ill or injured?
• How will parents or guardians be contacted?
• Where is the nearest medical facility?
• What happens if the camp has to be evacuated?
• What happens if severe weather affects the camp?
• Who is the emergency contact while the children are away?

You do not need a detailed emergency plan, but you should know who to contact and how parents will be informed.

Ask What Happens If Your Child Becomes Homesick

Homesickness is common, particularly when a child is away from home for the first time.

Ask the leader:

• What should my child do if they become upset?
• Is there a leader they can talk to?
• How do you normally deal with homesickness?
• Should I call my child if they are struggling?

It can be helpful to tell your child that feeling homesick is nothing to be embarrassed about and that they should speak to a leader if they are unhappy.

Ask About Arrival and Collection

Make sure you know exactly where and when your child needs to be dropped off and collected.

Confirm:

• Arrival time
• Collection time
• Meeting location
• Parking arrangements
• What happens if you are delayed
• Who is authorised to collect your child
• What identification may be required

Getting these details right can prevent unnecessary stress on the day.

Ask If There Is Anything Your Child Should Practise

Finally, ask whether there is anything your child should be comfortable doing before they arrive.

Depending on the camp, this could include:

• Putting up or getting into a tent
• Using a sleeping bag
• Packing their own bag
• Wearing walking boots
• Basic navigation
• Looking after personal belongings
• Getting changed outdoors
• Basic camp hygiene

Children do not need to be experts before going to camp. However, practising a few basic tasks at home can make the experience much easier.

Final Tip

You do not need to turn the conversation with your child’s leader into an interview.

A short conversation covering supervision, activities, medical needs, food, equipment, communication and emergencies will usually give you a good understanding of what to expect.

Most importantly, share the information with your child. Knowing what camp will be like, what they will be doing and who they can ask for help can give them confidence before they leave.