It is Awful Weather here & my Daughter is on a Survival Camp!
By jennybianca
@jennybianca (12912)
Australia
May 28, 2007 11:45pm CST
It is a shocking day. The weather is very stormy, there is very strong wind & a lot of rain. Hail is expected. We have already lost our electricity supply for two hours. Someone's verandah near where I live was blown down. More is expected during the day & tonight.
My daughters class were due to go on a three day survival camp. It was a location in the mid north where it is colder than Adelaide. They are sleeping in tents, have toilets, but no showers. They are cooking their food on small gas stoves. As they have to put up the tents themselves, I think they are going to have a very difficult time. It is bad enough trying to put up tents with a strong wind,but with rain as well, it is going to be near-high impossible.
I rang the school yesterday, & had a message passed onto the teacher that perhaps he should consider cancelling the camp!
But it went ahead. I dread to think what it will be like.
My daughter is used to camping, & knows a fair bit about putting up tents, & going without electricity.. but even so, this could be a bit too much.
My daughter is just 14 years.
Am I worrying too much?
3 people like this
13 responses
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
29 May 07
No, jenny, you have all the right to worry. Two things came to my mind. The first one, the school should at least reschedule the camping trip considering that the weather is really bad. On the other hand, I think the school went ahead with the trip so they can teach the children what to do in able to survive a stormy weather. I still prefer to have my daughter nicely tucked inside my safe house. Try to focus your mind on positive thoughts. I'm sure your daughter will come home safely.
2 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
30 May 07
I am just a nervous Mum. She got very wet putting up her tent, has only one spare change of trackies (as per instructins). The toliets are long drop! No showers.
@texasclassygal (5305)
• United States
29 May 07
Yes, you are worrying too much, but it is because you are Mother and it is inbreed to us. This is survival camp, and what wonderful weather to have at such an event. I am sure this will be an experience she will remember always and you worrying at home, well that too will be remembered by you too !! Take care Mom.
2 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
30 May 07
As long as she doesn't come home with a virus!
I am a worryier.
@GardenGerty (159754)
• United States
29 May 07
I hope that your fears are unfounded for the safety of the camp. It sounds like you Aussies expect much more hardiness than we do here in the states. It could just be that the kids will have a miserable, but safe time. It could be that they will also find meeting the various challenges to be exhilarating and it will make them form a real bond for the rest of their school experience. They will have to work as a team and do it quickly, in order to get some sort of shelter set up. Keep us posted.
2 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
30 May 07
Some schools expect hardiness, but by no means all. In general, I prefer kids to be hardy.
I am just a panicky Mum!
She rang me last night. She got thoroughly wet putting up her tent, & only had one spare change of clothes (as per instructions). There is no wear to dry them. So hope she doesn't get wet a second time.
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
29 May 07
I hear you. In our country we had rains and some folks in Texax that were camping lost their trucks and cars and stuff. Even a tent went floating down the raging river. Our weather around the world is acting up and I wonder how normal that will become. I hope we are able to adjust and survive.
1 person likes this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
30 May 07
WE have these tragedies in Australia too, with loss of life during floods. The weather has toned down somewhat today. They are safe, even if she got very wet yesterday!
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
29 May 07
Our weather here is as bad as your place. Yesterday it had been raining heavily with thunderstorm. Being a mother I can sense how you feel about your daughter being out in this kind of weather. I am sure her teacher is always there to keep an eye on her and the other students. This is a test of their endurance and that is what survival camping is all about.
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
29 May 07
It is after all called "Survival Camp". Now if the weather was life threatening I'm sure the school would reschedule this for the safety of the children. I don't think they just went ahead with the camp without actually looking into the weather etc and it's possible effects on the camp itself. I say things will work out.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
30 May 07
I am just a panicky Mum!
She got soaked putting up her tent, has only one spare pair of trackies (as per instructions), no where to dry clothes, the toilet is long drop, no showers, & her torch battery went flat the first night.
She is not worried, i am !
@shambuca (2524)
• United States
29 May 07
You're a mom its your job to worry -- I am 43 and my mom is 81 and she still worries about all of us when we go on a trip and insists that we call her upon arrival and at least once a day to check in. For your daughters sake I hope they did cancel or find a cabin to stay in instead, I don't think they will have that much fun if the weather is crappy.
1 person likes this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
30 May 07
Ohh, ... hmm.. well, I guess you need to keep your 81 year old Mum happy!
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
30 May 07
Your worrying too much - I love camping in the rain, we sit in the tent and tell stories or read from a book, I got a scarey stories book that stays in the camping equipment just for rainy days. She'll be fine I'm sure.
@66jerseygirl (3877)
• United States
29 May 07
i am sure she will be fine.I am sure if the school felt they couldn't handle it,they would have canceled.You are a mother and it's only natural that you will worry.
@prestocaro (1252)
• United States
29 May 07
I would be worried, too! But I think, based on what you've posted, your daughter sounds like a very determined girl. I do hope that she will be fine. I bet that if it gets to hairy out there, they'll just bring the kids back early.
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
30 May 07
She is very determined! When she rang me last night, & told me about getting totally soaked, only one spare pair of rackies, a long drop toilet & her torch batteries went flat, she was even't concerned. I was!
@mummyofthree (2715)
•
29 May 07
I know I would be worried sick about the whole thing. In all honesty I would probably have pulled her out myself. But as to whether that would have been the right thing to do I'm not sure!
I live in the Uk and don't have as severe weather conditions as you.
I guess as others have said if there was any danger the school would have cancelled, and if need be will bring them home early. I guess it will be teaching the children what a real survival camp is all about.
1 person likes this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
30 May 07
I rang the school the day before & asked that they consider cancelling, as I knew I couldn't pull her out if it went ahead.
I am a bit worried about her getting her clothes so wet the first day!
@KarenO52 (2950)
• United States
31 May 07
You're a mom like me, and we will always worry about the health and safety of our children. I hope your daughter gets through the bad weather just fine, and learns how to cope with unpleasant conditions. I believe she'll do great, as she must be pretty hardy from participating in those swimming competitions. She might even have fun.
