Scout families hear similar anxious concerns from Scouts preparing for their first overnight campout. And those fears are real, according to Patrick S. Boyd, longtime director of the June Norcross Webster Scout Reservation.
“These worries really boil down to a loss of control,” says Boyd, who’s also chair of the Public Safety and Security Committee for the Connecticut House of Representatives. “Kids aren’t afraid of the woods. They’re afraid of the unknown.”
The first tool for helping an anxious Scout: Be prepared. Before the campout, explain the details, like where they’ll sleep, what meals will look like and how they can contact you. (Just don’t let them believe that contacting you means you’ll pick them up early.)
“Resilience isn’t built by removing challenges but by providing the tools to meet them,” Boyd says. “A great first-year experience isn’t the absence of worry. It’s the moment a Scout realizes they handled the worry and came out stronger.”
But no matter how much you prepare, they might still have concerns. Here are six of the most common fears for first-time campers — and how you can help overcome them.
1. “I’m scared to sleep outside.”
The dark. Night sounds. A sleeping bag instead of a bed. These are all legitimate worries. But Boyd says the real challenge is often social.
“Sleeping outdoors [in a tent] is often less about the dark and more about social friction,” he says. “Learning to share a 9-by-9 wall tent with a peer is a master class in diplomacy that many kids haven’t experienced.”
What to say to your Scout: “Let’s try out your sleeping bag and sleeping pad in the living room so you can see what it’ll be like. Remember, adult leaders will be around to make sure nothing bad happens, plus you’ll have your tentmates to talk with. And you can just turn on your headlamp for light if you need it.”
2. “Are there going to be bathrooms?”
Unfamiliar camp bathrooms or having to “go” in the woods can be genuinely terrifying to kids who rely on familiar environments to feel comfortable going to the bathroom.
What to say to your Scout: “Don’t worry. Even though you’re camping, most campsites will have a bathroom. And you’ll have a lot of adults and fellow Scouts around who can answer any question you have. Let’s look at a map to see where the bathrooms are located at your campsite.”
3. “What if I see or get bitten by bugs?”
For many young campers, bugs can spark major anxiety about being bitten or stung.
What to say to your Scout: “I know you’re not a huge fan of bugs, but they’re an important part of nature, and you’re visiting their home. Most bugs don’t bite or sting, but if you see one that does, remember that if you leave them alone, they’ll usually leave you alone too. Plus, your leaders will tell you what to do during the day, and your tent will keep most, if not all, critters out at night.”
4. “But I’m gonna miss you!”
Many young Scouts have never slept away from home or in an unfamiliar place without family.
What to say to your Scout: “I hear you. You might miss us, but you won’t have much time for that because you’ll be having so much fun. Let’s pick something we can pack in your bag to look at if you miss us, like a family picture.”
5. “I might not like any of the foods there.”
Scouts who are used to having plenty of choices at home are now faced with eating only what the patrol cooks.
What to say to your Scout: “You might find some new foods you love and want to make at home when you return. Let’s also check in with your leaders to see if they’ll share a menu ahead of time so you’re not surprised by anything.”
6. “How will I talk to my friends back home?”
Boyd added a sixth, increasingly common fear to our list. He calls it “the digital gap.”
“For today’s youth, the sudden transition from 24/7 connectivity to a ‘no-bars’ environment creates anxiety that’s more than just homesickness,” he says. “It’s a fear of being disconnected from their social safety net.”
What to say to your Scout: “You will make so many friends on your campout to talk about your experiences with. As for your friends back home, you’ll have some epic stories to share with them when you get back!”
