DS17 wants to go camping with his friends

[momof2gr8kids]

https://globalnews.ca/news/7188224/florida-dad-coronavirus-teen/
They think they are invincible and that we're over reacting. Of course until sometlike this hits close to home for them they still won't get it.

 

[ottawamom]

Exactly!, DS and his girlfriend will be persona non grata around here for 14 days once they return home from their camping trip. You just can't be too safe as the above noted article brings to light what can easily happen before anyone realizes.

 

[summer-of-esp]

I don’t think the idea is for people from a region that is still in stage 2, to be traveling to a region that is in stage 3! That’s going to threaten the people that are in stage 3. The plan was for people to stay within their on region

 

[ottawamom]

@summer-of-esp I'm not sure what comment your comment is refering to.

 

[Donald - my hero]

I'm not sure what comment your comment is refering to.

That was the original situation, a group of teens from GTA (stage 2) going to camp at Wasaga Beach (stage 3) and i agree completely! IRKS me when we have people coming up from "the city" to do things that aren't open in GTA yet. I've only ventured from our city up the highway (a whole 30 minute drive ) to stand under my mom's balcony on her 80th birthday and we're in the same county. Just my thoughts on the situation, I feel it's part of what I should be doing, staying in my city, spending my money here and not contributing to any spread (and again, to be clear, this is MY opinion)

 

[Heather07438]

Wonder what the refund policy is with these grad party tickets?
Maybe the company doesn't care if it gets closed down because that's less work to keep the money.

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

They didn't get much of a grad and so a bunch of them (from the GTA - still phase 2) want to go up to Wasaga to go camping this weekend. Would you approve?

I don't have a lot of details, but it sounds like a group of maybe 8? I know there will be at least one girl there, but she has a boyfriend, but I don't know if there will be other girls.

First, it's going from phase 2 region to phase 3 region with his 'bubble'. Second, it's not supervised 17 year olds (okay, some may be 18). Third, I know some of these kids, but from elementary school, so 5 years ago and I don't know any of their parents (kids are pretty independent around here).

Would you let him go?

Have you heard the Arthur Ransome, Swallows and Amazon adage, ‘Better drowned than duffers, if not duffers won't drown’?
Trust in your parenting skills and in your young man. I vote, let him go and have fun; show him that you trust him. It will stand your future relationship with your adult child in good stead.

 

[dancin Disney style]

Guess I should clarify a bit. My 21yo is independent and has lived at university. It's not really asking my permission as it is running it by me.....that however is under normal circumstances. Right now it falls more to the side of asking permission. It's being respectful of her parents which is what we have taught our kids. She tells me EVERYTHING and always has. There have been many times I didn't want to hear it. My girls know I was a wild child and that they can't even compare. When they were young I told them not to even try and put something over on me.....there is nothing they could try that I didn't invent.

I have a few issues with the cottage weekend....and she knows I'm right. None of them is old enough to rent an Airbnb. It's not possible to stay in the same cottage and maintain physical distance and I've witnessed their behaviour when they are drunk....hey get very touchy feely with each other. Also, the mayor of Wasaga has publicly asked for those that do not live in the area to stay away.

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

Without the Pandemic issues I'd be thinking of:

What kind of campground is this? Have you been there to know?
Going to State Park where biking and hiking is a thing is completely different than a private campground where where is virtually no space between sites, or party sites where you do gets lots of room and noise levels are increased. I've done them all! Who is 18? Someone 18 or older SHOULD be onsite for the reservation. How many campsites are reserved? Can you do a drive by at anytime to check-in? ( not cool in your kids eyes but who cares). Is there boating/ swimming in a lake? Alcohol and water activities can be a fatal/ catatrophic situations for young adults.

 

[dancin Disney style]

@FigmentSpark you've made a good call on that grad camping place. I wasn't sure at first but I asked, its the same place my DD went and I had my reservations about it for sure. I had to just hold my breath while they went. I knew that her friend group is tight and they would take care of each other. What I didn't know was that it wasn't just her school. She swore that I was wrong it is wasn't a bad place it was just a bunch of kids camping but when she got back she confirmed that it was everything I thought it was.....a black out drunk, rave weekend. There were fights and all sorts of stuff. I have no idea how they haven't been shut down and don't for a minute believe that public officials don't know about what goes on.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Wonder what the refund policy is with these grad party tickets?
Maybe the company doesn't care if it gets closed down because that's less work to keep the money.

Non-refundable. There's a rumor that it's run by bikers. Not sure.

Without the Pandemic issues I'd be thinking of:

What kind of campground is this? Have you been there to know?
Going to State Park where biking and hiking is a thing is completely different than a private campground where where is virtually no space between sites, or party sites where you do gets lots of room and noise levels are increased. I've done them all! Who is 18? Someone 18 or older SHOULD be onsite for the reservation. How many campsites are reserved? Can you do a drive by at anytime to check-in? ( not cool in your kids eyes but who cares). Is there boating/ swimming in a lake? Alcohol and water activities can be a fatal/ catatrophic situations for young adults.

This is a piece of land with trees on it. There are no "camping sites" to reserve, just buy a 'party' ticket and bring your tent.

@FigmentSpark you've made a good call on that grad camping place. I wasn't sure at first but I asked, its the same place my DD went and I had my reservations about it for sure. I had to just hold my breath while they went. I knew that her friend group is tight and they would take care of each other. What I didn't know was that it wasn't just her school. She swore that I was wrong it is wasn't a bad place it was just a bunch of kids camping but when she got back she confirmed that it was everything I thought it was.....a black out drunk, rave weekend. There were fights and all sorts of stuff. I have no idea how they haven't been shut down and don't for a minute believe that public officials don't know about what goes on.

Thanks. He's been really good about it, but I think his friends went. Last night he was snarky about going "for a drive by himself because all his friends went grad camping". My thought is no matter what it actually is, they have been texting him about the great time they are having. It's very disappointing to find out I'm the only parent in his group that actually cared enough to stop my kid from doing this. I have to say, also, if I were a home owner (right beside this chunk of land!) I'd be livid that this was going on every weekend in my backyard.

 

[Iralyn]

Sunshine Park definitely has a certain reputation. "Partying" (alcohol, marijuana, hooking up) is highly encouraged by management. I don't think I'd want my teen going there even in non-pandemic times honestly.

But, as for concerns about cell service, this would not be an issue. It is very central in Wasaga Beach as opposed to somewhere more rural where there is a chance of a dead zone (though generally few and far between in that area in my experience).

 

[dancin Disney style]

There's a rumor that it's run by bikers.



Thanks. He's been really good about it, but I think his friends went. Last night he was snarky about going "for a drive by himself because all his friends went grad camping". My thought is no matter what it actually is, they have been texting him about the great time they are having. It's very disappointing to find out I'm the only parent in his group that actually cared enough to stop my kid from doing this. I have to say, also, if I were a home owner (right beside this chunk of land!) I'd be livid that this was going on every weekend in my backyard.

Run by bikers....that would explain most of it.


Murphy’s Law will apply....all your sons friends somehow get away with not being infected. Let me tell you that ‘great time’ is nothing more than hard drinking. DD told me that everyone was so drunk that people passed out literally anywhere and everywhere....on the ground, on top of the tables, in the cars, even in the car trunks. Most were too drunk to find their own tents and many never even set up the tents because they started drinking the second they got out of the car. There were numerous fights that got bloody...both girls and guys. Sounds like a great time to me so tell your son he’s really missing out. Even when I was that age (I was a TOTAL s#%t disturber/partier) and that would not have been a good time to me.

 

[Heather07438]

Murphy’s Law will apply....all your sons friends somehow get away with not being infected. Let me tell you that ‘great time’ is nothing more than hard drinking. DD told me that everyone was so drunk that people passed out literally anywhere and everywhere....on the ground, on top of the tables, in the cars, even in the car trunks. Most were too drunk to find their own tents and many never even set up the tents because they started drinking the second they got out of the car. There were numerous fights that got bloody...both girls and guys. Sounds like a great time to me so tell your son he’s really missing out. Even when I was that age (I was a TOTAL s#%t disturber/partier) and that would not have been a good time to me.

Yeah it's kind of a step backwards. The Class of 2020 was dealt a bad hand but raves don't seem like a good alternative.

Many school districts do Project Graduation all night parties now because the recklessness and lack of experience at that age is a bad recipe. Graduation is more fun when not marred by tragedy.

 

[badiggio]

Non-refundable. There's a rumor that it's run by bikers. Not sure.



This is a piece of land with trees on it. There are no "camping sites" to reserve, just buy a 'party' ticket and bring your tent.



Thanks. He's been really good about it, but I think his friends went. Last night he was snarky about going "for a drive by himself because all his friends went grad camping". My thought is no matter what it actually is, they have been texting him about the great time they are having. It's very disappointing to find out I'm the only parent in his group that actually cared enough to stop my kid from doing this. I have to say, also, if I were a home owner (right beside this chunk of land!) I'd be livid that this was going on every weekend in my backyard.

Seems to me you were being a" parent",rather than taking the easy way out and trying to be a friend.Most "parents"have a hard time being one especially during the teen years,but as they get older,the love, respect and gratitude comes back in spades.Good for you and your decision.

 

[Sue M]

They didn't get much of a grad and so a bunch of them (from the GTA - still phase 2) want to go up to Wasaga to go camping this weekend. Would you approve?

I don't have a lot of details, but it sounds like a group of maybe 8? I know there will be at least one girl there, but she has a boyfriend, but I don't know if there will be other girls.

First, it's going from phase 2 region to phase 3 region with his 'bubble'. Second, it's not supervised 17 year olds (okay, some may be 18). Third, I know some of these kids, but from elementary school, so 5 years ago and I don't know any of their parents (kids are pretty independent around here).

Would you let him go?

My daughter wanted to go camping for Grad. I wouldn’t let her. After I heard boys were peeing and throwing up on tents and one guy had fake ID and went into the town to get more beer, coming back along dirt road to camp site crashed into log.
I got a lot of grief from her for saying no, but glad I did.

 

[Chickinvic]

At that age, you aren'tndoing your job as a parent if they don't "hate" you at least part of the time. We all know what this "grad camping" was really all about. Good call momma!