Girl Scouts - Privacy Rules

[dreamer17555]

Okay the camp is something you choose to go to. If she can't handle certain aspects than she is not ready to go. Ideas have been given the T shirt idea or having a girl hold a towel are fine and if they don't work for her and she is still upset than she shouldn't be at camp. Didn't I read somewhere that you had to beg her to go? Not all kids are cut out for camp. Nothing wrong in that but you shouldn't force her.

I however Lover Girl Scout camp. I did residential where you stay for a week or two depending on your age. Sure there were times I felt uncomfortable about my body and changing in front of others but it was something I became used to and a small price to pay for all the fun I had at camp. I don't believe there has ever been a girl that at one point didn't feel like she was fat, ugly, odd, or different. Learning to love yourself and accept your body as a beautiful creation of God is very empowering.

Girls should be taught modesty, not to walk around like street walkers because of the danger that sort of action causes not because there is something wrong with the human form. Changing in front of a bunch of girls for about 10 minutes is not indecent. I really worry about people who see it as that.

Point is the camp should not allow your daughter to be given special treatment. You might need to accept that she is obviously not mature enough for that sort of camp.

-Becca-

 

[sha_lyn]

Don't know where you got the orgy from. I guess we disagree on modesty/values

You said sharing their bodies. Changing clothes in front of someone does not equal sharing their bodies.

 

[dreamer17555]

So are the girls who are comfortable changing in the locker room not modest?

By the tone of some of the replies on here you would think they are going from changing in locker room to turning tricks on a street corner. I think all it says is those girls are more mature and have a healthy dose of self esteem.

-Becca-

 

[luvmy3]

I don't see changing in front of girls indecent, and I don't think thats why most girls don't want to change in front of others. My guess is these girls are self-conscious about their bodies and maybe have a bit of low self esteem. Or it could just be the fact that they are shy and embarass easy. To me it doesn't matter the reason, if one of my girls felt extremely uncomfortable, or mortified as the OP's dd, I would not force them to change in public. I don't think using the excuse that its life, so get used to it as the reason they should have to either.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

By the tone of some of the replies on here you would think they are going from changing in locker room to turning tricks on a street corner. I think all it says is those girls are more mature and have a healthy dose of self esteem.

I don't see anything wrong with girls, who are comfortable doing so, being nude in front of other girls. But it certainly isn't wrong to want privacy either. You don't know why a little girl doesn't have a healthy does of self esteem but does it really matter. Is it really that hard to let children decide for themselves who sees their bodies and who doesn't?

 

[Loverly]

As for "most adults", well I can tell you that women at Golds Gym and the other gym I was a member of change in the locker room in front of each other. There aren't any changing stalls, only toilet stalls and showers. .

I go to a large gym with a huge woman's only weight area and spa, and while many undress in front of others, a very large amount of women keep a towel wrapped around them as they undress. There are modest women and many young girls are shy and modest.
Doesn't mean they are unhealthy about their bodies-they are just SHY!

To the OP=the large shirt sounds good-I keep a towel wrapped around me under my arms as I put on powder and put on my panties after I shower at the gymn. I'd practice trying different ways with your DD-good luck!

 

[dreamer17555]

I don't see changing in front of girls indecent, and I don't think thats why most girls don't want to change in front of others. My guess is these girls are self-conscious about their bodies and maybe have a bit of low self esteem. Or it could just be the fact that they are shy and embarass easy. To me it doesn't matter the reason, if one of my girls felt extremely uncomfortable, or mortified as the OP's dd, I would not force them to change in public. I don't think using the excuse that its life, so get used to it as the reason they should have to either.

But they don't have to change in public, they just will not go to camp. Its simple you either deal with everything at camp- changing in public, hiking, eating camp food, bugs, ect... or you don't. This isn't a school forcing her to attend. This is something they agreed to do and paid for it. If she can't handle camp than she can't handle camp. There are different programs and camps out there that do things differently and maybe next summer she should look into one of those.

-Becca-

 

[TwinsinCA]

Point is the camp should not allow your daughter to be given special treatment. You might need to accept that she is obviously not mature enough for that sort of camp.

-Becca-[/COLOR]

Being at ease with changing around others has nothing to do with maturity. Nothing. I find that statement incredibly insulting. This is the child's only issue with camp and it is valid. I was in high school and public gym showers were absolute hell for me. Does that mean I was "immature"???

Thanks to all of you who "get it" and respect a child's right to privacy. I hope my daughters encounter people like you. This has been a huge wake up call for me. It never occurred to me that the fundamental right to not be seen naked by others is disregarded by people in positions of authority over children. I will be sure to ask questions before I ever allow my kids to be in that kind of situation.

OP -- for your daughter. The people at that camp should be ashamed of themselves.

 

[dreamer17555]

Being at ease with changing around others has nothing to do with maturity. Nothing. I find that statement incredibly insulting. This is the child's only issue with camp and it is valid. I was in high school and public gym showers were absolute hell for me. Does that mean I was "immature"???

Thanks to all of you who "get it" and respect a child's right to privacy. I hope my daughters encounter people like you. This has been a huge wake up call for me. It never occurred to me that the fundamental right to not be seen naked by others is disregarded by people in positions of authority over children. I will be sure to ask questions before I ever allow my kids to be in that kind of situation.

OP -- for your daughter. The people at that camp should be ashamed of themselves.

Why were they "hell" for you? I have a heart condition and a huge surgery scar, I have had horrible acne as a teen and been over weight. So why would a dressing room be more hellish for you than any of the others? Yes its uncomfortable. That just how it is but you take a deep breath and get through it. There isnothing sexual or abusive happening here just girls getting dressed with their same sex peers.

The people at camp have nothing to be ashamed of. Changing in a locker room is part of camp. If the OP's daughter can't do that for whatever reason then she should not be at camp. It takes a quick minute to wrap a towel around you and pull on some clothes- if that minute is such a big deal she is willing not to go to camp that is her choice but the camp has rules. Why is it that every parent thinks rules should be changed for their child?

-Becca-

 

[sha_lyn]

I go to a large gym with a huge woman's only weight area and spa, and while many undress in front of others, a very large amount of women keep a towel wrapped around them as they undress. There are modest women and many young girls are shy and modest.
Doesn't mean they are unhealthy about their bodies-they are just SHY!

To the OP=the large shirt sounds good-I keep a towel wrapped around me under my arms as I put on powder and put on my panties after I shower at the gymn. I'd practice trying different ways with your DD-good luck!

As you said they have found a way to change in the room with the other women by using a towel. Just as I have continually suggested throughout this thread. They are not demanding that separate private accommodations be made for them as some on this thread sounds as if they would do.

But they don't have to change in public, they just will not go to camp. Its simple you either deal with everything at camp- changing in public, hiking, eating camp food, bugs, ect... or you don't. This isn't a school forcing her to attend. This is something they agreed to do and paid for it. If she can't handle camp than she can't handle camp. There are different programs and camps out there that do things differently and maybe next summer she should look into one of those.

ITA...Well said. Find something that works for you/your child. Do not demand that an entire program change because of one person/a few people.

 

[luvmy3]

But they don't have to change in public, they just will not go to camp. Its simple you either deal with everything at camp- changing in public, hiking, eating camp food, bugs, ect... or you don't. This isn't a school forcing her to attend. This is something they agreed to do and paid for it. If she can't handle camp than she can't handle camp. There are different programs and camps out there that do things differently and maybe next summer she should look into one of those.

-Becca-

True, but why is it such a bad thing to provide some sort of private area for girls that feel this way. You are right, they paid for it, in fact they probably worked hard as a troop to earn their money to pay for it, why should some girls miss out becuase they are more modest than others? If there is no way to accomodate these girls, then there are things that they can do, like use a large tee shirt, or have someone they trust hold a towel up for them. They don't have to miss out on going to camp

 

[aprilgail2]

OT, but since so many of you brought this up....I cannot believe (1) kids aren't showering after PE???? Our kids are required to shower and put deo back on. (2) Some kids are wearing their PE clothes ALL day? (3) There are some schools not requiring PE??

.

Our schools have gym but they can't force you to shower after it- they have showers but no one used them when I was younger and I just asked my friends daughter who is in high school and she said no way does anyone shower at school- they are all afraid one of their "peers" will snap a pic with their cellphone and it will end up on myspace!

 

[dispor]

You might need to accept that she is obviously not mature enough for that sort of camp.

We tell our daughters that their body is their own, and that they should not allow things to happen that make them feel uncomfortable (and yes, that includes having others see them naked). Then, when they have the courage to say "Hey, I don't like this," we call them immature???

 

[dreamer17555]

True, but why is it such a bad thing to provide some sort of private area for girls that feel this way. You are right, they paid for it, in fact they probably worked hard as a troop to earn their money to pay for it, why should some girls miss out becuase they are more modest than others? If there is no way to accomodate these girls, then there are things that they can do, like use a large tee shirt, or have someone they trust hold a towel up for them. They don't have to miss out on going to camp

Those ideas have been suggested. The OP did not like the towel idea. And isn't this a day camp with a director? Not a troop thing? And yes the OP paid for it but the rules shouldn't be changed for one child. The OP should have brought up any concerns before camp started instead of calling the director everyday.

-Becca-

 

[sha_lyn]

Those ideas have been suggested. The OP did not like the towel idea. And isn't this a day camp with a director? Not a troop thing? And yes the OP paid for it but the rules shouldn't be changed for one child. The OP should have brought up any concerns before camp started instead of calling the director everyday.

-Becca-

I was about to point out the same thing, however I will add that girls can earn camperships through cookie sales. I don't know if all areas do this, but our council does this. I can't remember the numbers right now but it is pretty high. I know that DD didn't earn a partial campership selling just a little over 250 boxes. Although that included her portion of booth sales. Maybe it is 250 pre sale boxes for a partial campership. It can be applied toward any council day camp or resident camp.

 

[luvmy3]

Those ideas have been suggested. The OP did not like the towel idea. And isn't this a day camp with a director? Not a troop thing? And yes the OP paid for it but the rules shouldn't be changed for one child. The OP should have brought up any concerns before camp started instead of calling the director everyday.

-Becca-

I was speaking about girls in general, not specifically about the OP's dd.

 

[dreamer17555]

We tell our daughters that their body is their own, and that they should not allow things to happen that make them feel uncomfortable (and yes, that includes having others see them naked). Then, when they have the courage to say "Hey, I don't like this," we call them immature???

See I dont teach my daughter to be ashamed of her body. I teach her not to allow others to touch her or to dress in a way that sends the wrong message and could put her in danger. My main concern is making sure she is not in danger. As a dancer she can change in front of a group of girls with no issue at all. She does it quickly and it is over and done with in a minute or two. If a girl's mom is having to call the camp director daily than something is wrong and that child cannot handle that sort of camp. Its good for girls to be taught that sometimes to get the good (camp, swimming, dance, ect.) you have to deal with stuff that is less than comfortable (changing in a locker room). If she cannot do one than she cannot have the other. The camp should not change for one child.

I think this speaks to a whole generation of parents trying to over protect their children, to have rules bent for them, to smooth over every little bump in the road. Children will learn to cope given a chance, they will learn to rise above and will one day look back and wonder what the big deal was, but only if their parents aren't always catching them before they have a chance to fall. The girls is in no danger. She might be embarrased but since when is embarrasment something that a mother feels the need to call a camp director about daily? I remember being embarrased growing up. That is a part of life. If she doesn't want to change than she should be at a different camp program that works for her and her parents.

-Becca-

 

[dreamer17555]

I was about to point out the same thing, however I will add that girls can earn camperships through cookie sales. I don't know if all areas do this, but our council does this. I can't remember the numbers right now but it is pretty high. I know that DD didn't earn a partial campership selling just a little over 250 boxes. Although that included her portion of booth sales. Maybe it is 250 pre sale boxes for a partial campership. It can be applied toward any council day camp or resident camp.

Our GS camp had the cookie sales thing but back then I remember selling door to door. Gasp! I know the girls aren't supposed to do this now. Its amazing I lived to tell the tale

-Becca-

 

[sha_lyn]

See I dont teach my daughter to be ashamed of her body. I teach her not to allow others to touch her or to dress in a way that sends the wrong message and could put her in danger. My main concern is making sure she is not in danger. As a dancer she can change in front of a group of girls with no issue at all. She does it quickly and it is over and done with in a minute or two. If a girl's mom is having to call the camp director daily than something is wrong and that child cannot handle that sort of camp. Its good for girls to be taught that sometimes to get the good (camp, swimming, dance, ect.) you have to deal with stuff that is less than comfortable (changing in a locker room). If she cannot do one than she cannot have the other. The camp should not change for one child.

I think this speaks to a whole generation of parents trying to over protect their children, to have rules bent for them, to smooth over every little bump in the road. Children will learn to cope given a chance, they will learn to rise above and will one day look back and wonder what the big deal was, but only if their parents aren't always catching them before they have a chance to fall. The girls is in no danger. She might be embarrased but since when is embarrasment something that a mother feels the need to call a camp director about daily? I remember being embarrased growing up. That is a part of life. If she doesn't want to change than she should be at a different camp program that works for her and her parents.

-Becca-

ITA with both paragraphs. I really wanted to say what you have in the second one, but was afraid of the backlash. IMHO is all seems like helicopter parenting to me.

 

[sha_lyn]

Our GS camp had the cookie sales thing but back then I remember selling door to door. Gasp! I know the girls aren't supposed to do this now. Its amazing I lived to tell the tale

-Becca-

From what I have been told, part of the new program is to encourage door to door sales as a troop. I was told this by our council cookie chair who just happens to be in our SU and is our former day camp and former SU director. As for general door to door sales, they can sell door to door, just not without and adult. Of course some areas might have more strict rules, but per national guidelines it is not prohibited.