Holidays, Camping and Electronics

We’ve just got back from our holiday in the Lake District. Of course, being the Lakes, it rained, but we weren’t too bothered as we had our waterproofs with us so we were ready for anything!

As I now have a digital SLR camera, when we go away I take my laptop with me, so I can download my photos and view them properly at the end of the day. I also take my mobile broadband dongle as well so we can keep in touch with the world through the internet (and keep and eye on our bunny who has his own webcam!). However, there wasn’t any signal where we were, so no interweb. We were disappointed – yes (couldn’t keep an eye on the bunny for a start), was it a problem – no.

We did have our phones, the radio & TV, so we weren’t exactly cut off from the outside world, but it got me back to thinking about having all sorts of electronic goodies out when taking the Scouts etc. camping. This has been discussed a lot recently on PTC Media and Escouts and by coincidence SM Shawn is talking about the same subject on his True North Show number 11.

When we go camping, we say at EVERY camp that electronic devices are banned, however the message seems to fail to get through. We do make sure everyone is aware that if things get broken or lost then we as Leaders are not responsible. Last Scout camp two mobile phones got lost in the river we were camping beside!

We put the blanket ban on gadgets and phones after we went camping in the Lakes one year and one Scout, unbeknown to the Leaders, was supposed to phone his Mum each day on his mobile. But, as we were in a field, surrounded by sheep and in the middle of nowhere there was no signal. Apparently Mum nearly had mountain rescue out looking for the Scout until she got through to one of the Leaders on their phone (different phone company).

The difficulty is what do you allow and what do you ban? Personally, I think that mobile phones, MP3 and music players and electronic games consoles (PSP etc) are definite things that must stay at home, but cameras are ok. Although I realise a camera is an expensive item, it’s good to be able to take photos to remember your time away but the same caveat applies, it is the Scout’s own responsibility to look after the camera. 

These electronic items are great in their proper place! And camp isn’t that place!

4 Replies to “Holidays, Camping and Electronics”

  1. I think we will all have to reconsider our approach to electronics.
    The BSA has a long standing policy that Scouts must first pass a ‘Tote ‘n Chip’ course on safety and the appropriate use of a knife, axe and saw before they may carry and use a pocket knife. I am working on a similar idea for cell phones.
    Other problem is that cell phones are now gaming platforms, web access, cameras, mp3 players all rolled into one. I can foresee sophisticated GPS tools on the horizon as well. There’s no allowing one without the others.

    So the question becomes what is the proper role of these technologies during Scout activities. Perhaps there are places and times when they must be left behind but there are also times when they will be useful if not indispensable. The newest edition of our Scout handbook is available as an Iphone application auguring a more active role for technology and Scouting.

  2. Difficult call. For one, I’m not the only one who use my phone as my main camera. I love to shoot the moment and send a quick media message to my friends, trying to capture that wonderful camp spirit. As long as the phone is not used as an umbilical cord, and you have mums and dads showing up to collect their slightly cold children in the middle of the night, unbeknown to you…
    We have a scout (or rather her parents) that claims to be hyper sensitive to radio waves. Whatever you may think about that sort of thing, it is a handy situation, because we can always use that as an excuse for the scouts, and ourselves, not having the phones on during the day or during activities. We have them on flight mode, and are able to use the cameras, the music players, GPSs, etc, and if someone wants to make a phone call, it’ll have to wait until rest time in the evenings, and they have to step off, out of emidiate sight. But it’s essential that the parents know and understand, that if they send expensive gear with the kids, it might get ruined. That goes for expensive clothes or outdoor equipment too.

  3. I think you are both right about phones now being more like multifunction tools with cameras, GPS etc. on them. The thing that worries me is if, for example, Little Johnny takes an iPhone to camp and drops in in the river, it can cost £300 – £500 to replace and that’s a lot of money.
    The other question is that do they NEED all the ‘toys’? I also use the camera on my phone sometimes but is that reason enough for a Scout to bring it?
    As far as GPS is concerned, I wouldn’t trust the GPS on my phone as far as I could throw it! I much prefer a map and compass and at least the batteries won’t run out!
    Making sure that parents are fully aware that we as Leaders are most definitely not responsible for all the expensive stuff is also a must. As I said in the original post, at last Scout camp 2 phones got lost in the river, but the parents were fully aware that it was their kid’s responsibility to look after the phones!
    As to the Scout Handbook being on the iPhone, I’m not sure if that’s just a gimmick. You’ll have to forgive my ignorance about the BSA Handbook, but I’m not sure how useful it would be to have on your phone and of course most people don’t have iPhones, so the amount of people who can access it this way will be limited.

  4. I have a Ipod touch that uses Iphone apps without the cost of the phone service so I needn’t have the Iphone. I also have a night sky application that proves to be very useful.
    Do we really need any of these things? No.
    Nor do we ‘need’ any one of a hundred small conveniences that are now commonplace to our lives.
    There will be times and places when we don’t want any electronic assistance or will choose to switch things off. Otherwise we may as well take advantage of the technology.

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