It would probably be good for the inexperienced hikers to put on packs
and spend a few days hiking around the hillier regional parks, like
Briones. Blisters are less of a problem close to home.
-- John
As someone with 30 years backpacking experience in the Sierra Nevada and
elsewhere, and as a Scoutmaster with 10 years of experience working with
teenaged boys, I think a teen-aged backpack trip is definitely something
that is doable by this group, pending answers to some questions I might
have about the trek and the group.
What isn't clear here is the length of the backpack trip in days and
miles. If most of the group is not experienced, I would not recommend
more than 3 days and 15-20 miles, so that the inexperienced hikers can
test their equipment (and personal mettle) without getting too far from
civilization.
Has the group applied for (and received) a permit for the area they will
be traveling in? Also, some areas are now requiring extra precautions
to avoid bears feeding on backpackers' food, including the use of the
Garcia bear containers.
I would also recommend some pre-trip training in the use of stoves, map
and compass, and first aid.
I do not think that any of the boys should drive to/from the trailhead.
In my opinion, a 16-year-old does not have enough driving experience to
negotiate a mountain road while fatigued and possibly distracted by his
carmates. The disadvantage of not having a car at the trailhead is
balanced by having a cell phone for emergencies.
I will be happy to share a backpacking equipment list that we provide
for our Scouts. I would also be happy to answer any other questions by
parents or trekkers.
YiS,
Alan Scoutmaster, Troop 24, Berkeley, California
Re: Backpacking advice: I started backpacking extensively with other
teenagers starting at age 15 and it was a great experience- but I had
done hundreds of miles of backpacking before going without an adult, and
went with other experienced teens. For this to be safe however, I think
that the "experienced" teen needs to have enough experience to really
know what he is doing in the wilderness, including handling bad weather
(even in the Sierra's!), route finding, dealing with bears, and basic
first aid. I would want to make sure his parents feel he has the
experience and maturity to lead a trip with less experienced
backpackers. I would also want to make sure the other teens were mature
enough to show good judgment and responsibility without adult
supervision. I never had cell phones, but this would make me feel safer
as a parent. Whether this would really work depends on going to limited
areas of the Sierra's (e.g Tahoe area) where cell phones actually work.
-- Rick
There are a lot of closer, safer and easier places to backpack locally.
I would look into some local areas and insist my teenager try them out
first. It would also help them train for a subsequent trip to the
Sierras. If it was my kid, I would just stay nearby wherever they went.
-- Nita
Thanks to all who responded about the teenage backpacking trip in the
Sierras. My son ended up not going because a death in my immediate
family, so he stayed home to attend the funeral instead. Sometimes you
wonder if you are getting through to your kids and then they do
something that makes it worthwhile. Missing this trip was a major
disappointment and expense since they had already purchased supplies.
We did not get a single word of complaint from him. We voluntarily
reimbursed him for his expenses because we were so proud that he did
not ask or complain.
A word to the dads out there. Do not do the typical guy thing of
avoiding doctors and toughing out symptoms and illnesses. You are too
important to your families.
March 2000
I would appreciate hearing people's experiences with non-school
sponsored senior graduation trips. If anyone has any thoughts or
experiences about the particular type of trip (see below) that my
daughter's class of 2000 is planning, I'd love to hear them! Thanks.
Sr. Trip Particulars:
Organized by the student governement reps through a company called USA
Student Travel (http://www.usastudenttravel.com).
Fly to Puerta Vallarta, Mexico.
Cost is $479 (includes roundtrip airfare, 7 nights in the Westin Resort
Hotel, ground transportation, hotel taxes and gratuities)
No chaperones (that I know of).
Brochure states "The drinking age in the Republic of Mexico ... is 18
years and is seldom enforced."
Sounds pretty fishy to me. What happened to going to Marine World
for a senior trip? Or a cruise on the Bay? When did it turn into a 7
day affair, anyway? My first question is: Who's paying for this trip?
If it's you, then you have every right to say no. If it's your child
who's paying, it's far less clear. Another thought: most seniors are
about to go off to college anyway, and I don't know of many colleges
with chaperones these days. Is your child mature enough to handle
this on their own? Have you had sufficient discussion about the birds
and bees and viruses? It's a fairly good bet that they don't know how
to handle liquor, and the combination of liquor and swimming or
boating can be deadly. At the very least, I would talk at length with
your child about the trip. Otherwise, you might try arranging another
trip for your child less filled with potentially serious dangers.
Good luck on this!
Re: senior trip to Mexico
I think that by the time our "children" graduate from high school we
unfortunately don't have a lot of say in the choices they make (unless we
hold the purse strings). My 15 year old son went with a friend and the
friend's father to Mexico last year during spring break and I just
wanted to alert you to the one of the things that he encountered---since
I hadn't thought of all of them. The alcohol age limit is definitely
not enforced. My son says he had a drink---but I don't really see
evidence of that on an on-going basis so that didn't worry me too much.
However, I think that the tenor of a group of seniors could really
change with free access to alcohol. The more worrisome (to me) thing my
son did was to rent and ride an ATV. He came through unscathed but his
friend's tipped over and I think he was lucky not to have been hurt.
Perhaps you could talk to another parent and cook up an alternative?
(Just by the way, I asked my son if he were a parent if he would let his
child go on this trip. He said as a parent, no, but as a kid he'd
really want to go. There's the rub I guess.)
Some additional thoughts on that senior trip to Mexico. I would say
no, unequivocably. However, as the parent of two current teens
(including a high school senior), one of the things I've thought a lot
about (although only sometimes been able to act on successfully) is
how hard it is to maintain communication among the parents when these
issues come up. Surely there are other parents out there who feel
ambivalent (at least!) about the trip. I wonder if there aren't other
parents out there intuitively uncomfortable about it, but needing some
support, reality checks. How do we create a structure for on-going
communication? I think that saying about needing a whole village to
raise a child certainly includes adolescence. And beyond.
I do trust my almost-18 year old's judgment. She's going far away to
college, she was an exchange student for six months in a country with
quite a different culture (and very little English). However, if she
told me that she wanted to go to Mexico on an unchaperoned group trip
that cost XX dollars (even her own XX dollars), I would figure that
her judgment wasn't so great after all. Mexico is a wonderful place,
but sometimes difficult to visit: public safety, illnesses, drinking
and driving and water (as others have pointed out). And then, why
such an elaborate senior trip? What's going to be left for our kids
if they have so many experiences so early? No wonder they get jaded!
As a person who graduated from high school not so long ago, I thought
that I would add a few comments to the discussion of the senior trip in
Mexico. My high school also offered the senior trip to Mexico. I
choose an internship, in place of the trip. When my former classmates
returned from the trip, I heard several horror stories of excessive
alcohol consumption & casual sexual encounters. However, intermingled
with the horror stories, there were people that maintained their
civility despite the absence of chaperones. Thus, in my opinion, if you
are confident that you have raised your child well with the proper
morals (and common sense) then (s)he should be allowed to attend the
trip. As has been mentioned by others, your child will be leaving for
college soon. There are just as many horror stories (if not more) about
college campus' as there are about teenagers in Mexico.
Reminds me of a very bright student from my church, an eagle scout, a
good student, who had earned a scholarship to college. He and his
buddies drove his car to Mexico for a week long graduation
celebration. Unfortunately he never made it back. Attending his
funeral with our sanctuary packed to standing room only attested to
the popularity of this wonderful young man who died needlessly.
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