Age and The Law

[Niall]

I'm only 15, and there is nothing i enjoy more than camping. I often go with my Explorer Scout Group, and sooner or later am hoping to go just with friends.

Does anyone know the details on age and the law, in relation to camping:
- What age do you have to be to camp in a group of people of your own age?
- What qualifies someone as a supervisor? Staying in the same tent? Same campsite? With the Same Party (and if so how do you prove your with a specific party)?
- What age does a supervisor, camping with you, to supervise people too young have to be?
- Are rules camp-site specific?
- Can you get any sort of permit to camp at the age of 15 in a group of people your age?

Hope You Guys CAn Be of Assistance :)
Niall

[MariaD]

As far as I'm aware, a group of 15 year olds can camp in a campsite together with no restrictions at all, as long as they adhere to the rules of the campsite. Bear in mind that some campsites may have a policy of not allowing groups of teenagers or single sex groups of young adults.

Wild camping is more complicated as it is still officially illegal in England and Wales (although not in Scotland). However, as long as you camp responsibly* and keep away from roads & towns you are highly unlikely to have any problems. My brother started wild camping in Scotland at the age of 13/14, with no supervision at all.

*See this link for info on responsible wild camping:
http://www.goxplore.net/showthread.php?t=284&highlight=etiquette

It does become more complicated when you start introducing official 'supervision' into the equation. Having never been involved in any form of scout group / DoE scheme, I'm not an expert on the laws governing supervision of minors. As far as I'm aware, with DoE expeditions the 'supervisor' does not have to be present in the tent (the whole point is that the DoEers go it alone) but must be contactable and able to provide assistance if need be.

These links from the Young Explorers' Trust may help to clarify things:
http://www.theyet.org/documents/YETguidelines.pdf
http://www.theyet.org/documents/BPLeaderSelection.pdf

[Niall]

Thanks a lot for the advice.

Its often hard to come by the corrrect answers for questions involving laws and such, too many people with too many opinions. :)

Much Appreciated

[Ollie]

Niall,

Have you had a chance to get out and do any camping yet? How have you found it?! :) Had any problems?

Ollie

[insane_climber]

the d of e assesor does not need to be present if it being run throught ther scout assosiation but they have to be contactable in an emergency, im not sure with skools but they seem unorganised even with a teacher baby siting

[Flutterby]

doesn't it depend on the level of award being done? i thought rules for the bronze were a lot stricter than for the gold?

[crazyanimal]

lol, one D of E bronze groups practice hike in Wales was apparently "too dangerous" according to the DofE administrator

[Ant]

Wild camping is more complicated as it is still officially illegal in England and Wales (although not in Scotland). However, as long as you camp responsibly* and keep away from roads & towns you are highly unlikely to have any problems. My brother started wild camping in Scotland at the age of 13/14, with no supervision at all.


I remember reading some months ago (Although I can't remember where) that Wild camping is allowed In Snowdonia National Park, under one of 2 conditions.
1. You have the landowners permission.
2. As long as you set up camp after any daytrippers have left, and break camp before they arrive the next day (this often means after dusk and before dawn).

Usual Etiquette Applies as always.

[Hillwalker]

In D of E terms, there are various roles. The trainer/supervisor will accompany students learning hillcraft skills and camp with them. There is nothing in Law relevant to it at all. The supervisor will then allow thenm to go on unaccompanied practice expeditions, but is still supervising them, although they may not be aware of it. Once the supervisor considers them competent, and signs documents to that effect, they can do their expedition, unaccompanied but the supervisor is still responsible for their safety. The assessor, supervisor and training cannot camp with them on expedition. This is not a matter of law, its the rules of D of E so that the group are 'self sufficient.

[ollyhol]

I was 16 and had just finished my gcse's when i went camping on my own in south of france and italy for a month. This year I am 17 and am travelling from Nice (south of france) to Rome with two friends one of whom will still be 16 at the time. Their is nothing to stop you legally, however some campsites may impose restrictions. I find if you act maturely and safely then age is not an issue.

[David]

Like most things really I suppose, if you aren't upsetting anyone, then it's not likely that anyone will complain or there will be problems.

[Ollie]

I know plenty of very mature young people, and I know plenty of very immature adults - if only there was a way of measuring maturity!

[dasy2k1]

outside of any organisation there are no legal rules as far as i know,

with scouts POR says that you need to have an adult with the relivant nights away permit or
a Nights away Passport isued to a compitant member of your group, (14 is the lower limit i think)
see
http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/hqdocs/por/2006/9_60.htm#rule_9.61

[Special_K]

outside of any organisation there are no legal rules as far as i know,

with scouts POR says that you need to have an adult with the relivant nights away permit or
a Nights away Passport isued to a compitant member of your group, (14 is the lower limit i think)
see
http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/hqdocs/por/2006/9_60.htm#rule_9.61

Sounds much simpler than the paperwork I have to submit which includes paperwork to be submitted 2 months in advance (at least):
Camp Programme
Route Card
Route Tracing
Risk Assessments for Hillwalking/Trekking/Camping/Trangia Stoves/Gas Stoves and Orienteering.
Lists of male/female ratio's
Army land clearance to walk in proposed area.
Met Report
Wet weather plan

Plus all consent and medical forms etc......

The above is a pain, but well worth it to see the kids enjoying camping and hillwalking for the first time like my last lot at Spring Bank Hol.

[dasy2k1]

I only mentioned the requirements to lead the activity,
there are masses of forms like route cards, programme wet weather plans, risk assesments, home contact forms, permission
etc.etc.
that have to be submited by the camp leader (in the case of a young leader with a passport then the leader who issued it must sign most of the forms and the young leader the rest)

[newtrekker]

it all seems to be a lot of effort for some camping, we just get kitted up tell somebody where were going and go for it.
im 18 now but we used to do it when we wer about 15. not quite south of france for a month tho! (which sounds mint!) lol

[Special_K]

it all seems to be a lot of effort for some camping, we just get kitted up tell somebody where were going and go for it.
im 18 now but we used to do it when we wer about 15. not quite south of france for a month tho! (which sounds mint!) lol

It is a lot of effort, but saves me getting my butt sued by a cadet's parents if the sun goes in and it starts to rain (an exaggeration BTW). Gone are the day's I'm afraid where youth groups could decide on a Friday night that they were going camping the following morning, these days the amount of red tape involved can be quiet scary.