Smart 13 year old girl

[GeneF]

One evening while we were camping at Mather's CG at the Grand Canyon, my DW and I heard a voice ask what site this was.  We told her that it was 86 and she said she was looking for site 1.  Now this is about 9:30 at night and it is pitch black out.

I offered to drive her back to site 1.  She declined my offer but it was very obvious that there was no way she was going to get into a stranger's truck to go for a ride.

I suggested that DW walk her back to her site.  The girl seemed more comfortable with that offer so the two of them went off to find Site 1.

DW got back in about 1/2 hour.  She said that the mother, brother, and grandparents were frantic about her disappearance and that the father was riding around the cg looking for her.

How did this young girl find her way to our site?  She had simply gone out a different door at the restroom and was going in the complete opposite direction from where she should have gone.

DW and I both felt that the young lady made some wise choices by 1.  asking where she was, 2.  Refusing a ride in a truck, 3.  Accepting help to walk back to her site with a female.

Might be a good time to review some guidelines with your own youngsters.

[debbiedee1957]

Yes indeed very smart.  And it was a good reminder to all, thank you for posting!

[Dee4j]

thanks for posting. It makes me hope that giving  "the Speach" everytime we go somewhere will sink in. My children also know that If I have sent someone to pick them up/find them, they must give a code word.

[dee106]

i had that with my son too, we had a code word.

[tlhdoc]

It  isn't hard to get disoriented in a large campground.  I know adults that have been lost.  It is really important for everyone to know what site they are on.  The girl did the right thing about not getting in to your truck and it was nice of Terry to walk her back.

[Kathy Tuck]

One evening while we were camping at Mather's CG at the Grand Canyon, my DW and I heard a voice ask what site this was.  We told her that it was 86 and she said she was looking for site 1.  Now this is about 9:30 at night and it is pitch black out.

I offered to drive her back to site 1.  She declined my offer but it was very obvious that there was no way she was going to get into a stranger's truck to go for a ride.

I suggested that DW walk her back to her site.  The girl seemed more comfortable with that offer so the two of them went off to find Site 1.

DW got back in about 1/2 hour.  She said that the mother, brother, and grandparents were frantic about her disappearance and that the father was riding around the cg looking for her.

How did this young girl find her way to our site?  She had simply gone out a different door at the restroom and was going in the complete opposite direction from where she should have gone.

DW and I both felt that the young lady made some wise choices by 1.  asking where she was, 2.  Refusing a ride in a truck, 3.  Accepting help to walk back to her site with a female.

Might be a good time to review some guidelines with your own youngsters.

Thank you for the important lesson . When we camp we make sure both our children (DD age 16 and DS age 13) know our campsite number and that they have their cell phones with them when we camp. Every once in awhile one of them will call asking for directions or help on how to get back to the site.

[GeneF]

Thank you for the important lesson . When we camp we make sure both our children (DD age 16 and DS age 13) know our campsite number and that they have their cell phones with them when we camp. Every once in awhile one of them will call asking for directions or help on how to get back to the site.

Please do not rely on cell phones in some areas.  At the Grand Canyon, there was no cell service.

In other areas, we found that just moving twenty feet dropped full service to no service.

[sandykayak]

good story....

i have had moments of sheer panic when leaving a restroom in a state park (read:  woods) and going out the wrong entrance.  Now I always leave a lit lantern on the front porch.  Next time I'm going to try my new rope light.

[Kathy Tuck]

Please do not rely on cell phones in some areas.  At the Grand Canyon, there was no cell service.

In other areas, we found that just moving twenty feet dropped full service to no service.

I understand your concern. When we camp it is usually at local campgrounds located at the beach just minutes from our house. No need for us to worry about lost signals since we have been camping there for years.No interference from high structures or mountains ; also the relay tower is in sight of our house.

[Camping Coxes]

Now I always leave a lit lantern on the front porch. Next time I'm going to try my new rope light.

This is one of the reasons I like having "tacky lights" on my trailer. We can always look for our lights when it's dark. However, as they become more common, we might go to the wrong campsite.
 
I also tell my kids to look for landmarks around our campsite to help them orient themselves should they get confused.

[jpreiser]

We always  use family radios, but we also never let our kids go to the restrooms by themselves... Thank good ness for the toilet in the pop up it is used for night use only....

One thing is I would never ask another child if they wanted a ride... only becasue you never know what the child  or parent could say you did to them even if you did not do anything. I would however walk them back  or direct them to the camp store and let them handle it.

With the way things are today it's just not smart to let your children wander around the camground alone, including the bathrooms....

[angelsmom10]

I do think the girl was smart, but...
 

....One thing is I would never ask another child if they wanted a ride... only becasue you never know what the child or parent could say you did to them even if you did not do anything. I would however walk them back or direct them to the camp store and let them handle it.
 
With the way things are today it's just not smart to let your children wander around the camground alone, including the bathrooms....

It is ashame of the times we live in that all this is true.  You never know about the "other" guy.  It should never have come to this... buddy system no matter who and where you are.  Most campers are friendly and don't think you would run into too many camping.. there is just so much opportunity on the streets for them to "get" someone, but you just cannot trust people.

[Used 2B PopUPTimes]

Parents are constantly giving advice to their kids and we wonder if they're really listening, apparently this girl did. She was smart to ask for help but not take chances.

Our rule was that every kid in our group wore a light stick on a string somewhere on their body after dark. Most of the time we knew where our kids where because you could see the lightsticks from any distance. Plus it was easier for them to keep track of each other as they explored the campground after dark.

Now our kid is a HS senior and we have a whole new set of concerns. :confused:

[GeneF]

"One thing is I would never ask another child if they wanted a ride... only becasue you never know what the child or parent could say you did to them even if you did not do anything. I would however walk them back or direct them to the camp store and let them handle it."

This is an excellent point to remember.  

1.  I had no intention of taking the child alone in the truck.  DW would have come along.

2.  Note that it was DW that walked the young girl home. I wasn't about to take that risk on my own.

As a teacher, I use to love to physically pat a kid on the back for doing a good job or achievening some goal.  Last few years, I avoided doing it for the reason that you stated.  Many teachers I know have refrained from physical contact with students in more recent years.  

Isn't it a shame that a pat on the back or even a hug meant to give approval, can get you into a lot of trouble.

[Acts 2:38 girl]

You know, when I volunteer at my kids school - it's the children that reach up to hold your hand, or to hug you.  I never seek them out, but they just come up to you and hug your legs!  I've noticed it's mostly the girls, too.