camping trip, weather 40's and 20's should i cancel?

Question

My son is 6 and is in cub scouts.. (I am 7 months pregnant, his dad is NOT into the camping idea, none of us have ever been camping) A camping trip for the weekend to orlando disney wilderness was scheduled 2 months ago thru his scout group.. I am debateing if we should still go (mostly due to the weather, we are floridians) weather to be in 40-50 during the day and 20's at night,, we are borrowing a tent from my father (and none of us have any camping experience) i am scared because the cold and the fact i am 7 months pregnant this is going to be a miserable trip.. the hot tub, heated pool, hose riding etc. are all out of the question (for me at least)... im looking for others opinions..

Answer 1

As the others here have said, I would also cancel this trip. The fact you say you have no camping experience is bad enough because you don't know what to expect..things like needing to use the bathroom at 3AM and finding the only one available is 2 blocks away!

During the day with these temperatures I think you would be ok because you could keep yourself busy enough to stay warm. At night is a different story..believe me..you would be damn cold!



Wait until next years trip, you would ALL enjoy it more.,

Answer 2

As you are 7 months pregnant I suggest you do what you feel is most comfortable.

I doubt you're are going to be able to really warm up, unless you have a tent meant for that kind of cold and a sleeping bag that can really keep you warm.

But, yeah, it sounds like a miserable trip. If you want to go camping go when it's warm because camping means spending a lot of time outside without the normal luxuries you are used to.

Answer 3

Just because it will be boring for you isn't a reason to cancel (since it's more about your son having fun than you having fun anyway).



But the temperature is a definite concern, especially for those who haven't camped before. 40-50 degrees during the day isn't a big deal, since you can just pack extra warm clothes, gloves, and jackets. But for the 20 degree night, you will need more than just one sleeping bag each (unless they are the super-expensive, negative 20 degree rated or better type). A beanie for your head at night is also suggested, since you can lose a lot of heat from your head when it 20 degrees. A 20 degree above zero rated bag will NOT be warm enough... it just means you won't die or get hypo-thermia if it's 20 degrees... but you will be miserable. You will also want extra insulating layers under you, and no, air mattresses don't count as insulation... just padding. So, whether you use an air mattress or not, you should also have an extra comforter, sleeping bag, or foam pad beneath you so the cold isn't sucked right out of you (therma-rest type pads, though, are great insulators).



Have I gotten across how bad the cold can be at night? If you go you'll be fine, AS LONG AS you bring really good sleeping bags, or mediocre sleeping bags and a whole bunch of extra comforters and blankets. Oh yeah, wear sweat pants and socks to bed so that when you have to get out to pee at night, you're already dressed.



But don't baby your son. This will be a great experience for him, as long as you bring him the proper gear, tell him how to use it, and then let him be. He'll be tougher and learn faster if he doesn't listen to you and freezes his butt off all night. Trust me, he won't do it again, and next time he'll know).



If you are this concerned, you should really call his scout leader and ask more questions about what the trip is like. But it would be great for your boy.

Answer 4

I'd cancel. Those temps would be miserable for me and I'm not pregnant. You would need lots of specialized clothing including long underwear to be comfortable during the day. Nights would be miserable if you are camping outside in a tent. You might plan another special event for your son so he won't be too disappointed about missing the camping trip.

Answer 5

i am from georgia and we are in the 20's at night but i personally think that the colder the trips the better because if u r cold u want 2 stay warm and this will motivate you 2 keep your body moving which adds a lot of fun to the camping

Answer 6

I can see all of your points.



I do think however that your son will not be excited about cancelling the trip. Any chance a family member or friend can go with him on this? Or another parent that you trust enough?

If you do cancel you probably do not want to tell your son that the pregnancy has anything to do with it as he might later on blame his sibling for ruining his trip.



You could tell him that you will go on another trip with him later. This could be closer to home, with lots of time planning, proper gear, and entertainment.

That could even be a tent in the backyard for one night. Roasting marshmallows, discovering bugs, and telling stories. If he gets cold, you can pack him up and get him into his bed.



Besides the pregnancy: In camping there is no bad weather - just bad clothing/equipment. Those that love it, prepare for it well and don't mind the inconvenience. For those that are not into camping the bluest sky and most expensive gear won't transform it into a fun experience.



If you want to get into it when the kids are older, you might actually enjoy it if you have time to plan and prepare for it. But if you have reservations about the Temperature and are not properly equipped for this upcoming trip, you would set yourself up for a miserable experience

Answer 7

If you're having any doubts about going on the trip, you should probably trust your instincts. With having very little camping experience, and being almost in full term for pregnancy, you should consider cancelling for yourself. As for your husband, he could go with your son, or you could ask another one of the cub group, as to whether your son would be able to join one of them. When I was in girl guiding, and my mom couldn't go or something like that she would ask one of the other families to take me, and they were perfectly fine with this. Your son will probably still want to go. I hope that this helps you.

Answer 8

If I were there I would cancel, no way would I be putting you through all that kind of discomfort that late in a pregnancy. Tell those macho campers in your group you will join them next summer, and to make room for 2? more.

Answer 9

I've done it in worse because I wanted to. You don't.

Stop mealy-mouthing about collective opinion. Stay in Florida.

Answer 10

don't do it, that's too cold.