It is rare for under-18s to ask to join our club without the parents already being members. 99 percent of the time, the under-18s come on trips with their parents, so they can retain responsibility for them. On the rare occasion that an under-18 wants to come on a trip without a parent, or neither parent is a member anyway, at the very least we make sure the parents understand what is happening.
Here is a schedule sent this year to parents of someone attending a caving weekend on his own. We insisted that the parents signed the schedule to indicate that they knew what was being planned, and were happy for the young member to take part in any of the activities.
Friday evening
Please meet at xxxxxxxxx. Someone will be there to meet you and to arrange the last leg of the journey by convoy to yyyyyyyyy, so you don't get lost! Meet between 9 and 11pm. If you are going to be delayed, call nnnnn nnnnnnnn before 11pm.
Saturday
If you need to purchase or hire equipment such as helmet or lamp, a visit to Wells will be required before caving starts. Please let us know well in advance of the weekend if you need to visit Bat Products (the caving shop) for hire lamps and helmets as they must be booked in advance.
All the caving will take place in the various caves in Burrington Coombe. There will be at least two groups caving. We hope to have a 1 to 1 ratio of new members to leaders.
We would like to be back at the cabin by 5pm.
Howard has promised to cook one of his Chinese specials - you will not be disappointed. Let us know in advance if you are vegetarian.
After the evening meal, the group will go to a local inn to relax and socialise.
Sunday
Provided there has not been excessive rainfall, it is possible that a visit to Swildons Hole will be arranged for some of the group. This depends on how the group perform on Saturday. A trip into Swildons Hole is quite energetic, and you will get wet. However, a well-led group should not encounter any real difficulties.
If you are not ready to visit Swildons Hole, an alternative cave will be considered. There are a number of sensible options, including a return to Burrington Coombe to visit some other caves.
If the weather is fine, and time-permitting, we may walk down through Longwood nature reserve.
Other considerations and things to bring :
Bring some food - for 2 breakfasts, and for snacks at various times. To speed things along you are invited to join in a communal breakfast, normally a big fry up but contributions of food items are necessary. Should you be vegetarian, then simply bring your own breakfasts. We will cater for vegetarians when cooking the evening meal providing you tell us!!
Bring some money - for xxxxx, for yyyyy, for zzzzz, etc.. And for anything else you might need to buy over the weekend.
Bring some spare clothes. You will get wet and mucky, so unless you have some proper caving clothes such as an oversuit, you will need to change into clean clothes after both days' caving and that hot shower.
Bring a sleeping bag and wash kit. A torch is handy in the middle of the night, after the generator has been switched off.
-o0o-
I have read the planned programme for the New Members' Weekend.
I am happy for xxxxx xxxxxxx to take part in any of the activities planned and described here.
