Land the chopper lady!

I would never let my kids sleep over at a Church with the shady people who run church youth groups. This is a huge no!!!

I did this as a kid and it was 100% horrid. But I grew up Catholic. I would never let my kid go.

That said, my niece and nephew have done these things and are Episcopalian and part of Young Life. They seem to have had no issues.

Why shouldn't they go? I do not worry. Not worried about their safety. I just think it's a real stupid idea. I don't want to support it. I don't want it to succeed. I/ or the church isn't providing something -done safely- that needs to happen.

No one needs to stay out all night. No one.

That's a hard no - even if you know and trust the adults, you don't know and trust all the kids.

OP here - we love our church and our daughter goes to youth group often! It’s a huge Protestant church (no longer in DMV area) with tons of kids. To me it doesn’t seem age appropriate for a bunch of young adults to be responsible for that many kids and driving them all around town late at night, and keeping them up at night on purpose. We also have lots of conversations about healthy relationships, making good choices ect and not sure staying up all night at 11 years old is smart. I’d just go get her at midnight if they weren’t driving the kids around town at night.

If she were 16 I’d probably feel differently though

I grew up with these and all of our kids have gone (episcopal). Our church is serious about safe church protocols and I know the chaperones and the kids attending. It’s been a great experience for all of our kids. Our youth group also does a ski trip and service projects, and my kids have all attended sleep away camp. These have been important growth experiences for our kids. But if that makes you uncomfortable, maybe you could check out some more low key youth group activities! No pressure—all are welcome!

We don't do any kind of sleepover. It is a choice. We choose not to.