Anonymous wrote:Absolutely. Sure. It can do more damage long term then good.
Kids are still not sure how they will take the time away form home and emotions can be very unpredictable and it can be pretty painful experience in all, not everybody is mature enough to handle forced exhale undertooken voluntarily

There will be other opportunities. Your kid needs more home now, not much time left before flying away for good.

Also possible that something bad is happening and kid is not in the position to tell you everything maybe never will but it is possible DC is sending signals. that you don't decode properly. I would get the kid out immediately.

The problem with adults is that adult usually does not put themselves in the position that they can not get out, they also know what they can handle, kid is not so much.. kid can not asses due to lack of experience if kid will manage, and also they can not just pack and leave. So I vote yes, take kid out, if I were that kid I would be very upset and hold resentment for a good while to yo as my mom but hey, maybe I am also bit projecting, I once went to event like that, and my mom did not hesitate to save me from the misery, I was so grateful to her and I had tons other options later of the same kind.

At the end of the day a kid never remember one more or one less camp but knowing you can rely on your parent in a time of need - priceless. That you never forget.

Anonymous wrote:The lesson is that people can waste your valuable time? No. She comes home.

Anonymous wrote:No right or wrong answer here! Use your parenting instinct.

Anonymous wrote:Wow. As ever, threads quickly revolve into judgmental trolls fighting with one another.

Anonymous wrote:She needs to have a talk with the leader to find out what they will be doing over the next few days. If the answer is "nothing," pick her up. It would be foolish of her to stay.

She could immediately, upon her return home, go volunteer somewhere else where they need a warm body. Food kitchen or food pantry, etc.

Anonymous wrote:Teens going on “service trips” are complete bullshit. Colleges see through then too. He might as well bring her home. No one is learning anything by making her sit there doing nothing for another few days.

(Teens should not be doing “habitat” type work. They have no actual skills and slow down work or do it sloppy and cost more time and money. Underserved communities and people would be much better served with direct grants that put local people to work or actual professionals donating their time. Kids and church families doing service is just to make themselves feel good and is disgusting.)

Anonymous wrote:If you bring her home all you are teaching her is that her time and her happiness are more important than the experience of the team, the commitment she made, or the people that she’s serving. It’s not surprising that a teen would have the immature expectation of coming home to her discontent but you needn’t abet this immaturity.

I am the leader of a high school after school activity that requires commitment even through boring parts of the process. That you would dream of bringing her home early is appalling to me. Grit is a buzzword for a reason. She is not in danger. Let her develop some character. She has to tough t out.

Anonymous wrote:Teens going on “service trips” are complete bullshit. Colleges see through then too. He might as well bring her home. No one is learning anything by making her sit there doing nothing for another few days.

(Teens should not be doing “habitat” type work. They have no actual skills and slow down work or do it sloppy and cost more time and money. Underserved communities and people would be much better served with direct grants that put local people to work or actual professionals donating their time. Kids and church families doing service is just to make themselves feel good and is disgusting.)