'Have I lost all perspective?' Mum left shocked over $1600 school camp bill

"Just got the statement and nearly choked... There are children who will have to miss this because parents are financially stressed."

An Aussie family has been hit up for $1600 for their child to attend a four-day school trip – and it’s just an hour away by bus. Photo; iStock

A South Australian woman was left fuming after forking out a whopping $1600 for her Year 6 child's upcoming four-day school camp, just an hour's bus ride away from their Adelaide home.

The excessive fee for what should be a local, budget-friendly adventure for 11-year-old's has left parents in disbelief.

Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this.

FOMO or budget-busting school camp?

This South Australian mother, whose child attends a "mid-range fee" private school, took to social media to vent her frustration, posting on X (formerly Twitter).

"Does $1600 for a 4-night Year 6 camp, in tents, seem ridiculously expensive to you? Or, have I lost all perspective?"

RELATED: I didn't consent the school taking photos of my child, her teacher said I was leaving her out

Was the school out of line charging this much?

RELATED: Mum’s business solves common camping problem

Her shock was palpable as she lamented, "Just got the statement and nearly choked. There goes our Japan trip for another six months."

Many parents rallied behind her, echoing her concerns. One parent cheekily brushed it off as a "first-world problem."

Still, the mother quickly countered, emphasizing the real struggles parents face. "It is hard, actually," she said.

"When your child runs the risk of missing out on what their peers are doing, that can be very upsetting.

"After having spoken with some other parents, there are children who will have to miss this because parents are financially stressed. It’s all relative.”

An enigmatic bill: "Camp and Outdoor Experimental Learning."

Parents were presented with a blunt $1600 charge for "Camp and Outdoor Experimental Learning." Understandably, this left many bewildered and irritated.

Some parents compared the cost to other extravagant school trips. One even reminisced about sending their child to China for nearly seven weeks for just $2600, while another mentioned a school trip to New Zealand, including skiing, for $3300.

The mum said it seemed “ridiculously expensive”. Photo: iStock

These experiences, which involved international travel and extensive activities, put the $1600 bill into perspective.

As the frustrated mother vowed to question the exorbitant fee, it's clear that parents expect a reasonable explanation for what seems like an unnecessarily expensive local school camp.

In a time where budget constraints are a reality for many families, such hefty costs for essential educational experiences can't help but raise eyebrows and spark outrage.

Originally published as 'Have I lost all perspective?' Mum left shocked over $1600 school camp bill