School camp is easier for boys – they don’t have to worry about periods

"It's a lot when girls must navigate being away from home and take part in a schedule of activities they have no control over."

As a teen growing up in the UK, school camps weren’t a thing.

We had day trips and the occasional excursion, but nothing like the week-long adventures my kids now experience in Australia.

When sending my teen twin boys off to camp, my biggest concern is usually around whether they’ll bother to change their underwear (unlikely) or hang up their swimmers to dry after a day at the beach (even more unlikely).

Periods, cramps and privacy issues have never crossed my mind, because, well, boys have it easy.

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"School camp is harder for girls than boys"

It wasn’t until my tween daughter started packing for her recent year six camp that I realised how complicated it is for teen and tween girls. We’ve entered new territory now, where periods are a possibility, and it’s something that girl-parents need to plan for.

We know a few friends who started their period right before or during a school camp. Even girls who have started already can have unpredictable cycles, so it’s impossible to know if it will arrive during that week away. It adds a layer of anxiety that boys (and their parents) just don’t have to deal with.

In Australia, school camps usually involve water activities like kayaking, swimming, snorkelling and paddleboarding. While these activities are exciting for kids, they can be a source of dread for girls on their period.

The logistics of managing your period while spending hours in and out of water are daunting for teenage girls Even with amazing products like period-proof swimwear and underwear, there’s still the emotional and mental load that comes with navigating being away from home and taking part in a schedule of activities you have no control over.

Karen notices the difference in camp prep between her boys and her girl. Image: supplied

Before she left, we had to sit down and talk through various scenarios so my daughter felt equipped to deal with anything that happened.

It turned into a list of ‘what ifs’ that no boy ever has to think about. It wasn’t just about physically packing the items she may need, but also the emotional support to make sure she felt comfortable and prepared for whatever might happen.

Despite these challenges, I’m happy to see how much progress has been made in normalising periods among the next generation. My boys are much more understanding and aware than boys were in my day. They know there are times when their female friends might not want to jump in the pool or go to the waterpark.

I would have been mortified to even have to hint to a boy why I didn’t want to swim, but my boys take it on board and make plans to go another day instead.

I didn’t even talk about periods with my friends growing up, but my daughter has a completely different experience. She and her friends talk openly about their periods, without the sense of shame or secrecy that surrounded it when I was her age.

It’s refreshing to see, but it also highlights something that’s still unfair – while boys remain carefree and able to focus on the fun of camp, girls have this added burden of stress.

There is still a lot that can be done to make camps more period-friendly given that half of the people attending are girls. Girls shouldn’t have to feel self-conscious or worried about something as natural as having their period.

It wouldn’t take much to ease the anxiety. The girls going along to camp could have a short talk to prepare them for the adventure and to reassure them that periods are a natural part of growing up and there are plans in place for if this happens while away from home.

It would set their mind at rest to know that female staff members had extra period products if needed, and to invite students to talk to any staff member they feel comfortable with if they get their period while away – not only their group leader (who may be male).

Karen with her kids, way before she learned that school camp would be different for them. Source: Supplied

It would also be helpful if students knew they could be excused from water activities if they aren’t feeling up to participating. Just having an open discussion like this would take away the stigma and anxiety around the topic.

In the end, boys really do have it easy. They pack their bags and focus on the fun ahead. For our girls, there’s so much more planning, consideration and preparation that goes into it.

While my daughter headed off to camp with a checklist of ‘what ifs,’ my boys only worry about whether they’ve packed enough lollies for their midnight snacks.

Originally published as School camp is easier for boys – they don’t have to worry about periods