8 top tips for Squirrel Dreys to have their first Night Away experience

Calling all Squirrels. Grab your sleeping mats, pack your bags and put on your neckers, it’s time for a sleepover. 

Since January 2023, our youngest section, Squirrels, have been able to enjoy exciting Nights Away experiences.  

Some of us might’ve already had our first Night Away with Squirrels. However, it’s important to recognise that taking the littlest Section away might be a little daunting. 

So, how can Nights Away with Squirrels be both feasible and fun?

We’ve put together some top tips and inspiration to help you get started on a stress-free Squirrel sleepover or camp, however big or small.

Our 8 top tips

1. Stay indoors

It’s absolutely fine to sleep indoors and you can still have lots of fun. Remember, you can still sleep in tents inside!

You can plan different camp or outdoor activities for the evening by heading to a local green space or stepping outside your meeting place. You could host a scavenger hunt, go stargazing, play wide games or sit around a campfire circle. 

You might want to bring the fun indoors, too. Some ideas include a calming fire-free campfire, relaxing movie night, or an exciting disco. 

2. Go somewhere you know

Running your first night away in a venue you know can help make it less stressful.

A familiar place can help with the planning, and makes things, such as organising risk assessments, learning the fire escape routes or even just deciding where to eat, a whole lot easier.

You could stay in your regular meeting place or go to a local activity centre that you’ve been to before.

You might want to make a few visits and quickly looking around the venue in order to find out information about it, too.

3. Join up with another local Squirrel section.

Team up with another Section or Group for your first sleepover or Squirrel camp. It helps share out the planning and organising, as well as giving you extra support and double the fun. 

You might want to go with volunteers who’ve done a night away before or feel more confident. Or, maybe you could be the one helping another Drey with their first sleepover!

4. Bring in extra helpers

Taking on some extra volunteers, such as parents and carers, a Young Leader, or other local volunteers, can help you make sure everything runs smoothly. 

You might want to have a cook, a campfire builder, a yoga leader, or someone to set up sleeping bags. 

Remember, any adults joining a Night Away event would need the appropriate safeguarding and DBS checks in place, as well as any training, so make sure to plan in advance.

There’s also lots of ways people could volunteer from home, such as managing the budget or doing the food shop. 

5. Practise camp skills at your normal Squirrel sessions. 

Before the big sleepover or camp, start talking about what you’ll be doing and practise some skills at your normal sessions. This’ll help everyone feel more prepared and confident. 

You might want to have a go at sleeping bag rolling, plan a relay race to practise laying tables, learn to tie shoelaces, or help Squirrels try washing up. 

6. Keep talking to parents and carers.  

The first night away from home can be a nervous time for parents and carers, as well as young people.

It’s important to keep the conversation open, relaxed and friendly. Keep everyone updated about what’s happening, any changes, what they’ll need and how they can help. 

It’s best to host a parent and carer meeting, either or both in person or online. You can use the time to answer questions, talk about reasonable adjustments or run through a kit list.

You might also want to start a Facebook event or WhatsApp group to help keep everyone in the loop. 

Make sure you have an InTouch system in place and complete consent forms, including for photography.

7. Run a later and longer Squirrels session, but without the sleepover.

Plenty of Squirrel Dreys have run longer meetings, where they do all the same activities, but without the sleepover. 

They have dinner, host a campfire, take part in crafts, wear PJs and sit in sleeping bags for bedtime stories, but then their parents and carers pick them up bring them back home to bed. 

It gives the Squirrels some extended time away from home, as well as a chance to build confidence and provide new experiences. It can be a great stepping stone for a Nights Away with Beavers.

8. Remember the teddies!

Teddies are an important part of any night away from home, no matter what age you are. Make sure you ask people to bring their teddy along, and you could even take a group teddy photo. 

You might want to have some spare teddies, such as any Squirrel mascot you might have, for anyone who might’ve forgotten their furry friend.

Be inspired 

Are you tempted by a sleepover or Squirrel camp? Take a look at what this group in Darlington got up to on their first Nights Away experience for Squirrels.