BIG Spring Camp 2024
403 people attending
47 places left
Join OutdoorLads for our biggest annual event a true celebration of everything we do best! Expect to make new friends as you take part in some amazing activities around Snowdonia, and plenty of fun and games on site!
We can't wait to welcome you back to Eryri (Snowdonia), where we have full use of a rugby club as our base with all the dramatic scenery and adrenaline experiences of Eryri National Park right on our doorstep! Come and celebrate OutdoorLads and the outdoors in a three day break of activities, adventures and our legendary themed party night if that's your bag; or use the opportunity for more of a chilled weekend soaking up the scenery and relaxing in your camp chair, it really is up to you.
As the event is getting nearer, we've started to update this event page below with the finer details around activities, catering, camper vans (etc), and tents to rent. Time to make sure you have secured your spot and start to get excited about a fantastically memorable weekend for later this Spring!
Events
Events are what BIG Spring Camp is all about, and with the wonders of Eryri (Snowdonia) all around us, there is plenty to do to keep us all entertained!
Paid Activities
These are the activities provided by professionals and at some of Eryri's top attractions!
Saturday activities
Go Below Extreme (Full Day)
Beginner Climbing (AM)
Abseiling (AM)
Gorge Scrambling (AM)
Bounce Below (AM) (exclusively for newbies!)
Mixed Adventure (AM) (New to BSC!)
Beginner Climbing (PM)
Abseiling (PM)
Gorge Scrambling (PM)
Mixed Adventure (PM) (New to BSC!)
White Water Rafting (PM)
Skyride & Fforest Coaster (PM)
Sunday Activities
Coasteering (Full Day)
Beginner Climbing (AM)
Abseiling (AM)
Gorge Scrambling (AM)
Mixed Adventure (AM) (New to BSC!)
Beginner Climbing (PM)
Abseiling (PM)
Gorge Scrambling (PM)
Mixed Adventure (PM) (New to BSC!)
Bounce Below (PM)
Free Activities
These are the activities offered by our wonderful volunteer Leaders who are keen to give you an awesome BIG Spring Camp experience! Feel free to buy them a drink at the bar if you enjoy your day out! ;)
On offer over the weekend are lowland walks 🥾, road cycling 🚴♂️, mountain biking 🚵🏽♂️, mountain walks ⛰️, easier walks 🚶➡️, parkrun 🏃♂️ and even a distillery visit 🥃
These activities will open for booking on Sunday 28th April at 8pm:
Saturday Activities
🏃🏻♂️ parkrun (08:00)
🚵🏾♂️ Coed y Brenin (08:30)
⛰️ Moel Siabod (08:45)
⛰️ Elidir Fawr (09:00)
🥾 Industry, Mythology & Ice Cream (09:15)
🚴🏽♂️ Coastal Ride (10:30)
🥾 Conwy Mountain (10:30)
🚶🏽➡️ Slate Museum (10:30)
🥾 Betws-y-Coed to Llyn Elsi (10:30)
🚶🏿➡️ Betws-y-Coed (12:00)
🚶🏼➡️ Conwy Castle (12:30)
These activities will open for booking on Sunday 28th April at 8:30pm:
Sunday Activities
⛰️ Dinorwig & Elidir Fawr (08:30)
⛰️ Snowdon (08:30)
🚵🏽♂️ Penmachno (09:30)
🥃 Distillery Visit (09:30)
🥾 Moel Eilio (10:00)
🥾 Afon Ddu & Llyn Cowlyd (10:30)
🚶🏻➡️ Llandudno & Great Orme (11:00)
On-site Activities
During the day we'll have some casual activities on site that you can dip in and out of. Again, details will be provided nearer the time, but think along the lines of inflatable obstacle run, slip 'n' slide, along with some nice Summer (/Spring) music.
The Clubhouse and Marquee
During the day/early evening the clubhouse is a great place to chill-out, eat, have a coffee and watch some OutdoorLads make idiots of themselves on the inflatables outside. Then later it becomes a lively space with entertainment, and a well-stocked bar open into the early hours.
Our OutdoorLads bar will be full stocked with a range of real ales, lager, cider, wines, a whole smorgasbord of spirits and soft drinks to delight and tantalise. There will be two spaces - the clubhouse with a DJ and entertainment, and the marquee will be a more chilled out space in "The Outdoor Inn" - our very own OutdoorLads pub, where you can chat, socialise, and play board games without the disco dancing.
Just the one theme night this year, so let's make it spectacular! ✨
Saturday night - OutdoorLads Goes Global! 🗺✈️🚢
Come as a landmark, country, city, cabin crew (etc.), and let's travel the world together in style in one night!
Food
You can cook for yourself camp-style, or purchase breakfasts, packed lunches, and evening meals from the clubhouse. You'll even be able to grab yourself a packed lunch to take out with you! We'll be keeping the menu simple and focussing on quality ingredients, delivered to you with short waiting times.
Saturday Packed Lunch >
Sunday Packed Lunch >
Tents and Campervans
BIG Spring Camp is primarily a camping event, by which we mean in tents. If you don't have a tent, we will have some available for you to hire at a cost of £15.
Borrow a tent >
For those of you with caravans, campervans, and motorhomes - we have a very limited number of pitches (max 20) available, and these will also be made available online soon, at an additional cost. Demand for these spaces does always exceed supply, so we can't guarantee you'll get a space, and we are unfortunately unable to make more spaces available due to the limitations of the venue.
Book a campervan spot >
Community!
New Members
If you're new (or relatively new) to OutdoorLads and worried about not knowing anybody when you get to BIG Spring Camp, then worry not! This is a super friendly event, and through taking part in activities, volunteering, or joining in the fun on-site, it's so easy to get to know others at the event. You can join one of our smaller new member camps, led by some of our amazing, approachable volunteers, who'll help introduce you to others on the first evening. You'll camp together with other new members, and have use of an event shelter for socialising near your tent. Details of how to sign up will follow soon.
Chat Group
There will be a Telegram chat group for the event - details coming soon. This is a great place to discuss travel arrangements and car sharing, share photos from the event, ask for camping advice and more. The group is separated into topics, so you can mute things that are not relevant to you, and keep notifications enabled for important things.
Volunteering
OutdoorLads is built upon people volunteering, and BIG Spring Camp is no exception! This event's success is dependent on volunteers stepping forward to help it run. We have our BIG Events Team, who's primary purpose of being at the event is to help out. But, we also need additional volunteers to help out with with registration, car parking, bar work, and food service (not food preparation). Volunteering is a great way to get to know others at the event, as you'll talk to so many people throughout your shift. We'll be putting out a call for volunteers in a a few week, and would really appreciate people offering a few hours of their time!
In and Around Llanrwst
You don't have to stay in a BIG Spring Camp bubble the whole weekend! A kind group of people in the area have put together a list of businesses that will welcome OutdoorLads with open arms. Check it out here!
What's more, Trefriw Film Club will be screening Pride on the Saturday evening, and OutdoorLads Members are very much invited. It's just a short walk from BSC to the screening at Trefriw Village Hall. See the poster for more details, and sign up here!
Campsite Information
Site Map
The camp is in a fantastic spot near Betws-y-Coed in the Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, North Wales. The site is easily accessible with good public transport links and next to some of the most amazing locations for all the outdoor pursuits the UK has to offer. This site is only used for camping by OutdoorLads, and we have exclusive use of the site and all its facilities.
Camp Facilities
- Two licensed Bars
- Food served every day
- Showers
- Toilets & wash rooms
- Changing areas
- Washing up area
- Drinking water taps
- Recycling area - recycling must now be separated in Wales by law, so please pay particular attention!
- Floodlit camping area on Friday evening (to help get the tent up if you arrive late!)
Camp Rules
Whilst we don't like too many rules, a few are necessary for a successful event for all:
- No glass policy. This is a rugby club with pitches - this rule will be strictly enforced.
- OutdoorLads has a strict zero tolerance approach to drugs. Anyone found with drugs, suspected of having taken drugs, or offering drugs will be asked to leave the site immediately, and without refund. This includes prescription drugs, other than those you have been prescribed for your own use (which are fine!)
- No smoking or vaping in any inside areas including the marquee.
- You must respect other campers and their property.
- Quiet camping between 23:00 and 07:00 - there are designated areas to socialise and talk away from peoples' tents.
- Please pitch tents at least 6 feet / 2 metres apart. Any closer and it represents a fire risk.
- This is a camping event, designed for tents. Caravans, campervans, motorhomes and trailer tents (indeed anything you want to sleep in that isn't a traditional tent!) are only permitted if you have a booked and confirmed a place for such, at additional cost. Places will go on sale nearer the time. Six metres between units minimum. Numbers are restricted to 20 units. No awnings allowed. No exceptions will be made.
- All vehicles must be parked in the car park and are not permitted on the camping fields.
- Electric vehicles must not be charged on site.
- No dogs on site at any time - this is a rugby club with pitches. This will be strictly enforced.
- Open fires are not allowed - BBQs are okay, but must be raised off the ground so as to not scorch the grass.
- You are responsible for keeping your camping area clean and tidy - please ensure it is left in the state you found it when you leave.
- All waste and recycling must be sorted and disposed of in the appropriate area on site, not left on the camping fields. Please consider taking clean waste home with you to recycle/dispose of.
- Campsite opens Friday 24 May at 4pm for general admission.
- Unfortunately there are are no day passes to this event, all attendees must book and pay for a place on this event page.
OutdoorLads Foundation: Don't forget that full and concession members who may be experiencing physical, mental or financial challenges can apply for support with the costs of events themselves, or associated spend, to enable fuller participation. Further details on the Foundation pages on our website.
Dogs: This event is not suitable for dogs and they must not be brought to the event.
Photos: All photos provided by and used with permission of OutdoorLads Members. Many of these are provided by Wes Chambers (the best ones, generally!)
IMPORTANT! - Participation Statement
You MUST complete a Participation Statement in addition to booking your event space before attending an OutdoorLads event. You only need to complete this Participation Statement once, not for each event you attend.
What to bring
If you haven’t been camping since you were in the Scouts here is what you need. If it’s your first trip you are likely to want to get away with the bare minimum.
- Tents start off relatively cheap but as they say you get what you pay for. These tend to start from £10 upwards (‘festival tents’) that are light and do the job – but only just. You may find that they leak, break or blow away.
- A thin foam ‘carry mat’ is good to sleep on (under £10) and you can use your clothes to make a pillow. Or if you have the room places like Tesco often sell air beds that cost as little as a fiver.
- Don’t forget you will need something to sleep in. You can buy a sleeping bag from as little as a tenner. This will tend to be thin but will do the job at most summer camps. At camps later in the year you will want something warmer though.
- Some places such as Argos/ASDA sell camping sets where you can buy a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat and a lamp for approx. £50-£60.
- If you have friends that camp you may find it beneficial to talk to them first and they may even lend you some kit.
- You can easily beg a cup of tea from more seasoned campers – but it helps if you have a cup, and don’t forget a plastic glass if you like your wine! If you are coming by car, a folding chair (£10) is great. As you may be sitting outside late into the evening. Some proper warm clothing always comes in handy – even in the summer. Don’t forget a torch, or you may never make it back to your tent. Finally, ear plugs are always a great idea.
- Nearer the time we'll be offering the chance to rent-a-tent for the weekend.
Once you have been once or twice you will know what kit you need to be able to cook a full English breakfast and host a party for 8 in your tent. Until then the above basics will see you right.
The above information will help you with the camp its self, depending on the activities you choose to do you may need to bring further kit. However its worth noting that any of the activities where special kit is need it will be provided, in most cases all you will need is walking boots, clothes, and a small back-pack (bring a few changes of clothes and footwear).
Food & drink
We will once again be offering breakfasts and evening meals, as well as snacks throughout the day, and pre-ordered packed lunches. All ordered through the bar, and at very reasonable prices, and all profit from the kitchen and bar comes straight back to the charity.
You can of course cater for yourself camp-style, but please note that there's no communal kitchen facilities - only an outside washing up area.
There's a Spar and a Co-Op in Llanrwst about 25-30 mins walk from the campsite if you've forgotten any essentials.