BIG Summer Camp 2024
172 people attending
28 places left
Join us on the South Coast over the August Bank Holiday Weekend for BIG Summer Camp!
Taking place over the August bank holiday weekend, we'll be enjoying great activities and entertainment, and while away the Summer days with a relaxed, chilled out vibe on site and great fun with friends, old and new.
Situated between Chichester and Brighton on the South coast, our BIG Summer Camp is the perfect way to spend your Bank Holiday Weekend. We don't just plan the outdoor activities - of which there will be a great variety, including cycling, water sports, and a range of walks - we also bring everything together for you in one place. So not only will there be plenty of daytime outdoor activities but also evening entertainment, and the comfortable clubhouse serves a range of meals, snacks, and of course, drinks!
You can be sure that everyone you meet is a member of OutdoorLads (or Rugby Club staff) as we have exclusive use of the site.
We've a range of activities in and around our the coastline and the South Downs, for you to do as much (or as little) as you desire! We will have a range of day walks and paid activities on offer, alongside which we also offer evening entertainment plus food and drink throughout the day.
In the evening, the bar is open until the early hours, and we'll have a themed disco Saturday and Sunday night!
Video of BIG Summer Camp 2023 >
Events
All events listed below, with meeting points (A-C) and meeting times.
Friday
20:30 Pub Quiz
Join us and your host Neil in the Clubhouse from 20:30, form teams of (up to) 6 with your friends or some friendly strangers, and you could win a round of drinks for yourselves ☕️🍻
Saturday
(A) 09:00 Whether the Weather Be?
A 20km (ish) walk along the South Downs Way
(B) 09:15 (if going by train) or 10.00 (if going by car) In the Town, Over the Downs, To a Pool for a Lounge
A short train or car journey to Arundel for a 14km walk, followed by a visit to the Lido, returning by train or car.
(A) 09:30 Pub Paddle
A four-hour kayak tour around the Chichester Harbour, including a stop at a nice pub for lunch (food/drink not included in price).
(C) 09:30 A Taste of Sussex
A train journey to Amberley and the Museum
(A) 10:30 Highdown Hill, Patching & Angmering Circular
An easy walk with some pub stops, including for lunch
(A) 11:40 Aqua Park
Have fun at Chichester Water Park's awesome inflatable aqua park - it'll make you feel like a big kid again!
(A) 13:00 Food Festival & Beach Walk
A stroll to the nearby food festival taking place, followed by the beach
Sunday
(A) 08:00 Day Trip to Isle of Wight NEW!
Join Chris and co for a short train and ferry ride to the beautiful Isle of Wight
(A) 09:00 River Arun Paddle (NEW TO BIG SUMMER CAMP!)
A four-hour kayak tour up the River Arun. No pub stop on this one, so bring some lunch!
(C) 09:15 Introduction to Windsurfing
The session will begin with a comprehensive introduction to windsurfing, including the windsurf board and sail. This is a 2-hour session for 6 people with 3 boards.
(A) 10:20 Along Watercourses to the Waterfront Walk (NEW!)
A flat 17km linear walk finishing with a visit to the secluded naturist beach.
(C) 10:45 Day Trip to Brighton
It'd be a shame not to visit this cool city, given how close we are!
(A) 11:00 E-Ride to Arundel
A Leisure ride on e-bikes to nearby Arundel. Hire available.
(B) 11:00 Stroll to Worthing (NEW!)
A gentle 6.5 mile stroll along the coast to Worthing Pier.
(A) 11:40 Aqua Park
Have fun at Chichester Water Park's awesome inflatable aqua park - it'll make you feel like a big kid again!
(A) 12:50 Sea SUP & Sauna
Just over an hour SUP on the sea, not far from our campsite, followed by an hour's use of the horsebox sauna 🧖♂️
On Sunday, join us for Sports Day from late afternoon (5pm ish), on the main pitch by the outside bar! Expect lots of silly team games and game of rounders!
Evenings
Friday evening will be a chilled out affair as people will arrive into the evening. It's always nice to catch up in the clubhouse on the first night with people we haven't seen in a while, and meet new faces.
However, if anybody would like to host a Friday night pub quiz, we're open to offers - get in touch!
Saturday night is disco night! This years theme is...
🥉🥈🥇 ✨ Paris 2024! ✨ 🥇🥈🥉
Come as your favourite olympian/paralympian, sport, Paris icon, opening ceremony moment... Dressing up is entirely optional of course - also feel free to come as your fabulous self!
Sunday evening, no theme, but we'll have a final night disco 🕺💃
Extras
If you'd like to bring a small caravan, motorhome or campervan, you'll need to book a space for it. If there is more than one person staying in it, you each need to book a place on the event, but only one booking for the caravan / campervan needs to be made. Please note that as this venue is not ordinarily a campsite, these are not serviced pitches, and there's no chemical waste disposal on-site - it all needs to go home with you.
We have some tents available for hire too - again you'll need to book to reserve one!
Food
Pre-order packed lunches for Saturday and Sunday!
One less thing to think about when getting ready for a big day out. We recommend pre-ordering to guarantee availability. Please make sure dietary requirements are up to date on your OutdoorLads profile.
Meals and snacks will be served each day from the clubhouse. No need to pre-order these, just order and pay at the food counter beside the bar!
Breakfast menu served 07:00 - 10:30
Bar snack menu served 'til 22:00
Friday evening menu served 17:00 - 21:00
Saturday evening menu served 17:30 - 21:00
Sunday evening menu served 17:00 - 20:00
You are obviously also welcome to take care of your own food by your tent, but there are strictly no BBQs on or over the grass (this is a rugby club first and foremost). If you're hoping to BBQ over the weekend, please only do this on a hardstanding area.
New Members
New Members attending BIG Summer Camp alone are invited to join the New Member Camp, where one of our friendly Leaders will help you settle in on the first evening, and introduce you to other members. Sign up here! >
Join the chat
The easiest way to stay up to date with goings on before and during the event is by joining our Telegram group! It's a great way to share photos from the event, organise lift shares, and catch any last minute updates we might have to make!
Join the chat: OutdoorLads.events/BSumC24Chat
Ask For Calvin
If at any point on the event you feel uncomfortable, want to get out of a situation, and need a discreet and confidential word with somebody, just ask one of the BIG Events Team Members for "Calvin." We'll direct you to a designated volunteer who will take the time to listen and have that chat.
The BIG Events Team are listed below as Event Leaders and Co-Leaders, and will be wearing purple t-shirts at various times throughout the event.
Emails to Attendees
Campsite Information
The camp is at a rugby club just a couple of miles from the beach, and easily accessible by rail and road.
Camp Facilities
- Licensed Bar
- Food served every day
- Hot showers
- Toilets & wash rooms
- Changing areas
- Washing up area
- Drinking water taps
- Grass camping field & hardstanding caravan / campervan / motorhome area
- Floodlit camping area on Friday evening for late arrivals
- Site map
Camp Rules
- 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!)
- 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.
- Campervans, caravans or motorhomes only permitted if you have a booked and confirmed a campervan / caravan / motorhome place (available separately at additional cost) No awnings allowed. Maximum of 15 campervans / caravans / motorhomes, all of which must be on the designated hard standing area. You will NOT be able to arrive in such a vehicle and park it in the car park. Note - these rules are imposed by the venue.
- No dogs on site - this is a rugby club with pitches. This will be strictly enforced.
- No open fires or BBQs permitted on site.
- 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 photos used with permission from OutdoorLads Members.
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.
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 be serving breakfast and dinner which is available for you to buy from the bar area, alongside a range of light snacks throughout the day.
We will also have packed lunches available to purchase in advance and collect at breakfast.
The bar (and maybe the outside bar too!) will be open throughout the day for your use. Alternatively, you can bring cooking equipment and cook for yourselves, but please NO BBQs.