BIG Summer Camp 2025
109 people attending
91 places left
Make the most of the August bank holiday, and join OutdoorLads right on the south coast for BIG Summer Camp!
Taking place over the August bank holiday weekend, we'll be while away the Summer days with a relaxed, chilled out vibe on site and great fun with friends, old and new. There will be plenty of activities to keep everyone entertained - paddlesports, walks, and on-site entertainment perfect for those blissful late Summer days and nights!
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 more high-adrenaline activities on offer, alongside which we also offer evening entertainment, plus food and drink available throughout the day.
In the evening, the bar is open until the early hours, and we'll have a themed disco on Saturday night! (Something beginning with "S")
Video of BIG Summer Camp 2023 >
Events
We have a range of events available for you to book onto:
Saturday
08:00 - Isle of Wight Day Trip
09:20 – Hamlets, harbours and high tides: Flat out on the Manhood Peninsula
10:30 – Highdown Hill, Patching, Angermering Walk
09:30 - Explore Petworth National Trust House NEW! NEW!
10:45 - Angmering to Arundel Circular NEW!NEW!
Sunday
10:00 - Trip to LA: Come for the Views, Stay for the Buoys Walk
10:15 - Arundel – Viewpoints and a Festival Walk
10:45 - Day trip to Brighton
11:45 - Stand Up Paddleboarding
11:45 - Kayaking
1:15pm - Aqua Park
On Sunday late afternoon, around 5pm, there will also be the Great BIG Summer Camp Sports Day on the field closest to the clubhouse - come along and join in the silly games and fun!
Evenings
Friday evening will have the usual social buzz 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.
There will be a pub quiz around 8:30pm - dont worry if you're notin a team, we'll put you in one! We'll likely spin some tunes and get the dancefloor revved up later on in the evening.
Saturday night is disco night! This years theme is "Something beginning with S." This is always a great, fun evening and a chance to show off your fabulous outfits! Sunday night will be more chilled after a busy weekend, with board games and just a chance to chat with all the new and old friends you've seen over the weekend.
The bar will be open serving a full range of drinks, and at reasonable prices, too.
Extras
If you'd like to bring a small caravan, motorhome or campervan, please book here in addition to this main event page. 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.
Need to borrow a tent? Reserve it here >
Food
There will be packed lunches available to but from the clubhouse - one less thing to think about when getting ready for a big day out. We recommend pre-ordering on arrival at the site to guarantee availability. Priced at £6.50, they include a sandwich, premium crisps, fruit and a naked bar.
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! Breakfasts, snacks and evening meals will be available.
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. Camp fires are not permitted on site at all.
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! >
Campsite Information
The camp is at a rugby club just a couple of miles from the beach, and easily accessible by rail and road. Approx one mile from the nearest train station.
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 £20 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 on or over the grass - they MUST be on the hardstanding areas.