BIG Summer Camp 2021
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You read that right - BIG Summer Camp 2021 is happening!
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 you 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 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 with entertainment including a DJ revving up the dancefloor on the Saturday and Sunday evening.
Extras
Like camping, but not the hassle? Have a campervan you want to bring? Book a hardstanding pitch (no electric available) at an additional cost of £10 for the weekend, here.
Events
All our events across the weekend are listed below. All meeting points are at the camp, and we'll advise the meeting points via a whitebaord when you check in. These will be on the field if it's nice - in the bar if it's not!
Friday
Sign up to our New Friends Social for Friday night - get chatting to new faces!
Saturday
08:15 – Littlehampston Prom Parkrun
09:00 – South Downs Way Circular Walk – 18 miles
9:45am - Langham’s Brewery Tour and Walk – 5 miles
09:45 – Saturday Sortie – 17 miles
10:00 – MTB on the South Downs – Mountain Biking
11 AM Highdown Hill, Patching and Angmering Circular – 7 miles
10:00 – Devils Dyke and the Prom Road Cycle
10:00 - Arundel Festival and Arundel Park Walk - 6 miles NEW!
10:15 - Stride to Cissbury & Sompting linear - 14 miles NEW!
10:15 – Black Petch Hill via Clapham Common – 11 miles
10:15 – Coastal Linear – Butlins to Barren & Back – 13 miles
10:30 – Intro to becoming an OutdoorLads Walk Leader
10:30 – Late Morning Amberley and Parham Circuit – 9 miles
3:30pm – Learn to SUP on the Sea TIME CHANGED!
Sunday
10:00 – 17 mile circular walk (with pubs)
10:30 – First Aid Basic Life Saving Skills
11:00 Land and Sea, Hill and Plain, Ancient and Modern(e) – Walk – 12 miles
11:00 – Picnic at Climping Beach
11:30 - Hangover Special Gentle Walk - NEW!
1:00 - Aqua Park and Banana Boat Afternoon
1:00 - Aqua Park and Kayaking Afternoon
Campsite Information
The camp is in a fantastic spot on the south coast, less than 2 miles from the sea and with the South Downs on the doorstep. The site is easily accessible with good public transport links both from the A23, A27 and local rail.
Camp Facilities
- Licenced Bar
- Food served every day
- Hot showers
- Toilets & wash rooms
- Changing areas
- Washing up area
- Drinking water taps
- Tent pitches
- Floodlit camping area on Friday evening
Camp Rules
- No glass policy. This is a rugby club with pitches - this rule will be strictly enforced
- 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 here.) 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.
- Open fires are not allowed at all. Any BBQ's must be at least two feet off the ground, although the use of BBQ's is subject to change at the club's discretion.
- 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
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.
COVID-19 – IMPORTANT, Please read the following before you sign up to this event:
- Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms, even if they are extremely mild, or who lives or is in a support bubble with someone showing symptoms, is asked not to attend. This is in line with the government’s coronavirus advice.
- You must also immediately self-isolate and not attend the event if you or someone in your household or support bubble shows coronavirus symptoms or tests positive. You can find the NHS self-isolation guidance here.
- OutdoorLads’ Covid-19 Policy for hostel and BIG events applies to this event. On arrival, we will need to see evidence that you are fully vaccinated, or have registered a negative lateral flow test in the last 48 hours, or have Covid-19 antibodies. Evidence of this can be obtained via the NHS App in England, with equivalent schemes available in Wales and Scotland. Our full policy and more details can be found here.
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.
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 you must not light fires, and stoves / BBQ's must be kept at least two feet off the grass to avoid damaging the pitches.