Tales from the Mini Camps
Under the Sky was not going to let the pandemic stop our activities for care-leavers in 2020! After sadly having to cancel most of our programme for this year we switched to mini-camps where we could safely camp with six people, all with their own tents and socially distanced.
We soon realised that many of our care-leaver participants were camping for the first time. The Under the Sky team provided everything that was needed and we taught them what to do.
It is rather an initiation of fire to put up a tent in the pouring rain for the first time! We were immensely impressed by the fortitude and determination of our campers! Our first camp was near Ludlow in the Shropshire Hills, where we barely had enough time to erect the tents before we were hit by a torrential rain storm followed by an electric storm that went on all night. In the morning our rather shell-shocked campers dried out in there morning sunshine and reflected on the night’s events, deciding that it was a great experience.
Here is one camper’s response:
We soon realised that many of our care-leaver participants were camping for the first time. The Under the Sky team provided everything that was needed and we taught them what to do.
It is rather an initiation of fire to put up a tent in the pouring rain for the first time! We were immensely impressed by the fortitude and determination of our campers! Our first camp was near Ludlow in the Shropshire Hills, where we barely had enough time to erect the tents before we were hit by a torrential rain storm followed by an electric storm that went on all night. In the morning our rather shell-shocked campers dried out in there morning sunshine and reflected on the night’s events, deciding that it was a great experience.
Here is one camper’s response:
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"I had an amazing time with you all. As a care leaver born and raised in London, I don't usually get opportunities to leave the city. Sam and Jacki are the only people in my life that have given me an opportunity to go camping.
In the Somali, Muslim and the black community in London, you won't ever hear about the word 'Camping' unless you’re talking about a homeless man sleeping on the streets. Most black people/ethnic minorities don't go camping. This camping trip has changed my life, I now plan to explore every city in the UK by 2022!" I from London |
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Camping in Nottingham was one of our tougher camping experience, with no running water, a long way to carry all the gear from the van and a very basic toilet: this experience really did bring the group back to nature. With a great first group who were always up for a laugh we walked to the village of Gotham, learnt how to build fires using flint and steel and gazed up at the stars on the beautiful clear nights. Everyone loved picking blackberries which were growing in profusion around the site and were astonished at how good they tasted after being stewed and served with some cream.
"Honestly, I really enjoyed the event and I know my son did too. It was so good to see him not near technology and embrace some new challenges in natural, calm and nurturing environment. The event was well organised and yourself and Jacki were friendly, knowledgeable and enthusiastic and entertaining. After being at the event I have made more time in my busy schedule to be in the outdoors. Each day I am off work I encourage my partner to go on walks with me in the local countryside, even with our 6month old daughter! Considering the challenging year for the event organisation i was really impressed that an event actually happened, and it was not just cancelled - this shows the dedication of the under the sky team. Thank you!" J from Essex |
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Terry joined us for the second half of our trip in Nottingham, where he did a great job helping us to make sure everything was COVID-19 safe. With no running water and a very basic toilet facility everyone was able to have a truly wild experience, with the sounds and smells of nature all around them. Everyone in our second group loved the chance to get back to basics and learn new skills including how to build a fire, foraging and wildlife identification! Here are a few words from Terry about his experience.
"It was lovely to finally meet Sam and Jacki from the Under the Sky team they were very welcoming! Also, it was lovely to meet other care leavers, it's always a pleasure to meet new people and everyone was so lovely and warming. Each person had so much to offer and talk about and targets for future goals, set on what they want to achieve. I've always believed living after care pushes you even more to make a better lifestyle for yourself. It was so warming to meet such a lovely bunch and an amazing first camping experience, under the sky sleeping in my tent, with the noise of nature surrounding me. You could hear the whistle of the wind and the owls it was an incredible experience in the middle of nowhere, I felt really relaxed and pleasant it was nice to be away from civilisation. Jacki took some time to talk to us all about her experiences of traveling and hurdles she had overcome, she also took time helping me going over my writing and given me advice which I was very grateful of her help!
The whole camp out experience was fantastic we all helped one another and became really close the togetherness of everyone was lovely I never mentioned it but it was humbling and I actually cried a little. These events are brilliant and I would love to come back to more in the future and help out again, we all learned valuable lessons of surviving and making fires also we learned how to cook healthy meals while in the outdoors. It really was beneficial for me, just experiencing situations like camping can be really fun and it's always nice to attend events and meet new people. You really see at times like these how much care leavers can unite, it's a powerful experience when you bring us together building connections and I think, after what one care leaver mentioned, when we have experiences of similar backgrounds we can open up more to one another and no one is judging or opinionated.
I cannot thank Jacki and Sam enough for my invite to take part in camping and helping out, the chance to travel and what we all did was so heart-warming. I really really love the night camp fire just sitting around id and talking, it was lovely to wind down before going to bed and waking up on the mornings to smiles, really hope to be part of this lovely organisation more and more in the future and remember when we all come together, we are all unique in many ways.
I feel very honoured to meet everyone thank you!"
Terry Grimsby Town
"It was lovely to finally meet Sam and Jacki from the Under the Sky team they were very welcoming! Also, it was lovely to meet other care leavers, it's always a pleasure to meet new people and everyone was so lovely and warming. Each person had so much to offer and talk about and targets for future goals, set on what they want to achieve. I've always believed living after care pushes you even more to make a better lifestyle for yourself. It was so warming to meet such a lovely bunch and an amazing first camping experience, under the sky sleeping in my tent, with the noise of nature surrounding me. You could hear the whistle of the wind and the owls it was an incredible experience in the middle of nowhere, I felt really relaxed and pleasant it was nice to be away from civilisation. Jacki took some time to talk to us all about her experiences of traveling and hurdles she had overcome, she also took time helping me going over my writing and given me advice which I was very grateful of her help!
The whole camp out experience was fantastic we all helped one another and became really close the togetherness of everyone was lovely I never mentioned it but it was humbling and I actually cried a little. These events are brilliant and I would love to come back to more in the future and help out again, we all learned valuable lessons of surviving and making fires also we learned how to cook healthy meals while in the outdoors. It really was beneficial for me, just experiencing situations like camping can be really fun and it's always nice to attend events and meet new people. You really see at times like these how much care leavers can unite, it's a powerful experience when you bring us together building connections and I think, after what one care leaver mentioned, when we have experiences of similar backgrounds we can open up more to one another and no one is judging or opinionated.
I cannot thank Jacki and Sam enough for my invite to take part in camping and helping out, the chance to travel and what we all did was so heart-warming. I really really love the night camp fire just sitting around id and talking, it was lovely to wind down before going to bed and waking up on the mornings to smiles, really hope to be part of this lovely organisation more and more in the future and remember when we all come together, we are all unique in many ways.
I feel very honoured to meet everyone thank you!"
Terry Grimsby Town
Oaklands campsite in the beautiful Shropshire Hills was an incredible place for everyone to relax. On this trip we enjoyed forest bathing, drawing the natural surroundings and a lesson in air rifle shooting, before gazing at the stars.
"I have never been camping before and it was a great experience. I especially liked the air rifle shooting and our time star gazing was amazing."
N from London
"I have never been camping before and it was a great experience. I especially liked the air rifle shooting and our time star gazing was amazing."
N from London
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We had a great educational walk through the forest in the Shropshire Hills, where everyone had the chance to witness tree surgeons at work, as well as see how wheat and corn are grown. This was followed by a relaxing afternoon where everyone had the chance to focus on their breathing in an air rifle lesson in the woods.
"I greatly enjoyed my camping trip, it was as I expected and more. I enjoyed the map trail and walking through the woods, seeing where Weetabix starts off and cornfields how they grow, I found it really nice to see all this and it was interesting and fun. Meeting other care leavers was fun and getting to know people from different parts of the UK. I would like to go camping again for the whole week the next time around." K from London |
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These trips were a great experience for everyone involved, full of laughter, interesting conversations and some truly stunning surroundings to calm the mind. Next year we will be bringing back our Mini Camps experiences so keep an eye on our Under the Sky Events website for more great opportunities! |
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