We will be sending out a full welcome pack soon with all of the information you’ll need for Camp Northumbria, along with your group information spreadsheet which will need to be returned to us.
In the meantime, we’ve put together some key details to help with your planning:
Arrival and departure times
Staying for the full camp:
Access to the site on Friday 23rd May will be from 4pm onwards.
The opening ceremony will be at 9pm on Friday evening with evening entertainment to follow. No programme activities will be running before this time.
The closing ceremony will take place 12.45pm on Monday and will finish at 1pm. We expect all groups to have left site by 5pm.
Saturday day visitors:
Activities on the Saturday will run from 9am – 5pm. Day visitors will be able to arrive on site from 8.30am on Saturday morning ready for activities to begin.
We understand some sections who are visiting for the day may wish to join the rest of their group for dinner after activities close on the Saturday. All groups visiting for the day must have left site by 7pm on the Saturday.
Young people camping one night:
Activities on the Saturday will run from 9am – 5pm. Those camping for one night will be able to arrive on site from 8.30am on Saturday morning ready for activities to begin.
On Sunday daytime activities finish at 5pm. All young people camping for one evening will need to have left the site by 7pm on the Sunday.
Activity times
Opening ceremony – 9pm Friday followed by evening entertainment
Saturday and Sunday daytime activities – 9am till 5pm with a break for lunch between 12.30pm-1.30pm
Monday daytime activities – 9am till 12.30pm
Closing ceremony – 12.45pm – 1pm
Camp set up
The site will be open to leaders on the Thursday evening from 4pm till 9pm if you wish to set up your camp in advance.
You are not able to stay overnight on site on the Thursday evening, however there will be members of the camp team staying on site.
Documents and forms
By the end of April we will be sharing the following documents with you:
- Welcome pack (Leader Version)
- Parent template information pack – a shortened version of the welcome pack you can amend and share with parents
- Group information spreadsheet to be returned by 12 May – asking for participant medical and photo permission information. If you need to make any amends after the 12 May, we ask that you submit an amended spreadsheet to us rather than individual amends for specific young people. You will also need to ensure you have access to young people’s medical information when on site.
- Shooting permission form – these will not need to be returned to us in advance but leaders will be required to have copies of original forms at camp for young people to be able to shoot
Additions or amends to participant numbers
Please make sure any additions or amends to your participant numbers are submitted to us by 12 May 2025.
Risk assessments and NAN forms
Risk assessment: A central risk assessment is being compiled by the camp team and will be available in advance. This will cover programme activities provided as part of the camp and the central structures.
You must still complete a risk assessment for your own camp set up, for example your sleeping tents and cooking facilities.
Nights Away Notification Processes: You will need to complete your usual nights away process for your organisation – if you’re a member of Scouting, this means you will need to complete a NAN (Night’s Away Notification) form and submit it via your usual process.
All adult members of the Scout Association staying overnight at Camp Northumbria must be up-to-date with their mandatory safety and safeguarding training. This is in line with the Scouts’ requirement for all volunteer members of the Scout Association who are present overnight at nights away activities to have completed their mandatory training. (This requirement does not apply to non members).
Please ensure training is completed in good time. If you have not yet logged into the new membership system, we recommend that you check asap that you have access so that you are able to complete your training.
Camp theme, gateways and banners
In celebration of this being our first Camp Northumbria, the theme for the camp is all things Northumbrian!
Gateway Competition:
We ask that all groups construct a gateway for their camping area on this theme. We will judge the gateways and announce our winners at the end of the camp!
You may choose to represent the area you’re from in your gateway design, famous landmarks, historical events or even famous people or sports teams from Northumbria.
Don’t forget, Northumbria usually refers to the area of Northern England between the River Tweed and the River Tees, and the historical region covered much of the North of England and South Eastern Scotland – so there’s lots of options!
Miner’s Picnic:
On the Sunday lunchtime we’ll be holding a miner’s picnic. You’ll need to provide a lunch for your group that they can enjoy in the ‘streets’ between the tents. We also ask that you make something you can offer to members of other groups passing by. (This is intended as an offering, please don’t worry, we’re not expecting you to have enough to feed everyone on camp!)
Group Banner:
Before camp, we’d like you to make a banner that represents your group. Groups will be asked to parade their banners during the miner’s picnic on the Sunday and also at the opening ceremony on the Friday evening. If possible, please make your banner portrait like a miner’s branch banner, rather than landscape. Your group name should be displayed on your banner.
Camp Northumbria’s Got Talent!
There will be a Camp Northumbria’s Got Talent competition taking place during the camp. Please let young people in your group know so they can prepare an act to share if they wish. They can perform in groups or individually. Acts should last no longer than five minutes.
We have prepared a flyer you can share with your young people before camp: Camp Northumbria’s Got Talent
World Record Attempt
During the weekend we’ll be attempting to break the world record for the largest number of people playing the ‘Keel Row’ on the kazoo. If you could please mention to your young people that if they have a kazoo at home and would like to bring their own, to please pack this for camp.