Rebel Summer Camp FAQs
Thinking of coming to Summer Camp but have some burning questions about how things work? This post might help!
Rebel Summer Camp is running August 23rd to August 26th (Bank Holiday Weekend) 2024, at Blackwell Court, Agmore Road, Blackwell, Bromsgrove, B60 1PX. This year we had around 185 Rebels attend - next year I’m hoping we will be closer to 300 :) Check the next post on the Noticeboard for photos from this year.
Q - What do I get included in my ticket?
A - Your ticket allows you to come to Blackwell Court, Bromsgrove, from midday on Friday August 23rd to 6pm on Monday August 26th. There will be some drop in activities and entertainment on the Friday afternoon, then at least 5 Patrol activities on the Saturday, Sunday and Monday, plus evening activities on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. Camping is included in your ticket, but you will need to bring and pitch your own tent.
Q - I don’t own a tent, are there other options?
A - Yes - you can either ask another Rebel if you can share with them, or you can purchase Accommodation add ons. There are dorm beds available in Glamping Pods, and in the Manor House on the site. Alternatively if you want to sleep alone or with one other person, there is the option to book an entire pod or room. All accommodation options require you to bring your own bedding for the bed. In the pods you have access to a kitchen and dining area. In the manor house, you have a full kitchen and dining area, showers, more toilets and a living room. ‘Pod people’ have their own nighttime toilet in the podded village (sadly not wide enough for a wheelchair), but use the same shower block as campers - which is less than 20 metres from the podded village. Disabled toilets and showers are about 20 metres from the podded village.
Q - Is the camp self-catered?
A - Your ticket is for self catering - so feel free to bring your own food and cooking equipment. However, if you’d prefer to make things a bit easier, we will have an option for a fully catered pass closer to the event. This will either be for all meals, or for none at all (because sadly Campers didn’t turn up for pre-booked meals last camp). The pass will include dinner on Friday, and breakfast and lunch on Monday, and all three meals on Saturday and Sunday. Vegan and gluten free diets can be catered for.
Q - How do I get to Camp?
A - The campsite is a little remote - about 10/15 minutes drive from Bromsgrove - so car is easiest, and a lot of Rebels car-shared this year. You will need a parking permit if you are parking on the campsite. Alternatively, you can come by public transport. The nearest station is Barnt Green station. On the Facebook group this year, we arranged pick ups by Rebels where possible, otherwise a taxi costs around £10.
Q - How do I know what activities I’ll be doing?
A - About 2 months before Camp I will send all attendees a questionnaire, asking what intensity of activity you’d like to do - low, medium or high. I’ll ask about your mobility, if you are a wheelchair user, and anything else that might be relevant - such as if you are over 16 stone. I then put you into Patrols of up to 12 people who you will spend the weekend with. Your programme is specifically designed according to your answers on the questionnaire.
I will also send out a health form asking about allergies and any medical conditions you have, and your emergency contact details for use in the case of an emergency.
Q - Can I be in a Patrol with my friend or family member?
A - Yes, just make sure you request to be together. If you answer with different levels of activity intensity, I will assign you to the lowest option one of you asks for.
Q - Can I switch activities?
A - No - it’s just too complicated and confusing, and could lead to less confident Rebels being bullied into giving up their spots on certain activities. However, I try to make sure everyone has a nice mix of activities and I will ask if there’s something you specifically want to do.
This year, as there were some spaces on the Monday afternoon, we allowed Rebels to drop in on other Patrols if there was space. We may do something similar next summer if there’s a desire for it.
Q - Are there weight restrictions on any activities?
A - Yes, you must be under 16 stone to do the Fan Descender and Zip Wire.
Q - What activities were at Camp this year?
A - Foraging, Burlesque, Nerf Wars, Laser Quest, Rocket Making, Bag Screen Printing, Applique, CSI Forensics, Dodgeball, Yoga, Chair Yoga, Zip Wire, Multi Scramble, Fan Descender, Giant’s Ladder, Swimming, Life Saving, Crate Stack, Team Challenge, Night Line, Bushcraft, Orienteering, Board Games and more.
Q - What evening entertainment was there this year?
A - Silent Disco, Pub Quiz, Bingo, Sing Along Movies, Camp Challenge, Campfires, the Rebel Share Fair, Spoonie and Rainbow Meet Ups and Rebel Readers Book club
Q - My friend is in a different Patrol, will I see them?
A - Yes, all the evening activities are drop in - so you don’t have to stay with your Patrol to do them. Some activities are for two patrols at the same time as well.
Q - What are the timings of activities?
A - Daytime activities start at 9.30, with lunch at 1.15. The afternoon is 2pm to 5.45, with a break for dinner until 7pm. Evening activities are scheduled until midnight.
Q - Can I miss stuff?
A - Yes of course - you’re an adult - do what you want! If you’d rather read in the sun, or have a snooze, just let your Patrol Leader know you’re not attending one of the activities. You can have a lie in or a longer lunch break. There are also drop in activities such as swimming, yoga and board games, if you’d prefer some chill time instead of doing one of the activities on your schedule.
Q - Who are the Patrol Leaders?
A - Each Patrol has an experienced member of the Council who is in charge, helping you get to activities, acting as the point of contact with Charly, and checking to make sure you’re doing ok. They have a Seconder to help them. Patrol Leaders are first-aid trained, and have attended a number of our Meet Ups. If you have a minor first aid issue, speak to either your Patrol Leader or an instructor. If you need more serious help, head to the main Chalet or call an ambulance. We have an emergency phone number during Camp which is on your lanyard. This phone number is available 24 hours a day, and manned by Blackwell Adventure staff.
Q - I’m a Spoonie, is Camp for me?
A - Yes - we had lots of disabled and neurodiverse Rebels at Camp. We’ve tried to make the site as accessible as possible - with gators at our disposal to ferry people to activities if necessary. We had 4 wheelchair users on site in 2023, and expect more next year. There are special accessible pods available if you are in a wheelchair, and there is a disabled parking area at the top of the parking field. If you have medication that needs to be refrigerated, we can arrange for it to be kept cool regardless of where you are staying, and medical equipment can be recharged in our Group room.
If you have fatigue, just let me know when you fill out your activity form, and I’ll make sure you’re in one of the lower intensity Patrols.
Q - Are there different Camping fields?
A - Yes, this year we had a Quiet Field, about 4 minutes walk away from the centre of the campsite, and then General Camping, which was about a minute from the centre of camp. If the event gets bigger, there is a third field we can use as Noisy Camping!
Q - I’d like to bring a Camper Van - is that ok?
A - Yes - we have a section of the parking field reserved for Camper Vans and Caravans. It will be closer to the Quiet Camping field next year. You use the showers and toilet block that Campers use, and there are water taps about 20 metres away. There is no electricity in the car park so you will need your own power.
Q - Can I turn up late or leave early?
A - Yes of course - if you’re arriving after 6pm on the Friday, or leaving before the end of activities on the Monday, just let both your Patrol Leader and Charly know.
Q- I’ll be coming alone, is that ok?
A - Yes! Most people turned up solo! Though we had a few sibling combos, and at least six mother and daughter pairs! Lots of Rebels come with their husbands too. 2023 was very female-heavy but remember, anyone can be a Rebel :) Feel free to invite friends and family who don’t have a Badgebook - they become Rebels by attending camp!
Any other questions? Feel free to email Charly at help@rebelbadgestore.com