Camp Chew – Advance Bookings for July 2020

BLACK2NATURE

CAMP CHEW

Saturday to Sunday July 2019

I have been running camps for primary age children in the Chew Valley since 2017. I have had around 150 children attend since then and each one has gone home having had an amazing time, got connected with nature and made new friends.

We also make time to play sport and learn how o use the outdoors to relax. We will talk about nature, how you can learn to enjoy it and use it to help your mental health, what’s becoming extinct, what is happening environmentally, why you should care and how you can be an activist, fighting for your future. Make an advance booking onto this amazing nature camp for young people aged 8-11 years.

Into its 3rd year, Camp Chew has attracted a number of children to Chew Valley Lake near Bristol, to spend a night birding and getting involved with nature.  It is aimed at those who have no experience of nature and have never been to the countryside or camped as well as those already interested in being outdoors.

In 2020 we hope to have lots of children who are Visible Minority Ethnic (VME) and or live in the city’s areas of deprivation as well as those who live in the countryside. We will have plenty of activities for all those attending.

Book onto this amazing nature camp for children aged 7-11 years. The camp is organised by Black2Nature who have been organising nature camps for inner-city Visible Minority Ethnic (VME) children and young people since 2015. The primary age children come to Camp Chew which takes place in Compton Martin in the Chew Valley just south of Bristol to spend the weekend birding and getting involved with nature.

It is aimed at children who have no experience of nature and in many cases have never been to the countryside or camped. One of our aims is to promote community cohesion and so we encourage children from all backgrounds and areas to attend, as well as those already with a keen interest in nature who we hope will share their passion.  We take safety very seriously and so girls and boys sleep in separate tents with adults sleeping at the entrance, making it impossible for strangers to enter undetected.

DBS checked adults will be supervising the children at all times. All food prepared at the camp is vegetarian. We may offer halal fish and chips and a vegetarian option for lunch on Saturday if this is available. Otherwise, we will be having a picnic lunch.

Camp Chew – Saturday

10.00 am Pick up St Paul’s Learning Centre

11.00 am Drop off CMAF for Chew Valley children

Activities

Setting up camp
Camp cooking
Socialising/rugby & parachute sessions
Dinner by campfire

Camp Chew – Sunday

5.00 pm Pick up CMAF & finish

6.00 pm Drop off St Paul’s Learning Centre
– when parents and siblings are asked to meet and share memories of the camp

Activities

Bird ringing
Mothing
Nature walk
Birdwatching from hides
Growing food at The Community Farm
Sports activities such as football/cricket
Ice-creams

Please see separate kit list & ask your children to bring only 1 small packet of veggie sweets/snacks, drop nothing & recycle everything

Camp Chew – Programme

Saturday

All activities dependent on weather

6.00 pm – 7.00 pm (CMAF)
Set up camp, camp cooking, sports & time to socialize

7.00 pm – 8.00 pm (CMAF)
Dinner by the campfire & toasting marshmallows

Sunday

7.45 am – 8.30 am (CMAF) Camp breakfast

8.45 am – 11.15 am (CVRS)
Bird ringing demonstration and looking at moths

11.15 am – 11.30 am (CVRS)
Refreshments

11.45 am – 1.15 pm (CVLPS)
Farming workshop & lunch

1.30 pm – 3.45 pm (CVL)
Birdwatching in bird hides & nature walk

4.00 pm – 4.30 pm (CVLHB)
Ice-creams

5.00 pm (CMAF)
Pick up and finish

Key to locations

CMAF – Compton Martin Amenity Field, The Street, Compton Martin, Bristol, BS40 6JN CVRS – Chew Valley Ringing Station, Bishop Sutton, Bristol, BS40 6HN (from Herriots Bridge turnright opposite mirror) CVLHB – Chew Valley Lake, Herriots Bridge, A368, Bishop Sutton, Bristol, BS40 8XS CVL – Chew Valley Lake using Morton Hide accessed from the B1134, coming from CMAF turn right between the Blue Bowl and Herons Green.

Cost

£10.00 per person (or £15 for two siblings)

Grants

Free places are available to those children who would otherwise not be able to come for example who are from areas of deprivation, are VME or are disadvantaged. Camp Avalon recognises that there are almost no young birders from VME backgrounds and so hope that these grants will encourage disadvantaged children to be able to attend. All equipment needed will also be loaned for the weekend.

Black2Nature

Thank you to Compton Martin Village Hall and the many people who have supported Black2Nature and these camps and to Chew Valley Ringing Station and the birders who have offered their time in order to pass on their knowledge to young birders. Thank you also to Yeo Valley for the donation of ice-cream and butter. Thank you to Opticron for the donation of five pairs of compact binoculars and discounted optical equipment to this project and to Bristol Ornithological Society for the donation of binoculars.

Thank you also to Go Outdoors for discounted camping equipment and Blenheim Scouts for discounted use of their minibus. Thank you also to Burns Price Foundation, Quartet Community Funding, Community Access Support Services and Alpkit for helping to fund our projects.

Transport

Free transport is available to and from Bristol, with pickup from St Paul’s Learning Centre, Grosvenor Road, Bristol BS2 8JX.

How to Book

Please e-mail helenabcraig@hotmail.co.uk with your name, address, phone number and date of birth and your child’s name and date of birth with any dietary requirements. Please also get in touch if you would like to get involved by volunteering.