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First time campers, and many who just haven't been for a while, often ask what are the basics? So here is our list of what you need most if you've never been camping before or it’s been a while...or last time was horrible and you want to be prepared…

The Feel Good Inside & Out project took place at the Outdoor People Community Shop in Hackney over November and December. As a Participatory Action Research project, the topics for investigation and the methodologies were determined by the group. Each week the group would reflect on the previous session, and using that reflection, agree on a question and activity to investigate.

Through the project, we wanted to explore ways we could help make people feel better physically and mentally, by getting outside every day. The research team included four adults and three children, supported by two members of staff from Outdoor People. What follows is a summary of the discussions we had, and the suggestions that were made, in each of the sessions. 

We hope by reading about our project, you will be inspired to develop your own set of prompts, hints, tips, thoughts or ‘call-to-actions’ that will help you, your friends and family to go outdoors more regularly. How do you connect with nature even when you don’t have much time, stay out on your adventure for longer, or go out on an adventure even on the days you ‘don’t feel like it’?

We are excited to announce that we are working with Islington Council's Bright Start and Bright Futures to grow an outdoors community of Islington families!

We will be hosting a Wild Walk Leader training programme in February 2022 at Whittington Park in Archway. If you live in Islington and would like to help yourself and others to get outdoors more and discover green spaces in Islington, then get involved!

Over three workshops, participants will learn how to design and lead their own Islington Wild Walk, as well as getting to know a supportive team of Wild Walk Leaders. 

By the end of the programme, Wild Walk Leaders will have designed 6 NEW Islington Wild Walk maps (available for download and in print, for free!) and will be leading regular community Wild Walks throughout the rest of 2022 (and onwards). Wild Walk Leaders will work together to grow and support a community of Islington-based Outdoor Families, helping their community get outdoors more. 

To express your interest and find out more, fill out this form or email Bethany Martin (beth@outdoorpeople.org.uk).

Post-pandemic, winter is setting in, COVID-19 cases are rising again... We know getting outdoors regularly boosts our immune system and keeps us healthy. So, we are turning to our community to ask: how can we help ourselves feel good on the inside about getting outside everyday?

We are inviting Hackney residents to become members of a small research team to work together across four workshops to explore our experiences of getting outdoors in Hackney.

Workshop 1: Tuesday 23rd November 4-6pm

Workshop 2: Tuesday 30th November 4-6pm

Workshop 3: Tuesday 7th December 4-6pm

Workshop 4: Tuesday 14th December 4-6pm

Winter Solstice Celebration: Tuesday 21st December 4-8pm

All workshops will be held at Outdoor People Community Shop, 352A Mare Street, E8 1HR. Dinner will be provided!

Each adult will receive a £20 Retail Gift Card (of your choice). Each child will receive a magnifying glass, a Live & Learn First Aid Pocket Guide and a pair of Stance socks (the most comfortable socks ever!). All travel expenses will be covered. 

As the seasons turn, the trees shed their leaves and the nights draw in, we are looking back and reflecting on our Family Camping trips of 2021. 

For our community, our Family Camping trips are a huge highlight of the year. We go to our haven, Fairyland, and we create a community together for a week. We share games, recipes, dreams, stories, adventures… Together, we make discoveries, meals and memories. 

We rely on one another. "It is not possible to go camping with a baby single-handed unless you have a community around you to help," said one mum. "We are like a big family," said a child.