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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’?

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.