What is a Folk Camp?
Folk Camp activity holidays appeal to people who like folk festivals, people who like dancing, people who enjoy camping in the great outdoors, people who like to make their own music and those who just want to meet lots of other fascinating people!
It's not a summer school for experts, it's a holiday for people who like to organise their own entertainment - whether it's a trip to the beach, a midnight walk, football, children's games, sight seeing or a ceilidh. It depends on what you want. You could play some tunes with others, sing a song, cook a meal or just eat an ice cream!
What’s a typical week like?
And a typical day?
Where are Folk Camps held?
Do I have to join in everything?
So what else is there for me to avoid joining in with?
What do I need to bring?
How did Folk Camps start?
But I don't know anybody
Will I want to come again?
What’s a typical week like?
Well, you'll be one of maybe 100 people ranging from nought to ninety. Young
families, older families, teenagers, singles, couples, single parents, students,
pensioners - a complete cross section of people who like having fun. There
are weekend breaks where you provide your own food and full weeks where most
or all your meals are provided (but for one day a week you will probably
be on the kitchen squad). Don't panic! There are menus and a caterer to make
sure you're doing it right. And if you really don't want to cook there's
always a rush to volunteer for cleaning the toilets or sorting out the rubbish!
And a typical day?
On a normal day, after breakfast, there's a music session (for all abilities),
perhaps a dance workshop and any other activities you or somebody else offers
to organise. In the afternoon, you may decide to head to the beach, visit
the area or arrange something with a few friends. It's up to you. In the
evening there may be a game of football, some kids games and a ceilidh with
a break for a bit of singing.
Where are Folk Camps held?
All over the UK and sometimes in other European countries. We try to find sites
in attractive locations, where there are also lots of places to visit and
things to do. There will be a field to camp on and a hall or marquee for
eating, dancing, playing, singing and any number of other activities. There
will be a team of volunteer staff including a leader to get things moving,
musicians to animate the music and a warden to take care of the plumbing
and the food supplies!
Do I have to join in everything?
Nobody has to join in with anything. The whole idea of these holidays is to
make our own entertainment, with the leader drawing on the interests and
talents of the people there on the week. The chances are there will be quite
a few musicians around ranging from the first-time comb and paper enthusiast
to the very competent squeeze box player, with the occasional professional
thrown in for good measure. Quite a few people will help play tunes for dancing
in the evening and many more will be keen to learn some new tunes at the
morning sessions. Dancing ranges from the simple to the slightly difficult,
and if you've got two left feet it could add to the fun. (Or you could decide
to read a book instead).
So what else is there for me to avoid joining in with?
Many of the activities on these weeks happen because somebody has a good idea
at the time. A hundred people on a river boat trip, a mass invasion of the
nearest beach, an adventure walk for the under tens, an England versus France
football match, giant puppets, yoga, madrigals, a lantern parade, jazz, limbo
dancing, a picnic, a trip to the pub - all these have taken place not because
the leader said so, but because somebody wanted to make it happen. If you
want to share an activity with other people there will always be others to
lend a hand.
What do I need to bring?
Plates, cutlery, a tent, a sleeping bag, a torch, wellies and probably
some clothes. If you prefer, you can usually bring a camper van or a caravan
but our fields don't have caravan park style "hook ups".
How did Folk Camps start?
Folk Camps activity holidays started out in the early 60s when a group of folk
enthusiasts decided it would be fun to go on holiday together, eat together
and make their own entertainment without spending a fortune. Over the years
we've become a bit more sophisticated - flush toilets, showers (not too many
concessions to modernity here - it may be a pump-up Killaspray 3000 but it
still works), big ovens, cooking ranges and some volunteer staff to keep
things running as smoothly as possible.
But I don't know anybody
You will! You could go to a conventional campsite and meet nobody, you could
go to a folk festival and find it all a bit too big, but a Folk Camp is small
and friendly and you will meet all sorts of people (who also want to meet
you!). One of the joys of our holidays is that children can play safely with
other children, adults team up with other adults. It could be the start of
a beautiful friendship.
Will I want to come again?
Very probably. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but most come back for more
and then they start meeting those friends they made at another week last
year.....it can become a way of life!
