Rebel Summer Camp FAQs
Thinking of coming to Summer Camp but have some burning questions about how things work? This post might help!
This year is our third year - Rebel Summer Camp will run August 22nd to August 25th (Bank Holiday Weekend) 2025, at Kibblestone International Scout Campsite, in Stone, Staffordshire. For the last two years we have had between 150 and 200 Rebels attending each year, and it is our longest (4 days) and largest event of the year, with Rebels travelling from as far as Canada and the US to attend.
Q - Do I need to be a Rebel to attend?
A - You become a Rebel by attending - so you don’t need a copy of the badgebook or to be doing badges to attend. It’s a Summer Camp for all adults. Many Rebels bring friends and family, and we have had lots of people coming to Camp as their first Rebel event.
Q - What do I get included in my ticket?
A - Your ticket allows you to come to Kibblestone, from 4pm on Friday August 22nd to 6pm on Monday August 25th. There will meet and greet activities to get to know your Patrol on the Friday evening, then 5 activities on the Saturday, Sunday and Monday together with your Patrol, plus evening entertainment 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 various buildings around the campsite. Alternatively, if you want to sleep alone or with one other person, there is the option to book our pre-pitched glamping tents, which will be set up with camp beds in. We are offering these for the first time because Kibblestone is older than our previous venue, and doesn’t have any easily accessible accommodation for wheelchairs.
All accommodation options require you to bring your own bedding for the bed. You will have access to additional showers, toilets, kitchens and communal areas.
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 have an option for a fully catered pass. The pass include dinners 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 a 10 minute drive from Stone station - so car is easiest, and a lot of Rebels have car-shared in previous years. You will need a parking permit if you are parking on the campsite. We have a Facebook group where you can arrange car sharing or ask for lifts from the station from other Rebels.
Q - Why is Camp at a new venue?
A - After two years at Blackwell, I was aware that we have a lot of repeat-attendees, and the activities at the centre haven’t changed, so I didn’t want Rebels to get bored. I am also aware Blackwell is a more expensive site, so moving to Kibblestone, which is a bit more basic and traditional allows me to price the tickets more cheaply to allow more Rebels to attend. Finally - a lot of Rebels prefer less extreme sports options, and Kibblestone offers a lot more ‘grounded’ activity options.
Q - What activities will there be?
A - Your schedule of 15 activities during the day will be a mix of Abseiling, Jacob’s Ladder, Rock Climbing, Golf, Lawn Darts, Bean Bag Toss, Cross Bows, Nerf Range, Pond Dipping, Pedal Boats, Bouldering, Team Building, Archery, Catapults, Rifle Shooting, Gladiator Duel, Axe Throwing, Farm Experience and more.
Q - How do I know what activities I’ll be doing?
A - About 6 weeks before Camp I will send all attendees a questionnaire, asking what intensity of activity you’d like to do, and if you have any health requirements. I then put you into Patrols of up to 12 people who you will spend the weekend with. It is likely at Kibblestone that most attendees will have very similar programmes, to include all the new and different activities. I make sure that you are in Patrols with others with a similar desire for adventure and activity and similar mobility levels. Where possible I also try to group Rebels of a similar age together.
I will also send out a health form asking about allergies, your age and any medical conditions you have, and your emergency contact details for use in the case of an emergency.
Your Patrol and list of activities will be confirmed by email about 2 weeks before Camp.
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 just gets too complicated and confusing, and could lead to less confident Rebels being pressured 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 most Patrols are likely to have very similar activity programmes, so this should be less of a concern.
Q - What evening entertainment will there be?
A - In previous years we have done Silent Disco, Murder Mystery, Pub Quiz, Bingo, Sing Along Movies, Camp Challenge, Campfires, the Rebel Share Fair, Board Games Cafe, Spoonie and Rainbow Meet Ups and Rebel Readers Book clubs. We’ve also had talks. The evening entertainment schedule changes each year, but there will always be at least 2 options of activities you can attend.
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 - We are in the process of setting this year’s schedule, however in previous years daytime activities start at 9.30, with lunch at 1.15. The afternoon activities ran between 2pm to 5.45, with a break for dinner until 7pm. Evening activities were then 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 the Club who is in charge of coordinating your Patrol. They will link you all up ahead of Camp, arrange the meet and greet at the start of Camp, and they are there to help you get to activities and check to make sure you’re doing ok. They can answer any questions you have, or link up with Charly to get an answer from the Camp team. Each Patrol Leader has 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 activity instructor. If you need more serious help, head to the main office or call an ambulance.
Q - Who are the Senior Patrol Leaders?
A - We have a team of experienced Patrol Leaders who take on additional roles at Camp. They will all be staying in a building which will be highlighted to you on Camp in case you have an emergency during the night when no instructors are on site.
The Senior Patrol Leaders are
Heather, who helps with all the scheduling and Patrol management
Dawn, who helps make the site as accessible as possible for Spoonie Rebels
Emma, who helps co-ordinate the evening entertainment together with Toby, our Camp Entertainment Manager
Martine, who helps run the Meet and Greet when you get to Camp on Friday, and the Shop across the weekend, and
Ree, who runs the Board Games Room during Camp.
They all wear pink high-vis vests on the site, like Charly, so you can easily find them and ask questions.
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, though it is an older campsite, so I would suggest bringing an electric wheelchair if you are a wheelchair users. We have had over 10 wheelchair users attend camp before, visually impaired Rebels, and a variety of other Rebels with disabilities and injuries.
If you have any specific needs - such as a fridge for medication, or equipment which needs charging overnight - you can get in contact with Dawn ahead of Camp.
There will be disabled parking spaces in the carpark (please let us know when you purchase your car park permit that you will need a Disabled spot).
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, we tend to use two different fields - one as a designated ‘Quiet’ field, further from the evening entertainment, and one as a General camping field. If we get a particularly large number of attendees, we will also create a ‘Loud’ field!
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.. You use the showers and toilet block that Campers use, and there are water taps about 20 metres away. Please note, 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. Our events tend to be quite 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!
Q - Where can I get my ticket?
A - There is a Summer Camp specific section of the shop - https://www.rebelbadgestore.com/shop/summer-camp
Any other questions? Feel free to email Charly at help@rebelbadgestore.com