We look forward to seeing you at our Happy Birthday Camp 2nd – 9th August 2025!

The planning is hotting up for the best Happy Birthday bash.

Why “Happy Birthday”? Well, everyone will have a birthday at some point in the year – so let’s celebrate it all together!

We’re now ready for Groups and Units to book their places from the 31st March. Groups and Units need to book by the 20 April with provisional numbers and confirm attendee numbers by the 20 May.

Key dates

• Bookings are NOW OPEN
• You can find the booking link here: BOOKING FORM
• Provisional booking numbers required by 20 April 2025
• Final booking numbers required by 20 May 2025
• Full amount payable by 5 July 2025
• Leaders meeting prior to camp 12 July 2025

Outline Itinerary

Friday 1st August

• Adult Volunteers Only – camp set up

Saturday 2nd August

• Arrivals and check-in for Groups and Units – pick up your IDs, lanyards
• Camp set up
• Opening ceremony + Dance Party

 Sunday 3rd August

Day-time :

• Timetabled site activities – morning and afternoon booked sessions
• End of day “queue and do” activities
• Scheduled Group free time. Your opportunity for:
  • your own local hike or walk (routes and risk assessments available)
  • Squirrels and Beavers District-led outdoor badge activities (pre-booked)
  • District co-ordinated Group-led outdoor badge activities (pre-booked),
  • your own badge or outdoor Scouting activities
  • chill time

Evening :

• Explorer Zone activities (pre-booked)
• Cub wide game (pre-booked)

Monday 4th, Tuesday 5th, Thursday 7th

Day-time :

• Zoo Trip for timetabled Groups/Units
• Timetabled site activities – morning and afternoon booked sessions
• End of day “queue and do” activities
• Scheduled Group free time. Your opportunity for:
  • your own local hike or walk (routes and risk assessments available)
  • Squirrels and Beavers District-led outdoor badge activities (pre-booked)
  • District co-ordinated Group-led outdoor badge activities (pre-booked),
  • your own badge or outdoor Scouting
• Explorer Zone activities (pre-booked)

Monday evening :

• Cubs volleyball ladder competition (pre-booked)
• Scout wide game (pre-booked)
• Free time
• Explorer Zone activities (pre-booked)

Tuesday evening :

• Scout volleyball ladder competition (pre-booked)
• Explorer wide game (pre-booked)
• Free time
• Explorer Zone activities (pre-booked)

Thursday evening :

• Explorer volleyball ladder competition (pre-booked)
• Cub wide game (pre-booked)
• Free time
• Explorer Zone activities (pre-booked)

Wednesday 6th August

• 1000 – 1200 Big Birthday Party party games for everyone in the Main Arena. Running around and laughing ..
• 1230 – 1330 Big Birthday Party – party food for everyone in the Main Arena. Jelly and cakes and ice creams ..
• 1400 – 1530 Big Birthday Party games and music for everyone in the Main Arena. Hats, and noise and fun!
• 2000 – 2130 The Big Camp fire – Groups are invited to contribute party pieces!

 Friday 7th August

Day-time :

• Timetabled site activities – morning booked sessions
• Afternoon “queue and do” activities – your last chance to do your favourite activity again!
• Scheduled Group free time. Your opportunity for:
  • your own local hike or walk (routes and risk assessments available)
  • Squirrels and Beavers District-led outdoor badge activities (pre-booked)
  • District co-ordinated Group-led outdoor badge activities (pre-booked)
  • your own badge or outdoor Scouting activities
  • chill time
• Explorer Zone activities (pre-booked)

Evening :

• 1700 – Closing ceremony and Big Birthday Dance Party party

 Saturday 8th

• Strike camp and dispersal

Booking options

Explorers, Scouts and Cubs – a whole week or a few days at the start or end of camp, to include the Wednesday Big Birthday party

Beavers  – either a day adventure or 2 days including an overnight stay indoors with District Beavers.

Squirrels – a day adventure with optional add-on of an overnight stay with your Scout Group and family (Family Camp style)

District Ticket Prices

There is a flexible Young People ticketing structure for 7 nights, 4 nights or day visitors and perhaps other options too – please ask!

The District Ticket prices per head are capped at 2023 prices:

• 7 Nights access to all available activities = £200
• 4 Nights access to all available activities = £120
• 1 Night District Beaver Sleepover + all available activities = £45
• YP Day Visitors and Squirrels overnight camping with their Group = £10
• Adult Volunteers camping = £10 (any number of nights)
• Adult Volunteers indoor accommodation = £30 (any number of nights)
• All Adult Day Visitors must wear Camp Lanyard ID (free of charge if returned)

Note: Groups and Units will need to add their own costs of camping (catering, transport, equipment) to the total payable by campers.

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Questions we think you may ask….

Q What’s included in the ticket price?

A Included is:

• Exclusive Happy Birthday branded merchandise: Scarf, Woggle, lanyard & ID
• Access to all onsite Paccar Campsite activities and games. See this link for the full list (age restrictions apply to certain activities)
• Day trip to the zoo including transport and entry*
• Organised activities to earn Badges
• The Big Birthday Party with games
• The Big Birthday Campfire
• Birthday Dance Parties (Saturday and Friday)
• Age appropriate Wide Games (see itinerary)
• Blocks of ‘free time’ for Groups/Units to choose their own activities – to do a hike, badge stuff or just chill ..
• Access the Paccar Camp Shop for treats and souvenirs (open daily)

*Squirrel and Beaver tickets do not include the day trip to the zoo

Add-ons for adult volunteers (strictly 18+ only):

• Indoor accommodation (bunk beds) – nominal cost applies
• Free to use adult only private showers and toilet facilities (in addition to the washroom block ones)
• Free to use phone charging facilities
• Free peace and quiet with free hot and cold soft drinks at the District HQ available all day
• ‘Watering Hole’ licensed bar every evening for some well-deserved respite (Green Card rules apply. Tap to Pay only)
• District Shop will be open to sell Scouting items – hoodies, camp blankets, uniform etc. (Tap to Pay only)

What’s not included:

• Everything you’ll need for your own sub-camp – including all camping equipment, cooking equipment, food and drink, tentage, transport to/from PACCAR at the start and end of camp

Q What about Explorers?

A In addition to the zoo trip and access to all the on-site activities, Explorers will have an exclusive Explorer Zone with daily Explorer only activities during the day and evenings. Units are expected to camp in their own sub-camps but can book an overnight stay in the teepees in the Explorer Zone for booked District events.

Q What is the Big Birthday Party on the Wednesday?

A All campers are asked to bring their own tables, chairs, party food, drinks. party hats etc. to the Main Arena where we will have a massive ‘street party’. There will be party games to watch and participate in, music from the sound stage and some party entertainment. We’ll round off the day with a Big Birthday Campfire.

Q What do you want Groups to bring?

A Everything to be self-sufficient for camping and catering for your Group/Unit – including for the Wednesday Big Birthday Party. In addition, you should:

• think about a contribution for a party game for the Big Birthday Party on the Wednesday for EVERYONE to do (eg pass the parcel)
• provide a badgework activity for other Groups to complete – we will prepare a list of options for you to choose from. You’ll manage your own bookings (ie operating days and times) and Groups will come to your badge activity area (perhaps your own campsite) to participate;
• optional – provide a short entertainment piece for the Wednesday night Big Birthday Campfire.

Q What times will activities be running so we can plan meal times?

A When running, onsite activities will be in two sessions –

• Booked 1 hour slot morning sessions from 1000 – 1200
• Booked 1 hour slot afternoon sessions from 1400 – 1600
• Queue and do from 1600 – 1700
• Zoo Trip is an all day affair
• Evening competition sessions, when scheduled will start around 1900
• Wide Games and Campfire will start after 2000

Q Can Girl Guiding groups come?

A Yes – subject to their own regulations, this is open to Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers from the Richmond upon Thames area. Naturally we can adapt competitions, games and badge activities accordingly to meet Guiding needs.

Q Can other Scout Groups or Explorer Units outside of Richmond upon Thames come?

A Yes, Groups and Units from Greater London South West County and beyond are very welcome to join us at our District Camp.

Q We don’t have enough resources or volunteers to enable our Group to camp – what do we do?

A E-mail the District team:  happybirthday@richmondscouts.org.uk We should be able to help. We’re doing this for the Young People!

Q What if it’s wet on the Wednesday party day?

A We have a contingency plan which includes using indoor and other under cover facilities. No soggy bottoms here!

Q Will we need a NAN Form?

A Every Group/Unit/District-run sub-camp will need to be covered by their own authorised NAN Form as the Permit Holder will be responsible for their people. District acts as an overall co-ordinator of all aspects of the camp but will not hold personal details of youth participants.

Q What about risk assessments?

A Groups/Units will need to risk assess your own travel to and from camp and everything on your own sub-camp:  your catering and camp set up, activities you provide for yourselves and activities you provide for others. District will cover the District organised outings, events and activities as well as the Paccar provided activities.

Q Can we choose where to camp?

A Of course. Woodland sites and open field camping opportunities are available. Check the Paccar site map HERE and email your request to happybirthday@richmondscouts.org.uk and we’ll do our best. Your allocated site can only be confirmed after we have received your booking and you have paid your deposit.

Q If I book my Cubs for a few days, are they guaranteed a Zoo trip?

A We will try our best to meet everyone’s requests but planning is always tricky. The earlier you ask and the more accurate your numbers from the outset the better your chances.

Q Will Squirrels and Beavers also get a Zoo trip?

A The Zoo trip is not included in the pricing structure for Squirrels and Beavers – besides, there’ll be too much to do already for 1 or 2 days.

Q Will there be anything specific for Explorers?

A As well as on-site activities, the Big Birthday Party, special events. evening activities and Just Chillin’  in the exclusive Explorer Zone – we will be using the time on camp to promote/work towards the skills needed for the top awards in Scouting.

Q How will Queue and Do work?

A At the end of Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, all activities that are open will be available to all participants (subject to age and height restrictions!) but strictly on a 1st come, 1st served basis. For the popular activities, the District team will manage the queuing to ensure fair access and that the activity will close promptly at 5pm.

Q What are the Security, Safeguarding and Welfare arrangements?

A ALL campers and day visitors (youngsters and adults) will be required to wear a lanyard and ID at all times outside of their sub-camp. The ID will show the holders name, Group contact, their status (Squirrel, Beaver, Cub, Scout, Guide, Explorer, Leader, other adult Volunteer etc.) and usefully – in the event of an emergency whilst away from their Group – some medical or other important information (which is hidden discreetly to avoid embarrassment).

Q How is this different from the Korea camp 2023?

A This time there is no pre-camp badgework, no campsite gate required, no “activities in a box” required to be prepared, no recommended catering to contribute to the Korea Join-in badge. By popular demand, this time we will have more blocks of free time to be used as Groups/Units wish – this includes options for offsite hikes and outdoor skill badgework of your own. Or just chill out and enjoy the British Summer..

Q Where can I find out more information about PACCAR?

A Their website address is: https://paccarscoutcamp.org/

Q Who are we sharing the site with?

A No-one – we will have exclusive use of the whole site for our camp!

Q Are there going to be any competitions between Groups or Units?

A We hope to run volleyball evenings for Cubs, Scouts and Explorers, with the competition run on a ladder – so you’ll play once to earn points rather than a knockout basis. We can then perhaps have a mixed team event with players allocated by age but including no more than 2 leaders per team! This event would be in memory of Ossie.

Q When will we know the activities programme for our Sections/Group/Unit?

A Once all bookings are finalised and no Groups/Units are asking for significant last minute additions – getting numbers right at the start will help us accurately programme the week.

Q Will Group Leaders be briefed prior to the camp?

A Yes – the Group Leader meeting is scheduled for 12th July 2025.

Q I have some other suggestions / requests. Who should I contact?

A Email the Team at HappyBirthday@richmondscouts.org.uk and we’ll make sure you get a reply.