Venturer Camp: youth led adventure, friendship and co-operation
Venturer Camp brings together young people from across Woodcraft Folk for a week of camping, creativity, political education, friendship and fun.
Held nationally around every 3 years, each camp has its own theme and programme. Venturer Camps give young people the opportunity to meet others from across the country, explore Woodcraft Folk’s values and experience greater independence in a safe and supportive environment.
Who is Venturer Camp for?
Venturers are Woodcraft Folk members aged 13 to 15. They have their own elected committee and play an important role in organising activities and camps.
Venturer Camps are designed primarily for this age group, although older members and volunteers are essential to making them happen. Young people aged 16 & over, including members of the District Fellows movement, often help coordinate the camp and deliver its programme.
This near peer approach means that younger members are supported by people who have recently had similar experiences themselves. It is an important part of Woodcraft Folk’s commitment to being a youth led organisation.
Young people do not necessarily need to be part of a local Woodcraft Folk group to participate. Distance members and others interested in attending should contact Woodcraft Folk to discuss how they can get involved.
How does Venturer Camp work?
Campers are divided into villages, each usually containing several Woodcraft Folk groups and districts. At previous camps, villages have included around 100 people living and working together.
Everyone contributes to the running of camp. Venturers help cook, clean, collect supplies and look after their shared spaces. This helps create a genuinely co-operative atmosphere in which young people are active participants rather than simply visitors.
Each village normally has:
- A village coordinator
- A safeguarding lead
- A first aid lead
- A KP responsible for coordinating food and kitchens
- Cooking clans that prepare meals and collect the village’s daily supplies
Menus and food distribution are coordinated across the camp, while meals are prepared within each village. The contribution of the KPs and cooking teams is central to keeping everyone well fed throughout the week.
Activities and entertainment
Each afternoon, the camp’s central area comes alive with free activities open to everyone. These often include creative workshops, political discussions, games, practical activities, cafés and a cinema tent.
Many activities take place in large tents known as Centres. These provide spaces where Venturers can explore different themes, learn new skills and discuss the issues that matter to them.
The evening programme brings the whole camp together for entertainment, workshops and shared traditions. This includes The News, a regular gathering in the main marquee that helps everyone find out what has been happening around camp.
The programme combines political education with creativity, outdoor activity and Woodcraft Folk traditions. It is serious about empowering young people, but equally serious about giving them a memorable and enjoyable week.
Venturer Camp 2026
Venturer Camp returned to Biblins Youth Campsite from 1st to 8th August 2026.
Biblins is Woodcraft Folk’s own campsite in the beautiful Wye Valley, close to the border between England and Wales. Its woodland setting and riverside location provide an ideal environment for a week of camping, activities and adventure.
The theme for 2026 was Storytelling. Venturers were able to explore how stories are created, shared and used to understand ourselves, our communities and the wider world.
The week included:
- Creative activities
- Political education
- Woodcraft Folk traditions
- Outdoor experiences
- Shared meals and village life
- Opportunities to make new friends
- Greater independence within a safe and supportive environment
Venturers were invited to attend through their groups, while people aged 16 & over volunteered to help make the camp happen.
A history of Venturer Camps
National Venturer Camps have been taking place for decades. Although they are usually held every 3 years, the timetable has occasionally changed to avoid clashing with major international camps.
The 2010 camp was held 2 years after the 2008 camp because Woodcraft Folk was preparing for an International Camp in 2011. This also meant that some Venturers could attend twice, once aged 13 and again aged 15.
| Year | Theme | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Storytelling | Biblins Youth Campsite, England and Wales border |
| 2023 | Mythology | Biblins Youth Campsite, England and Wales border |
| 2019 | Voyages | Biblins Youth Campsite, England and Wales border |
| 2016 | Woodcraft Folk Through Time | Biblins Youth Campsite, England and Wales border |
| 2013 | A Midsummer Night’s Dream | Drum Hill Scout Camp, Derby |
| 2010 | Futures: Fashioning a New World | Drum Hill Scout Camp, Derby |
| 2008 | Anti Apathy | Drum Hill Scout Camp, Derby |
| 2005 | Peace and Hiroshima Remembrance | Drum Hill Scout Camp, Derby |
| 2002 | Sustainability and Friendship | Woodcraft Park Farm, West Sussex |
| 1999 | Keswick, Lake District |
Alongside the national camp, local and regional Venturer events take place more regularly. These give young people further opportunities to meet, organise activities and build connections across Woodcraft Folk. London Region’s midnight ice skating has been among the largest, attracting Venturers from across the South East.
More than a week away, a life changing event.
Venturer Camp is not simply a holiday. It is an opportunity for young people to practise co-operation, take responsibility, make decisions and experience Woodcraft Folk’s values in action.
For many Venturers, it is where lifelong friendships begin. It can also be their first experience of travelling independently, contributing to a large community and helping shape an event run with and for young people.
