Camping experience accessible for all

This summer Shooting Star Children’s Hospices took some supported children and young adults to Woodlarks, a beautiful campsite in the Surrey Hills that is specifically created to enable a camping experience that is accessible for all.

The weekend is carefully designed to encourage and empower the young people to be as independent as possible, through various activities and tools to fulfil each of the supported children’s needs. The nursing team were on hand for any medical needs and an incredible group of volunteers, physiotherapists and family support workers were there with bags full of fun games. The campsite was full of positive energy and excitement from the get go.

The first night got off to a tuneful start with karaoke in the barn, which served as the perfect ice breaker and some song choices were definitely hay-larious. The young people could choose when they went to bed, (if at all!) so it was a late night all round! One young person said, “I really enjoy being at Woodlarks because it enables me to join in with activities I wouldn’t normally be able to join in with, and spend time with people with a similar condition to mine, which I don’t normally get to do.”

Once everyone was up and about the following morning, the young people got to work preparing breakfast for everyone using the outside kitchen. The day was then theirs to spend how they liked, a trip into the woods, games, relaxing in the sunshine or some quiet time in the Hide, watching the birds and other wildlife.

The final evening everyone enjoyed a BBQ and more games around the campfire. This year’s Woodlarks visit had a theme of ‘Alter Egos’, giving everyone the opportunity to dress up in their alter ego costumes and really let their creativity and humour shine. The theme was a wonderful way for the young people to think about how they like to present themselves and what makes them, them.

On the last day, everyone enjoyed the heated swimming pool surrounded by woodlands and the soothing sounds of nature; and luckily the whole weekend had warm, sunny weather. It was a great weekend of promoting independence, new friendships and rekindling old ones too.