Welcome to Basecamp

A note from jen, head of partnerships

“Basecamp is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will take you on a year-long journey of adventure, new friendships and memories to last a lifetime.

Basecamp exists to give young people like you a chance to discover just how amazing, strong, talented and unique you really are. Through epic outdoor adventures, support from warm, friendly adults and inspirational moments, Basecamp gives you the skills, confidence and enthusiasm to go after anything you want in life.

We can’t wait to welcome you onboard!”

A young woman with braided hair, face paint, and a blue cap smiling outdoors. She is wearing a blue jacket with a logo and colorful face paint on her cheeks. In the background, there is a grassy field, trees, and several parked vehicles.

What exactly is Basecamp?

Basecamp is a 1-year programme which takes place during Year 8. The programme consists of 6 modules, each of which includes a fun skills workshop delivered in school by Basecamp staff and an epic 3-day adventure trip in the Lake District/ Yorkshire Dales. Each module has a theme designed to challenge you and help you grow your skills such as empathy and resilience. On the residential trips we get up to lots of exhilarating activities including caving, hiking and paddleboarding as well as activities in our small groups called huddles which give us a chance to reflect on the day and celebrate our achievements.

Before we go away overnight, the journey starts with a Taster session and the Launch Day where you will get to meet your Programme Manager, Adventure Youth Coaches and the other young people.

A flowchart diagram illustrating a program's timeline from initial referral to graduation, including key stages such as sign-up, parents' Q&A, launch day, journey phases, workshops, trips, and celebration.
A person with wet hair smiling, wearing a red helmet and life jacket, enjoying white water rafting in a river surrounded by trees.
Four young girls standing outdoors, wearing harnesses, smiling for the camera.
A young boy with curly hair wearing a plaid shirt and black pants is climbing an indoor bouldering wall with colorful holds.
A person standing in a river holding a paddle, wearing a yellow helmet, a bright orange life jacket, and waterproof black and pink clothing, with a background of green trees and hills under a clear blue sky.
A woman in a red outdoor jacket and pants with green rubber boots, wearing an orange safety helmet with a headlamp, climbing over rocks on a rugged outdoor trail with green grass and rocks in the background.
Young man climbing a rock face outdoors, wearing a blue helmet, brown jacket, beige shorts, and climbing shoes, holding onto a rope and smiling, with trees and a clear blue sky in the background.
A woman in an orange helmet and red jacket crawling through a narrow cave passage with limestone walls, smiling at the camera.
Two young boys wearing orange helmets and blue waterproof jackets exploring a rocky natural water stream in a lush green outdoor setting.
Young boy wearing a blue helmet and red life jacket smiling with others in helmets behind him.
Three young women standing together outdoors in a forested area, smiling, wearing backpacks, and dressed in hiking gear.
A boy sitting on top of a stone cairn in a mountainous landscape with a blue sky and clouds, while a girl with a backpack takes a photo nearby.

Hear from other basecampers

“so. much. fun.”

“the best thing I’ve ever done.”

“I had the best time. if you get a chance to do Basecamp, take it!”

"We always do the coolest things - stuff I never would have imagined doing."

  • "My huddle coach made me feel welcome and and like I could actually trust people. I saw what other people were going through and started to look out for them at school. It's nice to chat about the day too instead of just forgetting about it, I like that."

    - Sophie, Aged 12

  • "I always liked going around the table and shouting out everyone’s achievements. When someone says those things to you it makes you feel really good about yourself, like when I did an abseil I was really scared of."

    - Sam, Aged 12

  • "At the start I thought it’d be like really deep talking about my feelings, and I didn’t want to do that with people I didn’t know. But I could speak when I wanted and it was good to see how what we’d done would be helpful in the rest of our life. It made me think about my actual life."

    - Rajan, Aged 13

Got Questions?

  • Perhaps you’ve been put forward for Basecamp by a teacher at school and you’re wondering whether you want to sign up. Your teacher/coach will have put a lot of thought into who to put forward to the programme and if they’ve put you forward for a Taster Day, it’s because they’re a big fan of you and really see your potential.

    They believe you’ll get a lot from the programme and have the right attitude to take lots from it. By having a fun break, making new friends and doing things that push you out of your comfort zone and build your confidence and resilience, they think you’ll really benefit from the programme.

  • On Basecamp Adventure Trips you’ll get to experience a wide-range of epic outdoor activities. Here’s a list of some of the things we might get upto:

    • Kayaking

    • Climbing mountains

    • Abseiling

    • Cliff Jumping

    • Caving

    • Climbing

    • Hiking

    • Gorge Scrambling

    • Stand Up Paddleboarding

    • Treasure Hunts

    • Bushcraft

    • Wild Swimming

    • Outdoor Cooking

    • Shelter Building

  • For many of the trips we will be going up to the Lake District, which is about a 2.5 hour drive from Leeds. Your school staff will take you there in your school’s mini-bus.

    We stay in Youth Hostels which are like big houses in the middle of the countryside. This is our base for the whole trip so we eat our meals and sleep there. It’s not like staying in a 5* Hotel, but they’re lovely and clean and comfy.

    For the bedrooms, each one is different but the rooms usually sleep 3-8 people.

  • It doesn’t cost you anything.

    Our amazing partners and your school covers the cost of the programme.

  • You need to bring clothes that you can be active in, and that will keep you warm and dry. We spend nearly all day outdoors, regardless of the weather so it is very important that you stay warm.

    We will provide hiking boots, rain jackets, rain trousers and any specialized equipment for the activities such as helmets, buoyancy aids etc.

  • You’ll be with other students from your school, as well as students from another school. Our staff will help everyone to get to know each other without it being overwhelming. We’ll always try to put you in rooms and huddles with at least one friend or person you know.

    Some of our ex-Basecampers have said their favourite part of the programme was making new friends from the other school.

  • When you join us on a Basecamp Programme you’ll become part of a Basecamp Huddle, which is like a family of 8-10 young people. Huddles are led by one of our trained Adventure Youth Coaches.

    On Adventure Trips, we’ll gather in our Huddles throughout the day and use the time to reflect on the theme of the trip and our learnings together, through activities, games and conversation. It’s a time to shout each other out, get to know each other better and ask for individual support if you want it.

  • We encourage everyone to leave their phones at home during a residential. If this feels too much however, you are allowed to bring it for the bus journey to and from the residential trip. It will be handed in as you arrive and you will be given access to it for a short period of time at least once on the trip. This can sound nerve-wracking, but most people get used to it quite quickly and really enjoy the feeling of getting away and being in a little Basecamp bubble!

  • It is possible and normal that you might get homesick during your stay. We have a phone on site so you’ll be able to talk to people back home if really needed. There’s lots of kind and understanding staff on every trip and they’ll check-in on you regularly to see how you’re doing.

    Your days will be packed full of adventure and fun so hopefully you’ll be having so much fun that you don’t feel homesick. Basecamp is all about pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and being brave - so hang in there, it’s all part of the journey!

Four children in outdoor gear, wearing helmets and life jackets, smiling and posing together in a wooded area.

Want to know More?

If you have more questions then reach out to our team

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