National Summer Camp and Hike 2023

On Friday 30th June - Sunday 2nd July 2023, Patriotic Alternative held our fourth annual Summer Camp and Hike. 146 campers joined us for the weekend, with additional people staying in nearby cottages and B&Bs and others attending just for the Saturday hike. It was our best attended camp yet which is a testament to the amount we have grown over the past 12 months.

Our guests arrived on the Friday and began by saying hello to their regional and national colleagues and putting up their tents. That evening, we cooked food outdoors and listened to live music played by our resident guitarist, violinist and drummer. Friday night was quite an early night followed by an early rise on Saturday. After having bacon sandwiches for breakfast, we broke into two teams. One would be going on a family-friendly 7km hike while the other group undertook a more intense 12km hike. During the hikes, we carried out Patriotic Alternative's largest ever banner drop which featured over 100 people!

On Saturday evening we had a large BBQ featuring gourmet hotdogs and burgers. More live music followed, and so did games of football and rounders. It was a fantastic weekend and the feedback we've received from our guests has been overwhelmingly positive. To get a behind the scenes look at our camp, you will find a vlog below, followed by some of our favourite photos from the weekend.

If you'd like to join us at next year's camp, contact your region and get involved here.

Official Video

Please click the image above to be taken to the video.

Vlog

Please click the image above to be taken to the video

Pictures

Some of our South East activists arrive at the camp site

Welcome to the PA National Camp!

Mr Beige reveals a new sign

A group shot at the camp site

Mark Collett shares a joke!

Stephen of PA North East poses for a photo with Lady Michele Renouf

Father and daughter

Chief Moody of PA Scotland

Getting ready to start the hike

Stephen tells us there are two separate hikes to choose from

Stephen, Mark and Laura address the crowd

Explaining the route ahead

Our hikers get ready to set off

The journey begins...

Making our way across the English countryside

Just before the big reveal

Our biggest banner drop to date!

And on we march...

The hike continues!

A handshake between two brothers

Not much farther to go!

No resting on our laurels when there's a vlog to make!

Baby Catherine is fascinated with the drone

Getting the BBQ started

A queue forms!

Laura and Mark share a smile

Mark Collett's famous hot dogs

We have a number of talented musicians at Patriotic Alternative

Entertaining our guests with live music

Enjoying the music and good company

Chatting with new friends

The evening continues...

Thumbs up from a PA Yorkshire activist

The world-renowned Lady Michele Renouf was one of our special guests

We enjoy a game of rounders

Before the famous catch!

Warming ourselves by the fire

One of our Media Officers hard at work

Flying our local flags high!

Sam Melia gives a wave

Our handmade camp sign makes a second yearly appearance 

Until next year!