Last year, we welcomed more than 250 people to the grounds of the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum for one night. We went searching for bats, learned about moths and butterflies, enjoyed some marshmallows round the campfire and looked to the stars from inside an inflatable indoor planetarium (yes, you read that right!).
This year, the Big Wild Campout is back, and bigger than ever. We're taking over the Ulster Folk Museum for two nights, Friday 8 and Saturday 9 August, and we'll be pitching up at the Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh on Saturday 23 August. We'll have our friends at Cotswold Outdoor there, ready to help you put up your tent, as well as lead us in some bushcraft activities. Butterfly Conservation Northern Ireland will be there too, as will the Northern Ireland Bat Group. We also have some stargazing, story telling and torch-lit bug hunts to look forward to - how will we ever fit it all into one night?
Tickets for the Big Wild Campout are on sale now, and are selling fast, so get yours quick (click the image below for tickets)!
But if you're still in two minds, read the blog below from Sasha Barrett-Ferris, who came along last year with her parents as volunteers and campers.
Big Wild Campout
Back in August 2013 on a hot summer’s afternoon my family and I set up camp in a very unusual place – in the grounds of the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum. Help was readily available if you needed any from the team from Cotswold along with members of the RSPB (including me).
We quickly settled in and made our way around the site to look at all the activities that were on offer. There were exciting crafts in the schoolroom, a bat walk after dark, the indoor planetarium, moth collecting and cinema to name but a few. I particularly enjoyed the indoor planetarium experience.
Cooking was done outdoors in a lovely cobbled courtyard where later in the evening hot chocolate and folk music were available. We even had a large camp fire where we toasted marshmallows (perfect for that little pick me up).
It was an incredible experience in a unique setting which we all thoroughly enjoyed so much we are coming back for a second year.
We can't wait to see you all there!