Camp Night Yr8

It’s back – the GMS Year 8 Camp Night on Friday 17^th June 2022.

GMS is delighted that after 2 years of restrictions, the Year 8 Camp Night is back on the school calendar!

This fun-filled evening, plus an overnight camp, provides Year 8 students with an opportunity to connect with nature, socialise with their peers and improve their mental well-being. The event is extra-curricular and non-compulsory, but traditionally extremely popular and open to all Year 8s. It’s a fantastic opportunity for novice campers to budding Bear Grylls to take part in an evening of activities and camp out under the stars. Moreover, it is an ideal way for students, who are considering taking up the Bronze DofE challenge next year, to have an adventurous outdoor experience.

The event takes place at Westhorpe Farm in Little Marlow – the same venue as last year’s Year 7 Activity Day, so students will be familiar with the Operation Encounter team of instructors and the venue. There will also be GMS staff on site.

Students attending the camp night need to be dropped off at Marlow Rugby Club car park at 5pm on Friday 17^th June, where they will be met by Operation Encounter instructors and school staff, who will accompany them on the short walk to camp. They need to be collected from the car park again at 10 am on Saturday 18^th June.

The cost of this event is just £25, which includes:

• BBQ dinner (including vegetarian/vegan/halal/gluten + dairy-free options)
• Instructor-led team games/challenges in the camping field in the evening
• Overnight camp in a bell-tent
• Hot breakfast or cereals in the morning

Ten-birth bell tents with beds are already set up at the site, but students must bring their own sleeping bag. Old, comfortable clothes are recommended for this event, and a list of suggestions will be sent out after signing up.

To sign up use ParentPay to give consent for your son/daughter to participate in the Year 8 Camp Night and to pay the £25 cost. Please notify Helen Murray if there are any financial barriers to your son/daughter’s participation in this event. The deadline for signing up for this event is Monday 2^nd May 2022.

Before signing up please consider the following:

• Students are expected to follow instructions issued by Operation Encounter and GMS staff. They will be supervised on site by staff throughout the event.
• School rules/sanctions are applicable to extra-curricular events.
• Participants who display unacceptable/unsafe behaviour, or become unwell during this event will need to be collected from the site immediately. Please ensure you are available to be contacted throughout the duration of the camp night.
• Any medical or other conditions that may affect your son/daughter’s participation need to be supplied.
• GMS SEN strategies for individual students will be adhered to on this trip
• In the event of a home emergency during the event please contact: Operation Encounter 01628 308338

The GMS Year 8 Camp Night is an all-inclusive, exciting addition to the school calendar and a great way to spend a summer’s evening with peers outside of the school environment. Always a popular choice for our Year 8 cohort, please make a note of the signing up deadline.

Any queries regarding the camp night, please email

​Helen Murray

DofE Award Manager

Extra-Curricular Coordinator

Great Marlow School

​01628 483752​

​hmurray@gms.bucks.sch.uk