Come to Summer Camp

SUMMER CAMP has long been a national event of the Socialist Party and its forerunners. The camp is now regularly held over the August bank holiday weekend and the numbers have increased steadily over the past three years.

Helen Kerr, Summer Camp organiser – Stevenage Branch

It was in fact at the 1990 summer camp with its mix of political debate, rallies, sunshine (and beer!) that I made the decision to join Militant (as it was then) as I am sure did many others.

Seeing the children being cared for in a professionally organised crèche, having meals provided and people working together – taking turns to help out in the kitchen, wash up, assist the crèche workers etc – was a real eye-opener and something that I wanted to be a part of.

My enthusiasm for the camp must have been recognised because I have now been involved in the running of the camp for the past eight years! My personal mission over the last few years has been to expand the numbers attending the camp (in the early 1990s around 500 attended). This will be a challenge.

Everything from changing the sizes of the marquees to catering will be affected. This is why I am asking people to book in advance and for Socialist Party branches to provide the numbers attending and the crèche places required; whether people are likely to have the evening meals and if so, whether they are meat eaters or vegetarians.