This May, we teamed up once again with our friends from Outsider's Store, for a magical weekend of camping, seaside, sake and Takibi Time at Bert’s Kitchen Garden in North Wales.
Our little microclimate beamed with sunshine as we welcomed back old friends to this new site, nestled between the sea and the mountains. Secret streams and hidden areas ran through the Llyn Peninsula, where campers could roam free and discover the outdoors.
Once everyone was settled and tents had been put up, we kicked off with a treasure hunt to explore, then lay in the sun, talking and meeting new friends.
As the late afternoon drew in, we headed down to the beach for a sake ceremony. Emily, Tiz, and Charlie smashed the barrel with the wooden hammer, and, as is customary in Japan, guests poured sake for each other into their First Camp backpackers' cups, before taking to the hill, to enjoy the sunset.
Back at camp, guests cooked on their Takibi fire pits, before we all gathered together and talked long into the night.
Saturday morning started at the coffee station under the trees where we were joined by our friends at Workshop Coffee. Campers ground their own beans, while we all enjoyed hand-poured brews, accompanied by the soothing sounds of the river and birdsong. After breakfast, guests were free to explore the local beach or one of the many hiking trails on offer, with a customised map provided by Ordnance Survey.
The day continued with workshops centred on creativity and sustainability. In the anodising tent, Brittany demonstrated how to transform our Titanium Sporks into an array of rainbow shades. The Greater Goods x Arcteryx workshop showcased upcycling skills - guests got stuck into their sewing machines to turn reclaimed Arcteryx jackets into neat little side bags. Meanwhile, Os at Hive, set up his beach sauna, inviting guests for some post cold-swim heat.
Others ventured down to Ollie's fire-making workshop, where he taught us the best way to start, build and maintain a fire on our Takibi Fire & Grill and how to keep safe whilst doing it. This was followed by Hideko's Takoyaki cooking workshop... delicious melted cheese scents ran through the air as people relaxed under the tarp, enjoying a moment of quiet time.
After a lazy afternoon, it was time for the traditional First Camp 'Egg and Spork' race, with some impressive performances! Eggs went from being carefully balanced, to flying in all directions as people fell into the long grass, with a lucky few making it to the end.
As the sun set, the Helinox Picture Garden lit up in the trees, as we bought a bit of Summerisle to North Wales in the pagan delights of the Wicker Man, a cult classic and a perfect accompaniment to the wild landscape we found ourselves in.
Thank you all for another special weekend, we can't wait to see you all next year.
Watch our film here to see more...
Prod: Outsiders Design Studio @outsidersdesignstudio
Dir: Tiz Smith @tizws
DOP: Elliot Holbrow @elliotholbrow
We'd like to extend a big thanks to the team at Outsider's Store, Bert's Kitchen, and our partners Greater Goods, Arcteryx, Helinox, Hive Sauna, Ordnance Survey, and Yeti, as well as all the Snow Peak-ers who attended.
Photos by Snow Peak and Trenton Schulz-Franco @specialbirdservice who advocate for the outdoors and build communities through birdwatching, for & by BIPoC.
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10% of the event's profits will be donated to the Youth Adventure Trust, supporting its mission to empower young people through outdoor adventures and one-to-one support. They provide life long skills to up to 360 children a year, building confidence, resilience and independence through their supportive camps and activities.
For more Snow Peak events and to register for the Snow Peak way 2023 click here.
