I was really pleased to attend the Alpkit end of summer party of fun and adventure, The Big Shakeout. From Friday 27th-Sunday 29th September 2024 I went along to support the Adventure Queens and talk about my experience of being an AQ Grant Winner.
I camped for the weekend at Thornbridge Outdoors and enjoyed adventure films, inspirational talks and lectures. There were loads of on-site activities so people can chill out, learn a new skill and try something you've always wanted to. The party continued into the night with live music from a range of artists.
Go Nice Places Do Good Things
All proceeds from the Big Shakeout go to the Alpkit Foundation. They make small awards to people, groups and schools that work to remove the barriers in getting outdoors and experience wild places. It was really interesting to hear about the Foundation and what it does.
Alpkit only exists because of our wild places and the people that make them. Alpkit Foundation is their payback, our social dividend to protect the places we love for everyone to enjoy. Projects driven by real activists among our communities and those deeply passionate about the benefits of time outdoors.
School of Adventure courses
Alpkit Foundation runs a packed programme of outdoor courses over the festival weekend. Try something new, get close to nature and step out of your comfort zone. There's something for every festival goer to find their own challenge.
Spend festival days enjoying time outdoors in the heart of the Peak District. Take your skills to the next level on the bike, at the crag or in the water and sample that activity you've always wanted to try with School of Adventure courses.
Adventure Queens
On the Saturday, in the Teepee Jangle were several talks. The Alpkit Foundation and Trustees spoke about what the Alpkit Foundation is all about.
In the afternoon we gave a talk about creating and developing adventure
communities. Nadia, Community Leader of Adventure Queens, spoke about the group and I chatted about my paddleboarding adventure in Finland.
Other speakers were Climbers Against Cancer: Using Climbing to Fight Cancer. Plus Komoot talked people through how they support outdoor adventures.
Speakers
The evenings at the Festival were filled with great food, live music, inspiring talks and adventure films.
On the Friday in the Social Hub, Jen Lowthrop spoke about everything she had learnt after hiking 1,000 miles across every national park in England. Nadia and I were thrilled to catch up with Jen again.
Anna Wells also shared her extraordinary journey complete a "Winter Munro Round," climbing all 282 Munros (Scottish mountains over 3000ft) in a single winter season.
Other speakers included Mark Wedgwood (The Man Who Cycled Every Map), Pete McNeil:
(A Bikepacker's Guide to Life), Alan Campbell (Olympic Route Map: the path to success),
Suzie Wheway and Imogen Radford (Right to Swim), Alastair Humphreys and Dan Milner: (Adventure Close and Far), Jenny Graham and Mel Nicholls (The Long Road to Paris) and more.
Get Outside Day
National #GetOutsideDay is a chance for us all to celebrate the great outdoors. As an Ordnance Survey Champ I was keen to make the most of this day. After waking up camping I drove home to Suffolk and enjoyed a family dog walk with hubby and kids. Inspired by Al Humphries, I also made us all climb a tree!
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