CAMPS
FOAOTMAD hold two camps of their own each year, in spring and late summer.
Spring Camp is normally held over a long weekend in the middle of May, and Summer Camp over a 10 day period in early August.
Spring Camp is normally held over a long weekend in the middle of May, and Summer Camp over a 10 day period in early August.
Dates for each year are normally confirmed towards the end of the previous year. Additional details and timings of events (such as workshops and slow-jams) planned to be held during the camp will be published shortly before each camp, on the Events page.
The camps for 2025 are already booked at Croft Farm, Tewkesbury Gloucestershire. The spring camp will run from Friday 16th May to Monday 19th May and summer camp will run from Friday 8th August to Monday 18th August.
Spring camp
Spring camp will take place in the activity field next to the entrance to the site and we’ll have our own area close to the marquee and other facilities.
In a change from last year, FOAOTMAD has reserved all 12 electric hook ups in the activity field. That enabled us to negotiate a private area (marked in red) for FOAOTMAD with our fire in the middle (marked in blue) to be cordoned off from the general public. This revised setup removes the need for the 1st of April stampede to book hook ups ahead of the general public. You can now book at any time.
Here’s how to book up for spring camp:
If you don’t want an electric hook up.
Step 1 - Simply book a pitch in the activity field by visiting croftfarmwaterpark.com or
telephoning them on 01684 772321. Let them know that you are with FOAOTMAD in the
additional information box. That’s it. Simples!
If you do want an electric hook up.
Step 1 - First book a non-hook-up
pitch as above in the activity field.
Step 2 - Contact me with your chosen hook up number via [email protected] or by messaging me
on 07584 550545.
Step 3 – I will liaise with Croft Farm to move you to the reserved electric hook up of your choice.
Step 4 – You’ll pay FOAOTMAD £5 per night to square the books. I’ll tell you how when you message me.
Please note, the activity field is used by youth groups and schools either side of our weekend. It means that if you want to arrive before 2:00pm Friday 8th or stay after 11:00am on Monday 19th, you’ll need to rent a pitch in the main camping area for those extra days.
Spring camp will take place in the activity field next to the entrance to the site and we’ll have our own area close to the marquee and other facilities.
In a change from last year, FOAOTMAD has reserved all 12 electric hook ups in the activity field. That enabled us to negotiate a private area (marked in red) for FOAOTMAD with our fire in the middle (marked in blue) to be cordoned off from the general public. This revised setup removes the need for the 1st of April stampede to book hook ups ahead of the general public. You can now book at any time.
Here’s how to book up for spring camp:
If you don’t want an electric hook up.
Step 1 - Simply book a pitch in the activity field by visiting croftfarmwaterpark.com or
telephoning them on 01684 772321. Let them know that you are with FOAOTMAD in the
additional information box. That’s it. Simples!
If you do want an electric hook up.
Step 1 - First book a non-hook-up
pitch as above in the activity field.
Step 2 - Contact me with your chosen hook up number via [email protected] or by messaging me
on 07584 550545.
Step 3 – I will liaise with Croft Farm to move you to the reserved electric hook up of your choice.
Step 4 – You’ll pay FOAOTMAD £5 per night to square the books. I’ll tell you how when you message me.
Please note, the activity field is used by youth groups and schools either side of our weekend. It means that if you want to arrive before 2:00pm Friday 8th or stay after 11:00am on Monday 19th, you’ll need to rent a pitch in the main camping area for those extra days.
Summer Camp
Summer camp will take place on The Meadow, down by the river. Toilet facilities will be provided but unfortunately there won’t be any electric hook ups in the meadow. If you need an electric hook up, you can book a pitch in the bottom corner of the main site to still be close to the FOAOTMAD action.
Showers, washing up facilities and catering can all be found in the main camp site. We will be arranging for a marquee, a little bigger than last year’s, so we can have slow jams or other activities if we need to be protected from the elements.
Booking for summer camp is very simple. Just go directly to Croft Farm and let them know in the additional information box that you are with FOAOTMAD.
Summer camp will take place on The Meadow, down by the river. Toilet facilities will be provided but unfortunately there won’t be any electric hook ups in the meadow. If you need an electric hook up, you can book a pitch in the bottom corner of the main site to still be close to the FOAOTMAD action.
Showers, washing up facilities and catering can all be found in the main camp site. We will be arranging for a marquee, a little bigger than last year’s, so we can have slow jams or other activities if we need to be protected from the elements.
Booking for summer camp is very simple. Just go directly to Croft Farm and let them know in the additional information box that you are with FOAOTMAD.
For new members or the camping curious
If you’re not familiar with what happens at our camps, we generally have 30 or 40 or 50 people who come together with Old Time music as our common denominator. The rhythm of the day revolves around a very popular slow jam in the morning and from around 8:00pm until a strict 11:00pm, we have a session around a campfire which accommodates all abilities. In recent times, the slow jam has covered tunes played the night before which makes it a great way to learn the old standards or perhaps share something new.
Whilst we have to stop playing music at 11:00, star gazing and quiet conversation carries on for a while after that. In between those activities many people carry on making music together but many make the most of the other facilities on the camp site or have fun exploring the beautiful Tewkesbury area. Croft Farm has a water park where you can row, paddle board or otherwise cool off in their lake. It also has a gym, a restaurant and a bar. Tewkesbury is a bustling market town with many places to eat and drink and attractions such as boating on the river or visiting its famous abbey. It’s only a short hop to get to Cheltenham for retail therapy or to everything the Cotswolds has to offer if you want the opposite.
If you’re short of a tent, Croft Farm have glamping yurts and lodges to hire. for everyone
As a group, we have a reputation for booking at the last minute. It would help us and Croft Farm if you book earlier so we can plan out the area we need to reserve to keep us all together. That said, if you do leave it to the last minute and the website says the camp is full, please telephone Croft Farm and say you’re with us as they will almost certainly have pitches set aside.
OK, that’s 2025 pretty much covered. I’ll just briefly turn my thoughts to 2026 and beyond. I know the search has been on for a couple of years to find an alternative site to Croft Farm but to no avail owing to the broad range of needs of our diverse group.
However, I will be researching alternatives including camp sites with events fields and experience of hosting rallies. I’ve had some suggestions from members which I’ll research before the summer is out.
Here’s to warmer weather to come and I hope to see you in May. Until then, you can reach me at [email protected] if you have any comments or queries.
If you’re not familiar with what happens at our camps, we generally have 30 or 40 or 50 people who come together with Old Time music as our common denominator. The rhythm of the day revolves around a very popular slow jam in the morning and from around 8:00pm until a strict 11:00pm, we have a session around a campfire which accommodates all abilities. In recent times, the slow jam has covered tunes played the night before which makes it a great way to learn the old standards or perhaps share something new.
Whilst we have to stop playing music at 11:00, star gazing and quiet conversation carries on for a while after that. In between those activities many people carry on making music together but many make the most of the other facilities on the camp site or have fun exploring the beautiful Tewkesbury area. Croft Farm has a water park where you can row, paddle board or otherwise cool off in their lake. It also has a gym, a restaurant and a bar. Tewkesbury is a bustling market town with many places to eat and drink and attractions such as boating on the river or visiting its famous abbey. It’s only a short hop to get to Cheltenham for retail therapy or to everything the Cotswolds has to offer if you want the opposite.
If you’re short of a tent, Croft Farm have glamping yurts and lodges to hire. for everyone
As a group, we have a reputation for booking at the last minute. It would help us and Croft Farm if you book earlier so we can plan out the area we need to reserve to keep us all together. That said, if you do leave it to the last minute and the website says the camp is full, please telephone Croft Farm and say you’re with us as they will almost certainly have pitches set aside.
OK, that’s 2025 pretty much covered. I’ll just briefly turn my thoughts to 2026 and beyond. I know the search has been on for a couple of years to find an alternative site to Croft Farm but to no avail owing to the broad range of needs of our diverse group.
However, I will be researching alternatives including camp sites with events fields and experience of hosting rallies. I’ve had some suggestions from members which I’ll research before the summer is out.
Here’s to warmer weather to come and I hope to see you in May. Until then, you can reach me at [email protected] if you have any comments or queries.
