Interest badges
Festival goer
Have adventures
Plan. Pack. Pitch. Party.
Jazz up your wellies, get your face paints ready! This badge will help you make the most of camping at a festival.
1. Festival feast
Festival tickets can break the bank, so you might need to fix up cheap meals while you’re there.
- But it’s not just price that’s important, you’ll want your food to:
- Be quick and easy so you can spend your time having fun.
- Not be perishable as you won’t have a fridge.
- Not need too many utensils because you’ll have to carry them.
- Give you lots of energy and keep you hydrated.
Come up with meal ideas for three days that fit these criteria. Be inventive – how can you make instant noodles more exciting or healthier?
Then, move from plans to plates… practise cooking the meals you’ve come up with on the outdoor stove you’ll be using at the festival.
2. Prepare for festival fun
Get your belongings festival-ready!
Do three of the following:
- Make your own flower headbands.
- Spray-paint or decorate your wellies.
- Plan and practise face paint or decoration, or make a festival mask. Remember to take photos to show what you’ve done.
- Make a flag to attach on or near your tent so you can find it easily.
- Put together a festival fancy dress outfit, including an element of DIY clothing or decoration.
- Prepare in a different way of your choosing.
3. Go to a festival
Go to a festival and put your preparations into action!
You could go to an outdoor music event, commercial festival or a camping event from the Girlguiding calendar.
Once you’ve been, think about your experiences. What would you do differently in the future? What could have made your experience more fun?
Cooking safety
- Check the ingredients you use to make sure you, or other people eating, aren't allergic to them.
- You should be supervised by an adult when cooking, and follow good hygiene rules.
- Tie long hair back and wash your hands before you start.
When using the microwave:
- Remove all aluminium foil and metal cutlery or utensils before putting food in the microwave. These items will spark and may cause the microwave to explode.
- Never leave the microwave unattended when it's in use.
- Turn the microwave off when you’ve finished using it.
- Allow food to cool down before eating anything.
When using the oven or hob:
- Always wear oven gloves when handling hot equipment or when putting things into the oven and when taking them out.
- Never leave a hot oven or hob unattended.
- Take care around hot surfaces and ensure the area is clear before turning on the oven or hob.
- Turn saucepan handles on the hob to the side to prevent them being knocked and hot food being spilled.
- Turn off the oven or hob when you've finished using them. If using a gas hob, make sure the gas is turned off when finished.
- Never touch the hob burners or heating element, they may still be hot.
Knife safety
- Always direct a knife away from your body when cutting, and use a cutting or chopping board.
- Always hold on firmly to what you’re cutting and keep your fingers away from the blade.
- If you drop a knife, don't try to catch it. Step back and pick it up once it has landed.
Fire safety
- Never leave a fire unattended and wait until it’s fully extinguished.
- Always have a bucket of water, sand or earth nearby to extinguish the fire.
- Never light a fire on peat, under a tree or near shrubs or bushes.
- Tie your hair back and make sure clothes and jewellery are tucked in.
- Be aware of how the direction of wind could affect your fire.
Staying outside overnight
- Make sure someone knows your plans – where you're going, how long you'll be, what you’ll be doing and when you’ll be back.
- Have a way of contacting someone if you get stuck (for example, having a charged phone).
- Prepare properly for your nights away, including checking the weather.
