🌲 🌲 🌲 🌲 🌲 🌲 🌲
🕌 Indian Swindon Muslims Association Presents

Time to Touch
Some Grass! 🌿

ISMA's very first camping trip and yes, we're actually doing this. Tents, campfires, halal BBQ, and memories that'll last forever. Bring the kids, ditch the Wi-Fi.

📅 1 Night: 3rd–4th April  |  2 Nights: 3rd–5th April

✋ Count Me In! 📅 See the Plan
⛺ 🔥 🌙 ⭐ 🦔 🌿
⛺ Sign Up!

Grab Your Spot

Quick form, that's all we need. No experience necessary that's literally the whole point of this trip. 😄 Just fill in your details and we'll be in touch with everything.

🎉 You're on the list!

We'll be in touch with all the details. Prepare yourself for the adventure of the year!

📍

Location

TBC somewhere beautiful within easy driving distance of Swindon. We're scouting the perfect spot!

📅

When?

A weekend date to be confirmed. Sign up now and we'll send you full details as soon as it's locked in.

💷

Cost

Super affordable we want every family to come. Details confirmed soon. We're keeping it accessible for all.

🕌

Salah Times

All five prayers are built into the programme with a clean outdoor prayer space. You're covered, always.

🍖

All Halal Food

Communal halal cooking over the campfire. Bring a dish to share the best meals are made together.

🌟 The Case For It

Real Talk: Camping is Actually Incredible

We know "sleeping in a tent?!" But hear us out. People have been doing this for thousands of years (granted, before hotels existed). Here's what you and your family are genuinely going to get out of it.

Kids playing outdoors in nature

The Ultimate Screen Detox

Your kids will be climbing trees and catching bugs instead of fighting over the tablet. You'll have an actual conversation. A proper one. Without phones. Revolutionary stuff.

Friends around a campfire at night

Community Like Never Before

There's something about sitting around a fire together that just hits differently. You'll leave this trip with memories and friendships that outlast the weekend by years.

Family hiking outdoors in nature

Nature is Literally Good For You

Science says being outdoors reduces stress, improves sleep, boosts mood and strengthens immunity. Even if it rains a little (it might, this is England 😅).

Starry night sky milky way

Stars You Can Actually SEE

Away from city lights, the night sky is absolutely breathtaking. SubhanAllah doesn't quite cover it. Your kids will be speechless and that's rare.

Child helping set up a tent

Real Character Building

For kids especially, learning to pitch a tent, cook outdoors, and live without home comforts builds independence and resilience that school simply can't teach.

Campfire cooking food outdoors

Campfire Cooking Hits Different

Everything genuinely tastes better outdoors. Charcoal-grilled halal BBQ, hot chai at sunrise, s'mores with the kids. This is the stuff they'll talk about for years.

📅 The Plan

What Are We Actually Doing?

Don't stress we've sorted everything so you don't have to. Prayer times are baked right in. Choose 1 night or go full adventurer with 2 nights. Either way, it's going to be brilliant.

3:00 PM – 4:30 PM

🚗 Arrive & Set Up Camp

Roll in, park up, and get your tent sorted. Don't panic if you've never done it we'll have veterans on hand and YouTube will do the rest.

⛺ Tent Setup
4:30 PM

🕌 Asr Prayer Outdoors

First prayer at camp. Praying outside with the trees around you is genuinely something else. One of those moments you don't forget.

🤲 Jama'ah
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

🧒 Kids' Outdoor Games

Rounders, capture the flag, scavenger hunt, nature trail. Kids go absolutely wild (in the best possible way). Adults claim 5 minutes of peace. Maybe.

🏃 Family Fun
7:30 PM

🌅 Maghrib & Isha Prayer

Sunset prayer with the whole community. Combined Maghrib and Isha for ease. One of the most beautiful experiences you can have.

🕌 Sunset Prayer
8:00 PM – 10:00 PM

🍖 Communal BBQ & Campfire

The main event. Everyone brings a dish. As the night settles in, the fire gets cosy, stories come out, and the kids start falling asleep on their feet.

🔥 Campfire Vibes
10:00 PM

🌙 Stargazing

Lay back. Look up. The Milky Way on a clear night activates pure gratitude mode. Truly one of Allah's most awe-inspiring signs.

⭐ SubhanAllah
Fajr (~4:00 AM)

🌅 Fajr The Best One of Your Life

Fajr outdoors. The world is completely still. Just birdsong, the smell of dew, and a quiet that carries through the whole day. Worth. Every. Minute.

🤲 Sunrise Prayer
7:00 AM – 8:30 AM

☕ Morning Tea & Breakfast

Chai on the camp stove. Eggs in the pan. Proper camping breakfast with full desi energy. Paratha optional but strongly encouraged.

🍳 Breakfast Time
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

🏔️ Morning Nature Hike

Gentle guided walk for all abilities. Kids love it. Adults get some surprisingly enjoyable exercise. Wildlife spotting, plant ID, excellent banter throughout.

🦋 Nature Walk
1:00 PM

🕌 Dhuhr Prayer

Quick congregation prayer before the afternoon activities kick off.

🤲 Jama'ah
1:30 PM – 3:30 PM

🎯 Afternoon Free Activities

Fire-starting workshop (safely!), orienteering for older kids, free time to explore, or have a nap in the sun. Zero judgment. This is your trip too.

🎮 Choose Your Adventure
4:30 PM

🕌 Asr Prayer

Group congregation outdoors. The routine starts to feel natural by now.

🤲 Jama'ah
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

🍲 Community Cook-Off Challenge

Teams compete to make the best one-pot camp meal. This is when you find out who in ISMA actually can cook (and who's been bluffing for years). Points for presentation.

👨‍🍳 Cook-Off!
8:30 PM – 10:30 PM

🔥 Evening Campfire: Quiz, Stories & Reflection

Community quiz, storytelling, and a gentle Islamic reflection on the signs of Allah in creation. Thoughtful, fun, and deep the perfect campfire night.

🌟 Evening Together
Fajr

🌅 Final Fajr Together

Last morning prayer at camp. Bittersweet. You'll want to bottle this feeling and bring it home with you.

🤲 Jama'ah
7:30 AM – 9:00 AM

☕ Lazy Breakfast & Pack Down

Unhurried final morning. Tea, leftovers, and the gradual, slightly sad process of packing away. The kids will absolutely refuse to leave.

😴 Slow Morning
9:30 AM – 11:00 AM

🧹 Team Tidy & Leave No Trace

We came, we camped, we leave it better than we found it. Kids take the lead on litter picking. Respect for Allah's earth, always.

🌍 Leave No Trace
11:30 AM

🕌 Dhuhr & Farewell

Final prayer together, mandatory group photos, hugs all round. Then home with the best kind of tired the kind that means you've actually lived.

📸 Memories Made
12:00 PM

🚗 Head Home

Drive back with the windows down, kids asleep in the back, already planning the next one. See you at the next ISMA adventure! 🏕️

👋 Until Next Time
🎒 Kit Up!

Your Complete Packing List

First timer? Here's literally everything you need, with links to grab stuff online. You don't need anything fancy budget gear is totally fine for a weekend trip.

💡 Smart tip: Before buying anything, ask around friends and family often have tents, sleeping bags, and stoves gathering dust. A tent + sleeping bag + mat is 90% of what you actually need.

⛺ Tents

  • Solo / small group OEX Phoxx 2 II (the one I use for wildcamping) Buy →
  • Family tent option 1 Eurohike Genus 400L Air Tunnel (2 adults, 2 kids) Buy →
  • Family tent option 2 Eurohike Sendero 4 Family Tent Buy →
  • Family tent option 3 HI-GEAR Zenobia 8 Eclipse (the one I personally use) Buy →
  • Tent repair tape (just in case)

😴 Sleeping Setup

  • Sleeping mat MANDATORY. Cold ground without one = terrible sleep. Berghaus Peak Self-Inflating Mat (solid budget option) Buy →
  • Sleeping mat Big Agnes Rapide SL Insulated (the one I use, top quality) Buy →
  • Family airbed better option if camping with kids Browse →
  • Adult sleeping bag MANDATORY. Berghaus Transition 300 XL Buy →
  • Kids sleeping bag POD Junior Cheeky Monkey Sleeping Pod Buy →
  • Inflatable pillow Sea to Summit Aeros Premium (optional, a rolled jacket works fine) Buy →

🍳 Cooking

  • Stove MSR PocketRocket 2 Ultralight (amazing stove, highly recommended) Buy →
  • Stove OEX Etna Mini (cheaper option, does the job) Buy →
  • Small groups of 2-4 can share my stove. Bigger groups should bring their own. Always grab a small gas canister with your stove.
  • Pot, pan, cooking utensils
  • Reusable plates, mugs, cutlery
  • Cool bag or cooler box
  • Chai, snacks and your signature dish 🍵

🎒 Bags & Essentials

  • Trekking rucksack Eurohike Nepal 65 (optional if you already have a bag that fits your stuff) Buy →
  • Head torch hands-free at night, essential Buy →
  • Power bank / portable charger Buy →
  • First aid kit Buy →
  • Insect repellent
  • Sunscreen (yes, even in England 😂)
  • Bin bags Leave No Trace

👕 Clothing

  • Warm fleece or jumper
  • Waterproof jacket Buy →
  • Waterproof trousers seriously, get these Buy →
  • Extra socks more than you think you need
  • Sturdy shoes or wellies
  • Hat and gloves (UK nights get cold)
  • Comfortable prayer clothes

🧴 Toiletries & Wudu

  • Biodegradable soap and shampoo Buy →
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste
  • Toilet paper (always bring extra)
  • Hand sanitiser
  • Microfibre towel Buy →
  • Reusable water bottle Buy →
  • Travel prayer mat Buy →
  • Small jug / lota for wudu 🚿

👧 For the Kids

  • Kids sleeping bag POD Junior (see Sleeping Setup above)
  • Wellies and waterproof trousers Buy →
  • Their own small torch
  • Small rucksack for adventures
  • Nature scavenger hunt printout
  • Cards or a small board game for tent time
❓ We've Got Answers

Stuff You're Probably Wondering

First-time camper nerves are completely real. Here's everything you're (maybe) too embarrassed to ask, but absolutely should.

YES. Absolutely yes. That is literally the whole point of this trip! We'll have experienced campers helping throughout from pitching your tent to lighting the stove. Think of it as a supported first adventure. You'll be a complete pro by Sunday morning, we promise.
Great question and everyone's thinking it. We'll book a proper campsite with real toilet facilities not just a hole in the ground, promise! Most UK campsites have decent toilet and shower blocks. We'll confirm the full facilities when the site is booked. The answer: normally, you'll be just fine.
We've thought about this carefully. We'll have a designated wudu station with water containers, a clean outdoor prayer area with the qibla direction clearly marked, and a salah timetable for the exact weekend. Praying in nature is one of the most profound experiences you can have. Bring your travel prayer mat and you're sorted. Allah has made deen easy and that absolutely applies outdoors.
Ha! Totally fair concern. If it rains, you head back to your tent and wait it out. Which sounds bad until you're actually in there, cosy in your sleeping bag, listening to rain on canvas it's genuinely one of the best feelings. A decent waterproof jacket and good waterproof trousers (both on the packing list) mean you stay comfortable when you're out and about. Camping in light rain is enjoyable once you're prepared for it. The kids absolutely love it.
Obviously! This is an ISMA trip halal is non-negotiable. We'll do a communal meal where everyone brings something to share. We'll send a food sign-up list closer to the time so we don't end up with 14 biryanis (tempting as that sounds). Note your dietary requirements vegetarian, allergies, etc. on the registration form.
Yes! First, ask around someone in the community or your family probably has one gathering dust. Budget tents on Amazon are also surprisingly solid for a weekend (see our packing list links). If you're genuinely stuck, let us know and we'll do our best to pair you up with someone who has space. No one gets left behind.
Absolutely. We'll be at a safe, enclosed campsite. All activities are family-friendly and age-appropriate. Adults will be around at all times and we'll have a full first aid kit on site. Kids genuinely thrive outdoors fresh air, space, freedom. Just pack a few extra plasters because scraped knees are basically guaranteed. They'll wear them like badges of honour.
Probably some signal, but we're secretly hoping you forget about your phone. Download your offline maps and salah times app before you leave. Bring a power bank. Then... just be present. The whole point is to disconnect from screens and reconnect with people, nature, and yourself. Instagram will still be there on Sunday. Promise.
UK summer nights can drop to around 10°C colder than most people expect. A 3-season sleeping bag and a sleeping mat (insulates you from the cold ground this is crucial!) are both essential. Wear thermals to bed, keep an extra layer handy and you will be warm and cosy. The mornings though crisp, fresh, glorious. Worth every degree.
Of course! Saturday to Sunday is the core programme and we'd love to have you for that. Two nights is the full experience highly recommended if you can manage it but 1 night is brilliant too. Just let us know which option works for you on the registration form.