Last weekend saw young socialists from all over Scotland come together for the return of SSY’s annual summer camp, Camp Secret Squirrel. Despite patchy weather and turnout that was a wee bit down on previous years, the camp still saw about 25 people take the trip down to Galloway for a weekend of workshops, campfires and partying, SSY-style.
One particular highlight on the Saturday was a workshop from visitors from Coal Action Scotland, which examined the relationship between class and environmental activism, within the context of the open cast mines which devastate communities across central Scotland. It was an interesting discussion and we’d like to extend our thanks to the three activists from CAS who came down to facilitate the workshop.
Other workshops over the weekend included an in-depth look at internet and social media privacy, a talk on global drugs prohibition, and a discussion about how we can fight the cuts and the way forward for the radical left in Scotland.
But the camp was far from all workshops, with lots of other stuff – from making delicious meals each evening to collecting firewood – keeping us busy over the weekend. Not forgetting the now legendary CSS after-party, which kept most folk dancing into the wee small hours. The site we held the camp at was the same community-owned woodland where last year’s camp was held, so a big shout out to the folk who keep the place running, and hopefully see yous again next year!
It’s now less than a month until the return of SSY’s annual summer camp, Camp Secret Squirrel. Over the weekend of Friday 5 – Monday 8 August, we’ll be returning to a scenic hidden location in deepest darkest Galloway for three nights and two days of sunshine, socialism, camping and partying. And, if you’re 26 or under, we want you to come along too!
How much is it? Despite runaway inflation and rising costs everywhere else, we’re keeping the price the same as last year! It’s the best value weekend you’ll get all summer – £10 unwaged, £15 waged. And that covers nearly everything – travel there and back, the camp activities and workshops, and all your meals! It’s a good idea to bring some extra money though.
How are we getting there? Most of us will be getting a coach from Glasgow city centre, leaving at 6pm on Friday, which will then return from the camp at 11.30am on the Monday morning. If you live more locally, we should be able to arrange to pick you up in Castle Douglas and get you to the site.
What’s happening at the camp? Over the course of the weekend, there’ll be lots of different workshops and activities happening on all sorts of topics. Expect workshops on subjects including the situation internationally and the economic crisis, climate change, feminism, football, drugs, direct action and much more! The full itinerary has still to be finalised though, so if there’s something you think should be covered, or even a workshop you’d like to run yourself, then get in touch via the comments below or send us an email. After a day of workshops and hanging about and maybe even swimming, each night we then throw the legendary CSS party. If you’ve ever camped at a music festival it’s a wee bit like that, but with less arseholes, better tunes and a big campfire!
Hopefully reading this has got you as excited as we are for this year’s camp, and by now you’re surely desperate to attend. Keep checking the blog and the CSS facebook event over the next few weeks for further details, and in the meantime keep the 5-8 August free, or live to regret it for a whole year until the next CSS!
It’s taken a few days for those of us who were lucky enough to be at Camp Secret Squirrel 2010 to get ourselves together enough to write about it. SSY’s annual summer camp this year was a huge success, and hopefully those of you who couldn’t make it this year will see from our photos that you need to clear your schedule for next August NOW so you don’t miss out again.
Politics-wise, we had workshops on issues such as football and the impact of capitalism on the game; what is fascism; as well as the struggle for Scottish independence.
The opening workshop was really interesting, as we tried out a role playing exercise where those taking part were divided into two groups, representing two different companies, and then divided into workers and bosses. The bosses then had to make their workers work as hard as possible for as little as possible (their companies owned paper plane making factories). The bosses received an initial amount of capital in the form of the imaginary currency of squirrels, and then had to maximise the production of their workers in order to make enough to pay them and make a profit.
The workers meanwhile went on strike to demand better wages, in both factories. However, without needing to be told by the workshop organisers, they realised that only by uniting the two groups of workers could they win, and so I’m sure you’ll be delighted to learn that the paper plane workers led a victorious revolution, overthrew their oppressive bosses (notorious capitalists such as James N) and established socialism!
We were particularly honoured to have with us four comrades from the Basque pro-independence left. They are part of the Basque internationalist group Askapena, and are on a brigade to Scotland to learn more about our struggle for an independent socialist Scotland, and to forge stronger links between us and the Basque country.
The Basque comrades spoke to the whole camp about the tremendous repression they face at the hands of the Spanish and French states, and the politics they use to try and defeat it. We were really pleased to have about 40 folk at CSS, but were put to shame to learn that an equivalent event organised by the Basque youth movement can attract 20,000! As we’ve reported before, the youth movement in the Basque country is illegal, and the organisers of these camps are in prison.
Another important aspect of the weekend was that SSY reaffirmed its commitment to the self-organisation for liberation of young women. The SSY women’s group held a meeting to discuss feminist ideas in a women’s only space (maybe someone who was at it can comment more on how it went), whilst the men held a workshop where we discussed points from the male privilege checklist as a way of stimulating discussion about the ways patriarchal society gives men systematic advantages over women that often we don’t even realise are there. As one participant put it: “This has been really great for me, because I’ve never really had the chance to talk with guys about how these things affect us, it can be difficult to bring it up, so the workshop is really important.”
SWIMMING!
The site where we were was fantastic, and we’d like to thank the folk that run the place for all their help and letting us use their lovely space. We cooked tasty, healthy meals over an open fire, swam in a pond, enjoyed beautiful sunshine, and were privileged to be able to see the Perseids meteor shower in some of the clearest skies anywhere in Scotland. The place where were is a piece of pristine ground where life is much as it would have been throughout Scotland just after the last ice age, before humans transformed the landscape through agriculture and towns, and we met all kinds of wildlife, from rare butterflies to frogs, toads and fish, to the most immense and terrifying (but cool) wasp like thing you will ever see in your life.
Each night we also collectively provided music that managed to keep people on their feet to the small hours, and a diverse mix that was suitable for all tastes.
We’d also like to send a shout out to the cops for bowling up randomly on Sunday to “check we’re all ok”, i.e. let us know that they know about us. I suppose it means we must be doing something right if the police feel the need to regularly check our site and keep tabs on us. To the cop whose job it is to read this article: how’s it going?
We hope this has made the people who couldn’t make it this year even more green with envy, if you feel like you missed out now you know there’s only one solution: BE THERE NEXT YEAR!
Don't look now: Shortly before we discovered the SSY organiser is a murderous dwarf
Sarah and Jack prove that being SSY organiser is a surefire way TO BECOME COOL
Can you be cooler than these previous campers? Yes, you probably can be!
We’ve been counting down the days to Camp Secret Squirrel for months now, and we’re now eventually onto the final stretch. The coach has been booked, the beverages are sorted, the workshops and the food have been finalised, and now we’re just waiting for youse all to show up. Cause if you don’t, you’re probably crazier than Glenn Beck on crystal meth. Fact.
If you’re planning to come, you’ve hopefully by now confirmed your attendance by speaking to one of the organisers or by sending an email to scottishsocialistyouth@gmail.com. We’ll be in touch in the next day or two to make sure you know all the details, but for now here’s a summary of most of the important stuff you need to know if yer coming..
HOW MUCH IS IT? The camp this year costs £10 unwaged, and £15 if you’re in a job. Not only does this include all the camp activities and workshops, but also coach travel to the site and back from Glasgow, and all your meals as well! You can pay on Friday when we get the coach.
HOW DO WE GET THERE? Most of us are getting a coach from Glasgow this Friday evening. The bus leaves at 6pm from North Hanover street, just next to Queen Street station and George Square.We’ll be meeting there at 5.30pm – don’t be late! If you live more locally, we should be able to meet you in Castle Douglas and get you to the site.
SO WHAT FOOD DO WE GET? We’ve worked out an amazing vegan-friendly menu for both Saturday and Sunday, which includes three meals on both days. There’ll be some snacks available on Friday night, but feel free to bring some food for then if you want.
WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING? You’ll need somewhere to sleep, so a tent and sleeping bag would be pretty great. Remember this is Scotland we’re dealing with, so do be prepared for all weathers (not that it’s actually gonna rain, obv.). You’ll also need some money! Please bring change if you can – coins will be more useful than everyone turning up with twenty pound notes. Cheeers.
Please also remember to bring some basic cutlery, a bowl, a plate and a cup – and if it’s plastic or metal, then even better!
We’re going to a site in rural Galloway – it’s going to be very dark, so remember a torch… one with batteries in it.
CSS 2010
WHAT FACILITIES ARE THERE ON SITE? The camp has two wooden cabins and an area covered with a large canvass, giving plenty of room for workshops, dancin’ and stuff. There’s also a compost toilet and a tap with running water. Wood-fired ovens and stoves as well, which we’ll be doing all the cooking on. Yipee!
CAN AH BRING MA CHOONS? Aye, bring it in a digital format – mp3 player, compact disc or memory stick are all acceptable mediums. Jack says: ‘If you leave DJing to me, you get DJing by me’.
ANYTHING ELSE? Watch the Wickerman (1973). It will help you understand lots of jokes which will undoubtedly be made over the weekend.
See yiz at camp – gonna be SO GOOD.
ps. If you haven’t confirmed your place yet but you would like to come, you’re still very welcome! Send us an email at scottishsocialistyouth@gmail.com and we’ll get back to you!
Today several of us went down to get a proper look at the secret location where this year’s SSY summer camp will be taking place.
The site is somewhere in South West Scotland, amongst some really beautiful woodland. There’s two cabins, and a canvas will be stretched between them, providing us with a large workshop/eating/dancing space. There’s a really nice little hut for the compost toilet, and of course plenty of room for camping and exploring.
I just thought I’d share some of the images we took of the place, so that people can get excited as I am about the great site we’ve found. The people that run the place had their own event on, so that’s who the folk you can see are.
Remember to start getting organised now so that you don’t miss it-book time off work, tell your parents you’re not going away with them that weekend and just generally clear your diary!
Under the canvas
We’ll be getting a coach from Glasgow to the site on the evening of Friday 6th August, and getting it back on the morning of Monday the 9th. It’s fine if you only want to come for 1 day or can’t make the bus at those times, but get in touch so we can help you find the place and get there.
The CSS chefs are already on the case devising a great menu of three meals each day. In the evening there’ll be music, hopefully featuring some special guests (more details to come on that), as well as a big campfire.
During the day we’re going to have a range of key issues up for discussion in some exciting participatory workshops. We’re still finalising the programme, so if there’s something you think is important and needs to be talked about, or if you’re knowledgeable about something and reckon you could run a workshop, please let us know! Below are a list of workshop ideas that have been suggested so far, not all of these have a facilitator yet, so volunteers welcome. Let us know in the comments what you like/don’t like/want to see added.
Some of the kids today had built rafts to sail on the pond. Could we do this? FUCK YEAH!
-What is socialism?
-How to win an argument on climate change
-Racism and the fake idea of race
-What is patriarchy?
-Taking back football for the fans
-Drugs prohibition: How it came about and why it should end
-The food industry and why there’s an obesity epidemic
-The police state: rise of the big brother society
-Scotland and independence after the general election
-The internet, filesharing and the politics of piracy
-Troops out now: How we can help end the war in Afghanistan
This is far from an exhaustive or final list, so we’re still very much open to suggestions. Other ideas that don’t have snappy titles or fully fleshed plans yet include something about LGBT rights/sexuality, plus some international stuff about the situation in Latin America and Europe. That last one will depend on how successful we are in getting international socialist pals to come join us, an effort that is ongoing just now.
Coolest outdoor toilet ever!
In any case, this is just a reminder, hopefully you’re now as excited as we are about what will be the absolute highlight of summer 2010.
Camp Secret Squirrel: 6th-9th August. Miss it and you’re a chump!
All young (26 or under) socialists, feminists, environmentalists, anti-racists and other radicals welcome!
More images on the Camp Secret Squirrel facebook event, here.
Coming this Summer: the return of Scottish Socialist Youth’s legendary camping weekend, Camp Secret Squirrel.
From the 6th to 9th of August SSY will be heading to a secret location, somewhere in deepest, darkest Galloway. During the day different workshops will give everyone taking part the chance to discuss and educate each other on the key issues facing the world today, including climate change and the environmental crisis, the war in Afghanistan and the fight for jobs and rights for young workers.
Then on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights several special guest DJs and artists will provide the music for a party that lasts as long as you want to stay awake.
The educational part of the weekend will aim at sharing the experience and knowledge of everyone taking part to equip us in the fight back against shitey bosses, global capitalism and (probably, by then) the Tory government. We’re still making up the final timetable, so if there’s something you want to talk about then get in touch and let us know.
After a two year hiatus, the return of CSS has young socialists everywhere more excited than an SDL supporter watching 24. From 2005-2007 they blew everything else you could possibly do in summer out of the water. For all the details and updates then keep watching this blog, but right now we just want to make sure that everyone knows when it is. Everyone 26 and under who’s interested is welcome, so make sure and tell your friends.
Are you as excited as Christopher Lee about the return of CSS?
So now is the time to make sure you aren’t doing anything from 6-9th August. Tell your parents you’re not going on holiday with them that weekend, tell work you can’t come in, and just cancel everything else. You don’t want to miss it!
Last weekend saw young socialists from all over Scotland come together for the return of SSY’s annual summer camp, Camp Secret Squirrel. Despite patchy weather and turnout that was a wee bit down on previous years, the camp still saw about 25 people take the trip down to Galloway for a weekend of workshops, campfires and partying, SSY-style.
Coming this Summer: the return of Scottish Socialist Youth’s legendary camping weekend, Camp Secret Squirrel.
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