A note from the founder

Back in June 2015, as a group bearing backpacks slowly swelled beneath the clock at Liverpool Street Station, I couldn’t have imagined that the wild camp we were about to share would mark the beginning of a community that would last for years.

I tried to nurture the infant YesTribe based on how I’d carried out my own adventures. With the power of a grin and a good idea as the fuel of each next step, with an emphasis on following the wind or recommendation, with heart and kindness and good intention playing a much stronger hand than numbers. With the healing benefits of the great outdoors coupled with the company of like-minded people who share - or at least support - the same goals. And with stories, endless barmy stories each of which simply needed a good, solid “yes!” to get started.

We’ve created endless spaces, hundreds of events, eight festivals, a community which at its prime topped 50,000 people across over 100 regional and interest-based groups. We took a waterbike around the UK picking up litter, converted a double decker bus, provided a first stage for hundreds of people to speak publicly on for the first time and introduced the lovely, wonderful pastime of wild camping to thousands.

Courage has grown, adventures have been enjoyed, tales shared and inspiration spread. With these all seen and heard, more first steps were taken.

This Summer the YesTribe turns nine, and for all the amazing things that have happened there have been so many creaks and stumbles below the surface which haven’t been shared. Founding this community has been one of the greatest projects and honours of my life but boy, it hasn’t been easy at times. I didn’t start all this to be a leader and I certainly couldn’t have imagined the conflicting emotions that I’d carry - often quietly and kept to myself - as the good stuff continued in the public eye, thanks to the endeavour and generosity of hundreds of regional and event leaders who have volunteered for the YesTribe over the years.

For a while now, I’ve struggled to bear the demands of running this community and the time has come for me and my wife Em, who herself has offered so much time over the years to making the YesTribe wheels turn, to step back a little. We haven’t yet figured out what this means for the YesTribe but we do know that we need a break and a pause to free up time, energy and enthusiasm for our own new challenges.

Part of the difficulty for us has been isolation. in 2020 we moved to what continues to be a growing and thriving project in Lincolnshire which takes much of our heart and soul, and this has meant that we’ve often only be able to join YesTribe events when they come to us. In between, there are then hundreds of events going on around the country and, as you can imagine with a large community, now and then problems arise which need a little attention. Over the past two years we’ve found ourselves dealing with more of the unenjoyable stuff than the fun, and without doubt this isn’t what I started the YesTribe for.

So, 2024 is going to be a gap year for us as we figure out what the future holds. We’ll continue to host events at our place, the Big Sky Hideaway, including Yestival, our April tree planting camp, and September’s hammocking gathering, the Big Sky Hang Out.

Those regional tribes around the UK that have continued to grow and thrive will carry on doing what they do best, bringing people together to do new things, but we’ve decided not to take on any new tribe leaders in 2024 (bar one exception, who will join existing leaders in their region) and have stressed that only leaders who have attended a YesTribe Team Summit (annual leader training) can run events on behalf of the YesTribe.

I have a feeling that my YesTribe story isn’t quite over, but there is a chance that if we can find a way I may retreat from the leading this community into its second decade. For now, we’re quite tired and are looking forward to a good reset in 2024. My emails will be read far less this year, our YesTribe leaders will continue to hold events in their regions and both Em and I hope we get to see some of you at Big Sky this year, whether for a YesTribe event or just a camping trip.

For now, thank you for your support, look after yourself just as much as you take care of others, and and remember, sometimes it’s ok to say yes to a little rest.

With hugs

Dave

A little adventure to join a big adventure

As Krish and Mel crossed into Scotland en route to John O’Groats on their bicycles, SayYesMore founder Dave decided to remind himself about adventure and headed north to surprise his friends.

Wild Camping: Leave No Trace

After months of restricted movement the countryside has become an escape for many, but if you’re thinking of a camping trip please keep nature and future visitors at the forefront of your mind.

We’ve all seen post-lockdown images from beaches, woodland and even national parks; litter strewn around, abandoned tents, empty booze bottles, plastic bags and scorched ground courtesy of one-use BBQs.

There’s an enormous difference between heading off on a camping holiday and enjoying a quiet wild camp, and they’re best summed up by three little words: Leave No Trace.

The YesTribe was born out of wild camping, a low-level way to commune with nature. From the off we’ve stressed the importance of responsible camping and leaving no trace, but it’s important to remember that this isn’t just about removing all signs of the previous night’s camp.

England sadly doesn’t boast the Allmansratten or right to roam that is commonplace in Scotland, Scandinavia and several other European countries,, so wild camping needs a little extra thought.

Of course, there’s more to acceptable wild camping practice than carrying out waste and avoiding campfires. A ‘trace’ can also be psychological, it’s not just about litter.

We’ve always encouraged a respectful, positive attitude, limiting the likelihood of encounters with passers-by, hikers or morning dog walkers by choosing an off-the-beaten track spot for a camp. If you do encounter someone, bid them a hearty hello and “good morning!”

The size and appearance of a camp also has a big impact on those who happen upon the area. We’ve always banned tents from traditional wild camps, they’re bigger, more visible, leave a larger footprint and give the impression of a more permanent camp. A walker can’t comfortably engage with a human who is inside a tent, whereas a bivvy bag or hammock is a lot less intimidating.

Every engagement a person or group has while camping contributes to the overall reputation of wild campers in general, and anyone choosing to venture outdoors should act as an ambassador. Yes, there will be idiots who trash a woodland and walk out without thought of their remnants, but it doesn’t take much to plan an enjoyable, respectable wild camp.

Although wild camping isn’t strictly legal in many parts of the UK, there’s a chasm between an impromptu rave and a couple of friends hiding away in search of a peaceful night beneath the stars.

The National Trust are keen to distinguish between discreet wild campers – who pitch late in remote locations and go early without leaving any trace of their presence – and larger groups camping in inappropriate places and leaving behind rubbish. [Guardian, 19 July 2020]

While there’s no set guidebook for how officials or members of the public will respond to discovering a group of wild campers, there’s a growing sense of proportionate reaction. Act responsibly and you’re less likely to be found or moved on.

Here are an easy-to-follow set of suggested guidelines for wild camping in England:

Rule One: If you’re wild camping and nobody finds you, or would know you’d been there after you’ve left, you’re doing it right. They call it stealth camping in North America for a reason.

If you can, ask permission from the landowner. If asked by a landowner to move on do so with respect and without argument

Avoid any areas likely to be considered ‘peak’ destinations. Join wild camping groups and get a feel for where is acceptable and not.

Find a remote location, away from main tracks, houses and farms.

If you’re heading into an unknown remote location, consider downloading an app like OS Locate to ensure you can always pinpoint your location.

Pitch camp late - just before dark - and leave at first light.

Minimise numbers of campers in your group.

Keep your camp low-level and unintimidating. Try to stick to bivvy bags and hammocks. If you have a tent, ensure it’s a natural colour and make an extra effort to hide away.

Don’t assume everyone knows how to camp responsibly. If you encounter inappropriate campers, call them out. Educate them on the spot if you feel comfortable enough to do so. Don’t publicly or online shame, just educate. Education is the key, if they knew it, they’d likely not be doing it.

Use a proper camping stove (not a portable BBQ) for cooking. Don’t light a campfire or use portable BBQs without permission. Scorched earth isn’t just a visible stain, there’s potential damage to habitat, insect life and underground fires to consider.

Use tree straps for a hammock.

Do not use soaps or detergent for washing in streams, lakes or rivers.

Maintain the peace by being as quiet as possible during your camp.

Don’t remain in the same spot for more than one night.

Toileting should be well away from any water source or path (30 metres minimum). Carry paper and sanitary products out with you, do not bury.

Do not dig drainage ditches, move rocks or cut down trees. Avoid trampling plants, wild flowers or causing damage to your surroundings.

Avoid a disposable mentality. Buy sustainable, well-made gear and look after it. It’ll last longer, give you more pleasure and will save you money in the long run.

If you like the idea of a more comfortable, traditional camping experience, book into an official campsite.

Act responsibly. It’s the irresponsible behaviour that gets the bad press but everyone gets tainted with the same suspicion. Please don’t ruin the wild camping experience for anyone - or anything - else.

Lastly, LEAVE NO TRACE. Carry out your equipment, food scraps and litter. Leave your camp site as you found it.

If you like the idea of wild camping responsibly but haven’t yet done it yet, join a group with an experienced leader. Outside of the pandemic The YesTribe lead regular wild camps and have regional groups all over the UK.

YesTribe Coronavirus Response

UPDATED 21ST MARCH:

We’ve taken the measured decision to postpone all physical events (indoor and outdoor) for the foreseeable future.

Our aim as a community is to limit the likely spread of COVID-19 to those most vulnerable. We also feel a responsibility to keep positivity levels high across the YesTribe and connected communities so we aren’t shutting down completely.

Keep an eye on The YesTribe for an ever-evolving calendar of virtual events, activities and new skills you can take part in. We’ve collated a bunch of useful resources on The YesTribe Radio page - join us live on Facebook every couple of days or afterwards on The SayYesMore Podcast on iTunes and Spotify.

Lets isolate together and keep the community feeling alive

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Follow the official advice - not all the viral stuff is legit!

NHS self isolating advice | How to avoid catching/spreading the virus (from the NHS)

UK Government response website | WHO Covid-19 advice

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Guidelines for the YesTribe team to follow for postponing and cancelling events during the COVID-19 outbreak:

When postponing your event, please do so with the following statement, to be placed in the description:

This event is being postponed/cancelled until further notice, please keep an eye on The YesTribe Facebook group for updates.

Don’t be sad, why not use this time instead to do something else equally positive - check on a neighbour or relative and see if they need help. Go for a walk or dust off your bike and go for a ride. Do some gardening or have a that clear out you’ve been meaning to do for ages. Write to friends you haven’t had contact with for a while.

Once you’ve tried all of those things, head over to The YesTribe and join in on some of the virtual events we have coming up :) Self-isolating doesn’t have to be a bad thing - make the decision to turn it into a positive!

Founder's Blog: Creative Review

SayYesMore 2.0

These past few weeks we’ve been working to redesign the way the SayYesMore team works into the new year.

Our aims are to simplify the way different members of the team communicate, to bring more people into our volunteer team to ensure that roles are shared, and to focus on smaller, free gatherings rather than bigger events and campaigns.

More news on our new and improved plan soon, but for now, if you’re interested in getting involved here are a list of roles we’re recruiting for.

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Partnerships: Creative Review

In the Spring a member of Facebook’s marketing department got in touch and asked if we’d like to work with a creative agency to develop content to grow the YesTribe.

Of course, I said yes. Job changes at Facebook ultimately meant that we’ll have to wait until 2020 to put this campaign into action, but the agency, Creative Review, put together this blog sharing how we went about the process of producing some new YesTribe-shaped content.

Suffice it to say, I’m looking forward to this hitting the social platforms next year.

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I’m always keen to hear from anyone involved in the YesTribe about new ideas, feedback and partnership ideas. Please feel free to contact us at any time.

Thanks as always,

Dave