by Tom Leaning
Leading sports retailer Decathlon has committed to sponsoring The Camping and Caravanning Club’s Youth Section.
Camping Club Youth is for campers aged 12 to 17, and offers the opportunity to learn new skills such as campsite cooking, map-reading, first aid and tent pitching.
Decathlon has already built a strong following among the Club’s tent-camping members, with its Quechua own-brand tents performing superbly in recent Tent Owner Satisfaction Awards.
In 2016, Quechua topped the satisfaction league table for Best Tents up to £300, and was also named Best Tent Brand. It followed this success in 2017, when it topped categories for Best Weekender Tents and Best Quick Pitch Tents.
The brand is therefore a great fit for Camping Club Youth, in which organised camping activities include canoeing, mountain walking and a variety of outdoor activities. Also, Camping Club Youth provides the chance to attend the annual International Youth Rally held in a different European country each year.
Decathlon is a French company that was founded in 1976, and offers 70 sports under one roof. No matter what age, spending power or sports ability, everyone can find the right equipment for them, from tents on display in store to mountain bikes. In the UK, Decathlon has 28 stores.
Decathlon’s Mountain Sports National Sport Manager Chris Allen said: “We make sport and outdoor activities accessible to the masses by offering low prices and high quality. Our sports and camping equipment helps young people enjoy great outdoor experiences no matter if they’re new to camping or on a budget.
“Our sponsorship of Camping Club Youth will help us share our love of the outdoors with young people, help them develop camping skills and give them opportunities to make great friendships and lasting memories.”
Club Director General, Robert Louden MBE, said: “Promoting and developing camping for young people has always been a priority for the Club. We’re proud of what our Camping Club Youth section achieves, and I’m delighted Decathlon are supporting us in this.
“We know that getting kids outdoors and camping, with the natural environment their classroom and playground, helps make them happier, healthier and smarter.”
For more info on The Camping and Caravanning Club, visit www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk
And for more on Decathlon and its range of camping products, visit www.decathlon.co.uk
