myrebelbadgejouney

This is not just any festival it is Rebel festival

A virtual gathering held biannually via Zoom is regarded as the most enjoyable weekend of the year. It is an inclusive event suitable for any individual identifying as a Spoonie Rebel, as participation is possible from any location worldwide, provided that the necessary technology—such as a phone, computer, tablet, or iPad—if it is available.

Day 1 of Rebel Fest

8 am- Kick Off Chat Room with Heather and Laura B

9am- Welcome from Charly, Chief Rebel then Belly dancing with Helen.

10:15am- sign language choir with Penny and Lucy.

11:30am- Sushi with Rachel- some prep was required.

12:30pm-break

1:30pm-Foraged Floristy with Kathryn.

2:45pm- Skill share breakout rooms which includes:

• Badge Sew-along and share how you display the badges- with Claire L
• Notion and Canva Skills- with Claire S
• Scrapbooking and bullet journals- with Lorraine
• 45 minutes

3:45pm- Artist Trading Cards with Allyson

4:45pm- Break

6pm- Talk by Sian and Makalia- Founder and coach of Bluetits cold swimming

7:30-9pm cocktail making with Tom and Crystal.

9:30pm- Open Chat with Gemma S

Day 2 itinerary of Rebel Fest

8am- Open chat room with Helen W

9am-Yoga and meditation with Emma

10:15am Craft and chat with Charly- bring your own Craft, sew on your badges or work on your scrapbooks while Charly dose Q&A

11:30am- Rules of the Money Game – Rebel Finance School

12:30pm- break

1:30pm- Felting dragons with Daisy

2:45pm-Break out rooms:

• Rebel Readers with Liz- Maurice and Marilyn
• Rainbow Rebels (LGBBTQ+ community of Rebels) with Sarah B and Amanda LC.

3:45pm-Hip Hop Dance with Wendy from Silver Classic Crew.

4:45pm- break

6pm- Gluten-free Pastry with Kate- caramel apple slices.

6:30pm to 9:15pm-RebelMaster with Sham and Mr Duck and Charly

9:30pm- Open Chat Room with Val

Day 1 8 am- Kick Off Chat Room with Heather and Laura B

I began the day with a welcome meeting at 8 am via the Kick Off Chat Room, attended by Heather, Laura B., and fellow Rebel members. I appreciated the opportunity to engage in conversations with other Rebels, as such interactions are seldom possible. I reside in an area where there is no nearby rebellion, and the one I participate in covers a large geographical region in the North East of England. Consequently, I have not been able to attend in-person meetings, as I live too far from Newcastle city center, where most of the gatherings are held.

9am- Welcome from Charly, Chief Rebel then Belly dancing with Helen.

The event commenced with a welcome from Charly, the Chief Rebel, followed by an energetic belly dancing session led by Helen to stimulate enthusiasm and increase circulation. This initial activity successfully prepared everyone for a weekend of engaging and enjoyable activities at Rebel Fest.

10:15am- sign language choir with Penny and Lucy.

I appreciated participating in the sign language choir with Penny and Lucy. I am enthusiastic about learning sign language, as I previously communicated using sign language during my childhood before I developed speech. This experience rekindled memories from my earlier years and my involvement in the Makaton choir at school.

11:30am- Sushi with Rachel- some prep was required.

I thoroughly enjoyed this season, particularly the opportunity to prepare sushi. Although I was unable to create traditional sushi due to the lack of appropriate equipment, I found value in improvising with the tools available. Instead, I prepared a poke bowl and some sushi rolls. This activity was my favorite part of Rebel Fest, as I have always aspired to learn how to make sushi.

2:45pm- Skill share breakout rooms which includes:Notion and Canva Skills- with Claire S

I thoroughly appreciated the training on Canva, as it was essential for my professional responsibilities at the time. Additionally, I found learning Notion to be valuable; it was a new application that I had not previously used. I am grateful to Claire for introducing me to it. A year later, she has become the patrol leader for Rosa Patrol. The session was for forty-five minutes.

3:45pm- Artist Trading Cards with Allyson

This season was particularly artistically inclined, and I found it valuable to utilize this opportunity, as it allowed me to fulfill one of my obligations related to Rebel mail. I also enjoyed collaborating creatively with other members of the Rebel community, which has inspired me to pursue further creative endeavors. Currently, I am working on my craft badge and developing my writer’s badge, which is the reason I am maintaining this blog. My goal is to earn my writer’s badge and potentially establish my own accessibility travel blog in the future.

6pm- Talk by Sian and Makalia- Founder and coach of Bluetits cold swimming

This was an especially interesting and inspiring talk that covered innovative ideas and personal stories. Although I am unable to participate in this activity myself due to my disability, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the speaker’s insights and experiences.

First Day of Rebel Fest

I felt unprepared for Rebel Fest, as I attempted to utilize items I already had at home instead of purchasing new ones specifically for the event. Additionally, I was somewhat underprepared for the sushi-making activity; consequently, I prepared a poke bowl instead, which proved to be equally enjoyable.

Day 2 of Rebel Fest

8am- Open chat room with Helen W

I began the day with a welcome meeting at 8 am, followed by a Kick-Off Chat Room session with Helen W. and fellow Rebel enthusiasts. I enjoyed engaging with other Rebels, as opportunities for such conversations are rare. I reside in an area where there are no nearby rebellions, and the one I am part of covers a large geographic area in the North East of England. Consequently, I have been unable to attend in-person meetups, as I live too far from the center of Newcastle, where most of the gatherings are held.

10:15am Craft and chat with Charly- bring your own Craft, sew on your badges or work on your scrapbooks while Charly dose Q&A

I found the Chief Rebel’s question-and-answer session to be informative, as it provided behind-the-scenes insights into recent activities at Rebel HQ. These details were unknown to me, as I was not part of the Rebel Council during the initial Rebel Fest.

2:45pm-Break out rooms Rebel Readers with Liz- Maurice and Marilyn

I appreciate participating in book clubs, which is why I decided to join the Rebel Fest book club. For those unfamiliar with Rebel Fest, the breakout rooms for book discussions operate in the same manner as the monthly book club meetings, with the addition of an extra session dedicated to Rebel Fest. I listened to the book via Apple Audio, and it has become one of my favorites. I particularly enjoy the setting, which takes place on a boat that becomes damaged, prompting the characters to collaborate to repair it. Overall, I would rate the book a solid 7 out of 10, considering its traditional style.

6:30pm to 9:15pm-RebelMaster with Sham and Mr Duck and Charly

Participating in this activity was challenging for me because one of the components required dressing up, which I am unable to do independently. I would have appreciated prior notice so that I could have requested my support worker to remain longer and assist me with the game.

First Rebel done

I was too fatigued to participate in the debrief through Zoom, and due to work commitments the following day, I retired for the night. However, the entire weekend was exceptional, and I would recommend it to newcomers, supporters, and members of the Pirates of Rebel Badge Club, as it was outstanding. I was certainly considering purchasing the veteran ticket, as I intended to attend the next event, which was highly enjoyable. For now, I will wish everyone a good night. I look forward to the next gathering in six months.