A great way to complete the Residential Section of your Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award
The Outdoor Activity Residential Course with Services for Young People is a fun-packed five-day, four-night residential course for young people aged 16 to 24 and fulfils the requirements for the Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award Residential section. The courses are held during the school holidays throughout 2023.
As well as taking part in adventurous activities, such as orienteering, mountain biking, zip wire and archery, you also get to try your hand at environmental activities and woodland skills. Our experienced staff will help you step out of your comfort zone while you learn more about yourself and make new friends.
The course will also help you to develop skills that will be useful in other areas of your life, such as:
The price is £385 and includes all food (freshly cooked on site), accommodation and in course transport.
Pick up/drop off is available from Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted or Tring railway stations by prior arrangement. Please contact us prior to booking if you will need this.
Accommodation is either in shared bedrooms or shared tents, depending on the weather and time of year.
Deposit
To book your place we require a deposit of £50 and a consent form from each participant. If you are under 18, the booking must be made by a parent/carer.
An invoice for a non-refundable deposit will be issued by SERCO Financial Services. Your place on the residential will not be confirmed until this has been paid.
Balance of Fees
Your final invoice will be sent directly to you by SERCO Financial Services.
Please note:If the minimum number of six participants has not been reached two weeks before the start of the course, the course will be cancelled and any payments made will be refunded. We will keep you informed if this is likely to happen.
Lunch, welcome and introductions, safety talk and ice breakers.
Familiarise yourself with your surroundings and get to know your team.
Discuss personal aims and objectives for the week.
An evening walk in the woods for a night-time exploration of this magical ancient woodlands.
Day 2
Take part in activities around Hudnall Park such as orienteering, mountain biking, teambuilding games and the low ropes course, and environmental activities.
Plan a piece of environmental art to be made later in the week.
Day 3
Walk or cycle to Ivinghoe Beacon where you will have the opportunity to improve your navigation and map reading skills and find out more about the flora, fauna and geology of the Chiltern Hills, an area of outstanding natural beauty.
An evening wildlife walk detecting bats and investigating small mammals
An introduction to the use of Longworth traps and small mammal surveys
Day 4
Checking the mammal traps (the animals are NOT harmed in these traps)
Archery, zip line and an environmental activity
Gathering natural materials to make a piece of environmental art for the Hudnall Park art walk
Woodland skills
An evening woodland fire – a chance to relax around the campfire and reflect on your experiences of the week and maybe toast a marshmallow or two.
Day 5
Finish your art project
Go karting
Reflection and final review of the week
Depart 3pm
Please note: to ensure safe and quality learning experiences for students, the timetable may change depending on weather conditions and local factors at the centre.
