Geology Camp

Our young people residentials deliver a wide-ranging, enriching experience and give you the chance to develop a range of transferable skills. This can be great to include in higher education and job applications.

Around core themes of nature and landscapes, active learning, and personal and social skills, our courses promote nature connection, environmental understanding and responsibility, health and wellbeing, working well with others, resilience and curiosity.

If you are a Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award participant, this course is also an ideal way to complete the Residential section of the award.

See our Residential FAQs page if you’d like to know the answers to our most frequently asked questions.

If these course dates do not suit you, we run similar courses at many of our other centres.

As an Approved Activity Provider for DofE, our opportunities meet all the requirements for DofE. We do however always recommend checking suitability with your DofE assessor before booking a Duke of Edinburgh Gold Residential.

Day 1

Introduction to the course and local area

Afternoon - Participants will receive an introduction to the centre, followed by icebreakers and team games. There will also be an opportunity to explore the area and familiarise yourself with the local environment.

Evening - Activities introducing the geology and geomorphology of the local area.

Day 2

Landscape exploration

Morning/afternoon - Through a range of activities, get hands-on with the geology of the local area. Explore the geological history and how the landscape was created through guided walks and expert tuition. Looking at key rock formations and fossils to piece together a timeline of events. Skills may include completing sedimentary logs.

Evening - Look at technologies available to geographers and geologists such as GIS to investigate bedrock geology, ice flows or glacial landforms.

Day 3

Igneous intrusions and metamorphism

Morning/afternoon - Continue exploring the area surrounding our field centres, looking at how igneous intrusions have shaped the landscapes. Develop skills in mineral identification using geological hand lenses and field notebooks.

Evening - Games night! Work together with your team to become the winners. A great opportunity to get to know your course mates.

Day 4

Structural geology

Morning/afternoon - Look at folds, faults and structural elements to further develop a geological timeline of events and landscape evolution. Look for evidence of continental movement, mass movement and local changes. Opportunities to practice key skills such as collecting dip and strike data to regional patterns.

Evening - Gather around a campfire, toast a marshmallow, sharing stories and experiences.

Day 5

Reflections and reviews

Morning/afternoon - Combine your geology knowledge with working as a team to explore an outdoor adventure activity working with your course mates to solve problems.  Review and recap your week with group presentations.

Depart 3 pm.

Please note: to ensure safe and quality learning experiences for participants, the timetable may alter depending on weather conditions and local factors at centres.

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  Expert Tuition
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  Free Wi-Fi
• 
  Full Board Accommodation
• 
  Hot and Cold Drinks
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  In Course Transport
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  Picnic Lunch

This residential is open to young people who will be aged 16 - 18 years old at the time of attending.   

We want to ensure participants get to share their experience with those of a similar age. Please consider what age the attendee will be on the course date you choose and check they fit in the age category for that date when booking. (Please see each individual course at the bottom of this page for age ranges).

When you book, it is essential that you enter the age and attendees name in the Order Notes at the checkout.  If the attendee is under 18, the booking must be made by a parent/guardian.

When attending the residential dates which welcome 16-18 year olds, all participants will be expected to follow the behaviour and conduct rules which will be in place to safeguard young people.

Prior to the course, you will receive the following:

• A full kit list. Any technical equipment required will be provided so you will just need typical kit for a residential stay and being outdoors.
• An introduction to the staff delivering the course and information about the centre so you know what to expect on arrival.
• A detailed itinerary for the course, including arrival and departure instructions. On some courses there may be the opportunity to book a train station pick up and/or drop off.
• A link to an online photo consent form.
• The expectations of young people attending our courses.
• A form to share any specific dietary or medical needs.