+Adventure Camp

+Adventure Camp opens the door to a week of challenge, exploration and hands‑on outdoor skills. Guided by experienced leaders, you’ll build confidence as you take on a wide variety of adventurous activities designed to stretch your abilities and deepen your connection to the outdoors.

One day during +Adventure Camp you might be scrambling up rocky ridges or tackling a gorge filled with waterfalls; the next, navigating by map and compass through open countryside or paddling a canoe across open water. Expect to climb towers and bouldering routes, test your balance on low‑ropes elements, and take part in team challenges that demand problem‑solving and resilience. You may learn bushcraft and survival techniques or practise practical conservation skills.

This residential aims to spark curiosity, build teamwork and encourage a shared sense of adventure in the natural world.

This course is for those aged 16 – 18 years old and is suitable for the residential section of the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. Always check with your leader before booking.

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.

Approved Activity Provider

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.

Explore our range of opportunities for young people. Whether you’re looking to complete your Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, want to explore possible careers, or simply want to expand your knowledge of nature and the natural world, our range of opportunities and experiences offers something for everyone.

Example Timetable

Arrival 12pm

Day 1 - Introduction to course and local area

Participants will receive an introduction to the centre, followed by some icebreakers and team games.

Test your navigation skills together on our big orienteering course around the local area.

Day 2 - Outdoor adventure

Morning - Take part in an adventure activity such as canoeing on the picturesque Derwent Water. This will encourage you to develop teamwork, leadership, and communication skills.

Afternoon - The afternoon will be another adventure activity such as ghyll scrambling or gorge walking. You will scramble and climb up a stream, with plenty of opportunities for jumping in and getting wet!

Evening - Some time in the evening to prepare for our trip the next day, packing rucksacks and looking at route plans and risk assessments.

Day 3 - Outdoor survival

Morning - The third day will start with learning some new bushcraft skills, including building shelters and lighting fires the ‘wilderness way’ to cook your own food and make your own hot drink.

Afternoon/evening - Trekking through nearby mountains and wild spaces to a wild camp. Establish camp and set up for the evening, sharing stories and socialising.

Day 4 - Practical conservation

Morning/afternoon - Pack up camp and continue walking through the countryside and mountains. Followed by a conservation day working in partnership with the local reserve or National Park to carry out conservation tasks for the benefit of others. This may involve clearing an area and working to combat local invasive species.

Evening - Humane mammal trapping and moth trapping.

Day 5 - Woodland habitats

Morning - See what you have caught in the mammal and moth traps the previous night.

Afternoon - Bushcraft activities in the centre grounds or local woodland. Followed by reflections and farewells to your new friends.

Depart 3pm

What's Included

Expert Tuition
Free Wi-Fi
Full Board Accommodation
Hot and Cold Drinks
Picnic Lunch

Before You Attend

This residential is only 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 in their experience with those of a similar age. Please consider what age the attendee will be on the course date and check they fit into the age category when booking. (Please see each individual course at the bottom of this page for age ranges).

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.

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

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.