Conservation and Biodiversity with John Muir

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 some commonly asked questions.

If these course dates do not suit you, we run lots of similar courses at our centres across the country.

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.

Activities and weather might change due to weather. Please note this is an example timetable

Day 1

Arrive 12:00. Team building, ice-breaker and a practical conservation task in the centre grounds.

Evening: John Muir Award introduction.

Day 2

Canoeing session

Evening: Short course orienteering around the Preston Montford campus.

Day 3

Bird ringing, Conservation and conflict activity + Regenerative farming debate

Evening: Wildlife rescuers – a fun activity, constructing a device to prevent an egg from breaking when dropped from a height.

Day 4

Stiperstones hike/nature walk.

Evening: Campfire

Day 5

Project presentations (they will have been working in groups through the week on a project, and the young people will have the opportunity to present their work on the last day).  A session in our adventure area using our low ropes course/bouldering traverse/peg pole challenge.

Depart 15:00

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

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 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 photo consent form.
• The expectations of young people attending our courses.
• A form to share any specific dietary or medical needs.