Our geography camp residential invites you into a week of discovery, skill‑building, and exploration, surrounded by like‑minded peers and guided by passionate, experienced professionals.
At its heart, geography asks the powerful question, “Why here?” Throughout the week you will investigate that question firsthand. Using a range of geographical tools and approaches, you’ll explore how people, places, and environments interact—and uncover the stories hidden in the landscape around you.
If you are thinking about taking geography at university or curious about where the subject could lead you? This camp gives you the space to expand your fieldwork experience, test out different geographical pathways, and get a real sense of the opportunities that geography can open up.
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.
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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
Day 1
Introduction to course and local area
Arrival 12pm
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 - Local activities introducing the geography of the area.
Day 2
Landscape exploration
Morning/afternoon - Explore the local environment through different geographical topics such as glaciation or coastal landscapes. A chance to learn from our team of experts in some of the UK’s incredible locations and national parks.
Evening - Look at technologies available to geographers and geologists such as GIS to investigate bedrock geology, ice flows or glacial landforms.
Day 3
Social and environmental issues
Morning/afternoon - Spend the day looking at issues facing current landscapes or populations. Look at the impact of flooding and climate change on settlements or the strain of globalisation on communities.
Evening - Games night! Work together with your team to become the winners. A great opportunity to get to know your course mates.
Day 4
Carbon Mitigation
Morning/afternoon - Understanding the issues facing our climate and the strain that has developed. Looking at global carbon uses and how we can measure the impacts on a local scale.
Evening - Gather around a campfire, toast a marshmallow, sharing stories and experiences.
Day 5
Reflections and reviews
Morning - Combine your geography knowledge with working as a team to explore an outdoor adventure activity working with your course mates to solve problems.
Afternoon - Review and recap your week with group presentations.
Depart 3pm
Please note: to ensure safe and quality learning experiences for participants, the timetable may alter depending on weather conditions and local factors at centres.
What's Included
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Expert Tuition -
Free Wi-Fi -
Full Board Accommodation -
Hot and Cold Drinks -
In Course Transport -
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.
Opportunities to attend this course
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Mon 20, July 2026 12:30 - Fri 24, July 2026 15:00
Geography camp at Blencathra explores the unique upland landscapes of the Lake District through fieldwork and adventure. You’ll investigate glaciated valleys, flooding, and carbon storage while examining how the National Park should be managed for the future. There will be opportunities to see the Lake District's adventurous side with a day of canoeing and ghyll scrambling. This residential is only open to young people who will be aged 16 - 18 years old at the time of attending.
Sorry this course is out of stock
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Mon 17, August 2026 12:30 - Fri 21, August 2026 15:00
Explore the landscapes and urban areas of Suffolk and Essex. We’ll go to Walton on the Naze for its erosional landscape, Dedham for its unique place character, Ipswich to study its regeneration and then the rest of the week will be spent around the Dedham Vale National Landscape exploring local geographies. This residential is only open to young people who will be aged 16 - 18 years old at the time of attending.
Sorry this course is out of stock
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Mon 26, October 2026 12:30 - Fri 30, October 2026 15:00
Rhyd y Creuau is the perfect location as a base to explore the diverse landscapes of North Wales. Explore the post glacial landscape in Cwm Idwal NNR, scramble up a secluded gorge and visit the tourist honeypot of Betws y Coed. There will also be a chance to experience real life applications of geographical study. Dŵr Cymru will lead a STEM workshop and a tour around a local water treatment works and organisations within the national park will run a day focusing on practical conservation skills. This residential is only open to young people who will be aged 16 - 18 years old at the time of attending.
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Mon 26, October 2026 12:30 - Fri 30, October 2026 15:00
Explore the landscapes and urban areas of Shropshire and surroundings. We’ll investigate the carbon cycle at Nesscliffe Country Park, take a trip over to Snowdonia to explore the post-glacial landscape, study sense of place in Ironbridge &Telford and also flooding/hydrology in Shrewsbury. We’ll also have the opportunity to go canoeing. This residential is only open to young people who will be aged 16 - 18 years old at the time of attending.
