This course is for young people aged between 16 and 18 years old who are interested in learning more about conservation and have a sense of adventure.
Our Lakeland Adventure and Conservation course offers a fantastic opportunity to challenge yourself with exciting outdoor pursuits while extending your knowledge of conservation and caring for this beautiful landscape.

Spend a week immersing yourself in nature, making new friends and learning new skills. This residential is packed with a range of activities based around the theme of adventure and conservation.

Sessions can include learning about the local landscape while on a spectacular fell walk, an adventurous wet day with ghyll scrambling and canoeing, a day of nature learning bushcraft skills, and taking part in a local conservation project.

This Lakeland Adventure and Conservation residential is ideal for any young people looking to get first-hand experience of conservation and adventure in action.

This course is perfect for young people with an interest in nature and the great outdoors. No prior experience is required, so why not come along and learn about the nature and conservation of the area.

This course is suitable for the residential section of the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. Always check with your leader before booking.

Read more

Our residentials also give you the chance to develop a range of transferable skills. These types of skills help across many areas of life and are particularly good for including in job or education applications.

Here are some of the transferable skills that are likely to be covered in this residential:

  • Communicating with others
  • Working as a team
  • Managing your time
  • Taking the lead
  • Resilience
  • Problem solving
  • Decision making

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.

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.

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.

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.

 

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.

  • conservation task
  • young-people-dofe

Example Timetable

Example Timetable

Day 1

Ice breakers
Morning/Afternoon
Get to know the rest of the group in an informal and fun atmosphere and develop a sense of community essential for the week ahead. Test your navigation skills together on our big orienteering course around the local area.

Team building games  
Evening
Get to know your fellow participants with fun team challenges.

Day 2

Lakeland fell walk
Morning/Afternoon
We will head out to one of the Lake District’s classic fells for a day’s mountain walk; as part of our conservation work we will do a litter pick throughout the day.

Blindfold trail
Evening
Put your team working skills and trust into practice on our woodland trail, crawl under and step over obstacles with nothing but your sense of touch and your team to guide you.

Day 3

Canoeing & Ghyll Scrambling
Morning/Afternoon
Learn the skills required and put your teamwork to the test on the picturesque lake Derwent Water.
Scramble and climb up a Lakeland stream, with plenty of opportunities for jumping in and getting wet!

Mammal trapping
Evening
Using humane traps to showcase our diverse environment by finding out what lives in the centre grounds.

Day 4

Mammal release & Bushcraft skills & Conservation 
Morning/Afternoon
Identify what small mammals we caught the night before.

Use bushcraft skills including building shelters and lighting fires the wilderness way to cook your own food and make your own hot drink. We use our leave no trace policy and help with some conservation of the woodland such as brashing, making wood piles for minibeasts and tree sapling maintenance.

Share session
Evening
Collate your photos and videos from the week to create a short film to share your experience. This could be shared on our social media.

Day 5

Conservation day
Morning/Afternoon
Work at one of Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s Nature Reserves, invasive species management for the National Trust or footpath maintenance with Fix the Fells.

The specific activity will depend on the weather and suitable tasks available.

Return to the centre to sign Duke of Edinburgh books.

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

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

Before You Attend

What shall I bring?

    • Walking boots with ankle support*
    • Waterproof jacket & trousers
    • Hat and Gloves
    • Suncream
    • Suitable clothing for the time of year
    • Rucksack
    • Towel
    • Wash kit
    • Drinks bottle/flask and lunch box
    • Personal medication
    • Torch
    • Plenty of warm clothing

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.

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.</p> <p>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.

Opportunities to attend this course

  • Mon 21, July 2025 12:00 - Fri 25, July 2025 15:00

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

    Location
    Blencathra
    Price
    £428.00
    Tutor
    Centre Staff