Gold D of E Residentials

The whole week is a team challenge with some tasks being the day to day basis for group living such as cooking and washing up. However throughout the week there will also be activity bases tasks and challenges that involve the group to work together to complete. There will be short group icebreaking challenges at the beginning and more complicated tasks as you get to know each other.

Some are physical and straight forward, they just need coordination, cooperation and trust in each other to achieve them. Other tasks may need more creativity and problem solving skills and benefit from sharing thoughts and ideas to generate workable solutions.

Develop your inner robin hood with an opportunity to challenge yourself and each other with a selection of target sports. Archery, archery golf, Air rifles, air pistols, crossbows, axe throwing, knife throwing and even wellie wanging are all in the mix of things to try.

With the necessary safety procedures in place there will be some teaching, coaching and practice followed by a few games of skill and a competitive finale. The range of activities gives multiple opportunities to find your skillset.

At 13 metres tall the cube shaped, high ropes course offers 4 different sides of challenges.

From the high balance beams and the paired pole climb to the crate stacking tower, the tasks offer variety and need different skills.

It’s not all about being up high. We spend time teaching you the skills to fit harnesses, tie the knots and manage the safety ropes for each other. We want you to go away feeling that you have the skills to safely look after people at height.

Success on the ropes course needs good support and encouragement from people on the ground. We like to create an atmosphere where people feel comfortable to push themselves and have a personal challenge, however high that is.  We are careful to maintain a challenge by choice approach allowing individuals to choose the level of participation.

Raft building takes place on a lake near the centre. As well as the opportunity to build and race rafts we may also use the equipment for bridge building.

We let your creativity come to the fore and allow you to design your own craft, with minimal input from the instructors. Balancing stability, buoyancy, weight and fluid dynamics how will your design give you the edge over the other team? Just remember even the best designs are only as good as the knots that hold them together!

The New Forest is perfect for exploring by bike. Miles of gravel paths and minor roads enable easy access across this stunning area. Even better, whilst there are hills, none of them are too long or too steep.

Mountain biking will involve some orienteering and the need to map your own route. There will be questions to answer, things to find and if you plan it well, a stop for an ice cream.

Distances covered will depend on the ambition of the group. Be prepared for a full and fun day out that can be paced appropriately for everyone’s enjoyment.

Evenings can be spent socialising around the campfire.

Each evening offers the opportunity to relax and socialise around the campfire. There will be time and space for a little crafting whilst you chat whether that’s carving spoons, learning more fire lighting skills or creating string from natural fibres.

Bushcraft is about being comfortable and knowledgeable in the woodland environment. It requires a life time of learning gained from time and experience. Bushcraft activities on the DofE programme are designed as introductions. Topics include fire lighting with modern and more primitive techniques, knife skills and spoon carving, using natural material, simple camping and cooking over fire.