top of page

Cuckmere Haven DofE Residential

Activities and Environmental Residential

 

What to expect:

You will be either camping outdoors or in a camping barn in the Beautiful Cuckmere Haven of the South Downs National Park along with other school year 12/13 students from around the UK only.

 

Activities will revolve around paddling and hiking with an environmental activities. Each day will be different. One day will involve a day’s volunteering for the national park authority on a local environmental project. We will have a coastal hiking day and 2 days paddle boarding and canoeing day, exploring the old course of the Cuckmere River.

​

The evenings will involve team building games, debating sessions, pizza making, and a night navigation walk.

Seven Sisters.jpg

What you will learn:

  • Paddle two different craft,

  • Navigation skills including a night-time walk,

  • Learn about local unique fauna and flora, weather astronomy and specific environmental aspects and challenges unique to the Cuckmere Haven,

  • Team building, leadership and communication skills,

  • How to control anxiety and increase well-being and positivity.

 

Meals

All food is provided however, there is a twist. You will be making, cooking, and baking your own meals. It will be a hands-on week with all preparing their own packed. We will have a culinary expert for the first couple of days to support you. The food available will be based on dietary requirements and may all be vegetarian. You are welcome to bring your own specific food requirements, snacks etc however we will limit sweets, crisps etc. There will be cake. Lots of cake.

​

Schedule:

 

Day 1 – Transfers to camp and settling in, introductions. Intro to paddling session.

              Evening – Fish dinner and team building games.

 

Day 2 – Day navigation hike or paddle day.

             Evening – pizza making and debating session.

 

 

Day 3 – Conversation day with South Downs National Park ranger staff.

              Evening: pasta / vegetarian night and night navigation hike.

 

Day 4 – Canoe rafting/ paddle boarding.

             Evening – Chicken night and environmental debate.

 

Day 5 – Social action group presentations/ clear up/ lunch at beachy head visitor's Centre.

 

Cost per person: £565.00

Food, accommodation and kit hire.

Support and discounts are available upon request.

 

Requirements

A consent form with photograph, dietary requirements, medical details and recent ailments and injuries. We are not a disability or SEND specialist, however, will make every effort to safely and sympathetically accommodate all, subject to a prior health plan and we have a strong inclusive open and friendly atmosphere.

 

A kit list will be published with the trip pack, and you are required to bring all items on the list including sleeping bag and roll mat. Accommodation is either camping or camping barn, which means fairly basic. Mobile phones are permitted; however, use will be restricted during activities.

 

Other residential aspects:

We will adapt the residential slightly to utilise the uniqueness of all participants. If participants have a specific skill, we will do our best to celebrate those skills.

 

To qualify as a Duke of Edinburgh Award Residential, participants must not know the leaders or each other. Participants, therefore, cannot be part of an existing friendship group or from the same school or organisation. The Award scheme states that “This is because developing the social skills to establish new friendships and working relationships is an essential part of this section. School or youth group trips are therefore not acceptable.”

 

Celebrating the unique. Learning about diversity in the community helps to appreciate the world around us. We welcome everyone no matter who you are.

 

One should never talk about politics and religion! Well not quite. We believe it is healthy and important to discuss social aspects and philosophy. We talk about respect and having a productive knowledge about local, national and international structures. These are covered as a theme in our debating session and discussion on one of the evenings.

​

Our residential is a fun, informal, outdoor

and environmental centered week.

 

How to apply:

Please Nic Ramsden  nicramsdenexpeds@gmail.com to request a copy of the consent form and deposit information. 

 

Other costs to consider:

 

Travel Costs

Budget for about £65 travel cost which is roughly the cost of a return from London to Eastbourne. Then there is the famous Coastal 12 bus to Exceat Seven sisters Country Park, 22 minutes from Eastbourne. Depending on how you intend to get here and where you are coming from. We can organise a minibus transfer from Eastbourne Station for a modest fee. Consider your travel arrangements as part of the residential adventure. We will send you lots of help and support with travel guidance however, you are fully responsible for travel arrangements to Exceat.

 

Travel Insurance:

We strongly recommend you obtain personal travel insurance that includes a 5-day activity residential in the UK. This can be obtained via parents' home and contents insurance providers, your bank, or any insurance agency providers.

​

Can I know others on the course?

You will benefit most if you don't know any other person on the course. However the Award Scheme states that, yes, you can know 1 other person from the same organisation as long as there are at least 5 other you don't know.

 

We look forward to hearing from you.

How can we support you?

© 2023 by Nic Ramsden Expeditions. Powered and secured by Wix

Thank you for reaching out. We will forward a pack as soon as we can. Nic Ramsden

Address

Email

Whatsapp or call us

Snowdrop House, Crowborough, East Sussex TN6 3NP

07843 244 866

bottom of page