Dear DofE Manager,

I have your email address as one of your DofE Gold participants previously attended one of our Gold Residentials. 

Please find the attached flyer and information pack with booking form, for three summer residential camps I am running at the end of the summer term. This year I can take 18 participants each week.

Each camp will run from Monday to Friday, 5-days and 4-nights, meeting the requirements of the residential section.

The camp start dates are Monday 22nd July, Monday 29th July and Monday August 5th.

I have been a DofE coordinator with Scouts and at three schools for over 20 years, during this time I found that the residential section is one area that many Gold Award participants leave until last and is the most likely reason why they might not complete their Award. Participants often continue their activity sections from bronze and silver levels and expeditions are completed with the rest of the cohort either through school or with an AAP.

This will be the fourth consecutive year that I have organised successful and accessible camps in the Southeast, primarily to get this final residential section completed. 

We camp at Adamswell Scout campsite or in private woodland on the Kent Sussex border, just near Tunbridge Wells.

We have the sole use of a camping field and access to toilets and showers. Also available are phone charging facilities and fridges/freezers.

During the 5-day residential we undertake a day volunteering at the nearby RSPB nature reserve, Broadwater Warren. This year we are continuing with last year’ project, clearing the Decoy Pond of a build-up of reedmace (bull rush) and slit, as well as, clearing invasive rhododendron. Additionally, each day several activities take place including, climbing at the nearby Harrisons Rocks, bushcraft and outdoor skills in a local privately owned woodland, air-rifle shooting, setting infra-red wildlife camera traps; as well as organising, buying and cooking food for the camp each day.  

Please pass the details of this opportunity to your current cohort, and of course, to any students who have moved on from your DofE Centre and who still need to complete a residential to gain the Award.

The cost is as low as I can make it, the full price is £220, participants for whom this is the last section, will be able to claim a 10% discount, bringing the price to just under £200. With a minimum of 10 (max 18) places available a participant can attend with someone else they know, and share tents, transport etc.

The price has been held since 2020 and represents great value for money. If you would like a link to the Google photo album from the camp your participant attended then please email me, I’m happy for you to use these photos should you wish to run a promotion to your participants.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

Chris Morris

Chris Morris

Mountain Leader

Activity and Expedition Leader

Duke of Edinburgh's Award Consultant

www.High-Safari.co.uk

07759 128533

Follow me on Twitter: @highsafaritrek

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HighSafaritrek

Gold DofE Residentials 2026 at The Reptile Academy

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Gary Weeks <G.M.Weeks@reptileacademy.co.uk>

Good afternoon Paul, 

Once again we are delighted to be offering over 100 places across our Reptile Ranger Residential programme between April – September 2026, and we are pleased to see previous interest from your institution.

This will be our 4th year of running this unique and transformative programme.

Programme Overview

Our Reptile Ranger Residential Programme runs for five exciting days (Monday to Friday) at The Reptile Academy, nestled in the beautiful Cranborne & Chase AONB, with accommodation nearby in the New Forest National Park. This immersive experience is designed to offer participants a comprehensive introduction to exotic species care, tailored to meet the requirements of veterinary AHEMS, but open to all students from veterinary, nursing, zoology, biology, ecology, animal management, and related fields. It’s also an excellent option for Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme participants aged 16-25 looking to complete their residential section.

This is a unique and exciting opportunity to be trained at a high level of animal care & management with a menagerie of exotic species including snakes, lizards, monitors and amphibians, by a highly experienced team. The residentials offer outstanding New Forest accommodation, local transport, food and other amenities to ensure students have a productive and rewarding week.

Our current available dates are as follows:-

6th - 10th April

20th - 24th July

27th - 31st July

24th - 28th August

I would appreciate it if you could share this information with your students as it is currently the time of year when they will be seeking placements for which, as you will know, availability in exotic species facilities is very restricted. We will advise full details of the course to students on application as usual. 

Interested in Work Experience at The Reptile Academy?

Please enquire about our ASDAN Careers & Experiencing Work Course for 2026.

Best Regards

Gary Weeks

Events Manager & Head Keeper 

The Reptile Academy Ltd

Company Memberships/Accreditations: CorpISAP, MIACE, ICAN

Company number: 11421088 VAT Reg: 338 8427 67

Registered office address: 71 Shelton Street, London, England, WC2H 9JQ

Tel. 02380 394174  m: 07927 529077   e: events@reptileacademy.co.uk w: www.reptileacademy.co.uk

Memberships/Accreditations:

CorpISAP: Corporate Member of the International Society of Animal Professionals

MIACE: Member of the Institute of Animal Care Education

ICAN: International Animal Companion Network