Duke of Edinburgh: Gold Residential

Placement Start / Finish 

Start Date: Various Dates Each Year – Subject to Availability

Length Residential – 4 Nights – 5 Days

Please be aware that almost all our Gold Residentials take place during School Term time, with most taking place during May-July.     Very limited other opportunities can be offered in February and September, again these will be during the term time.

Description of Paccar

Paccar Scout camp is an Outdoor Activity centre open all year round. The site is around 60 acres made up of two large fields and around 44 acres of woodland. There are three buildings providing indoor accommodation, two large Camping Fields and 24 Woodland Camping Sites. There is a wide range of activities including: High Ropes Course, Twin Zip wires, Climbing Wall, Activity Tower with six separate activities, Rifle Range, Archery Range and around ten more smaller activities for children of different ages.

Paccar visitors are mostly Scouts, Guides and other Youth Organisations who Camp at the Weekend, and during the season May to July there are School Groups coming for week long visits. The site also runs large events two or three times a year, there can be between 1,000 – 1,500 children attending. The site caters for children from age 6 to 18, the majority are in the age range 8 to 14.

During the Summer School Term (May to July) Paccar also hosts school groups for “residential”. These are week long stays when school children get to experience the outdoors and activities, for some children it will be the first time they have experienced this.

Paccar Scout Camp offers young people working towards the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award the opportunity to complete the Residential Section at the Camp Site. You will spend a minimum of 4 nights & 5 days assisting in a range of roles. You will not have visited the site before and you will be working with other volunteers you will not previously have met.

Volunteer Duties  

Volunteers completing their residential at the camp site will help with the running of activities and help with general maintenance. This will involve cleaning and tidying, as well as preparing activities and the sites facilities ready for visitors.

If you are lucky enough to be here during one of our big events or during the School residential season, days can be long, starting early in the morning and continuing into the evening –  and very busy.

Where will you be staying: 

We have clean & modern dormitory style indoor accommodation. All the rooms are fully segregated, Male/Female & Over 18/Under 18. We have strict segregation rules which will be explained to you in detail once your placement is confirmed.

You will be using our crew kitchen and lounge area as recreational space, chances are you will be involved in cooking your own meals. Don’t panic if you can’t cook, there will be loads of other volunteers there with you.

Transport Links 

The local village is within walking distance and there are good links to London locally (30 minute walk to station or 5 minute drive).  Train journey from Gerrard’s Cross to London approx. 30 minutes.

Internet / E-mail / Phone access

Access to Internet/E-mail: On site and free for volunteers to use

What should you bring: 

Suitable clothing: Outdoor clothes, you will be outdoors in all weather conditions – nothing too precious as clothing can get dirty or damaged.  Bring your warm jacket and sturdy boots, e.g. waterproof hiking boots.

Summary 

Paccar is a fantastic centre where you will have lots of fun. We have an existing volunteer team of around 100 people who help to maintain the site and run activities on busy weekends. You will quickly become part of that team, many who experience their D of E Residential at Paccar return as members of our regular volunteer crew.   Volunteering at Paccar is, great fun but hard work. You will need to enjoy the outdoors and working with children of all ages and to be committed.

What’s provided? 

  • Accommodation for the duration of stay
  • Advice on travelling to our site
  • Support in arranging the required DBS Check (for over 18s)
  • All food provided

What’s not included 

  • Travel to and from our site.
  • Transfers from local stations etc.

How to Apply 

Complete the interest form below, you will then receive an Application form and Adult Information Form (even if you will be under 18 when you come) by email. Once we have the forms we will process your application and discuss available dates.

If you will be over 18 you will need to complete the DBS process as you will be working with young children. If you will be under 18 we will need to have Parental Permission forms completed.