Meeting the Challenge of Delivering Youth Residential Trips in 2020

Cumulus Outdoors have faced many challenges when delivering residential experiences for DofE participants and young people this year. Covid-19 has meant we’ve had to adapt our accommodation and activity offering as well as the way we interact with visitors during their time on site. In spite of this adversity, our flexible and creative planning process has enabled us to transform our residential trips and quickly adjust to prevailing Government guidance. This has meant that the limited residential programmes that went ahead this year were extremely successful and well received by students, parents and school staff.

Here we detail how we were able to run a number of Gold DofE Residential packages for over sixteens. We explain the different measures we put in place to ensure the health and safety of students was paramount at all times. Following a fantastic response to the programmes we ran this summer, we’re confident that we’ll be able to deliver fun-filled Covid-secure school and youth residential trips in 2021. These trips were the result of careful forward planning, which enabled us to achieve a Duke of Edinburgh trip that was a safe as well as rewarding experience for all the staff and students involved.

Covid-secure measures

The health and safety measures we implemented during our Duke of Edinburgh residentials included:

Reducing capacity on each week
Solitary or two person en-suite rooms for participants
Multiple common rooms
Strict transport policies and reduced capacity
Changes of operating procedures for activities
Strict cleaning and quarantine practices
Continual updates and reassurance for participants and parents

Although we were unable to run School Residentials in Dorset this year, under the guidance we were able to run our Hatherop School programme using their own grounds which again proved very successful. The unique challenges faced in 2020 meant that we had to change our approach to ensure we could deliver a safe programme while maintaining all the benefits of the outdoor adventure experience.

Feedback from Teachers, Parents and Participants

The feedback we’ve received following residential trips and outdoor adventure activity sessions has been overwhelmingly positive throughout COVID.

DofE Gold Residential

“Just a few lines to say many thanks for the great efforts and excellent organisation of Isabel’s Gold DofE residential with you last week. Both the Covid issues and weather conditions were most challenging for your staff and we fully appreciate the arrangements made. Isabel had a fantastic time, meeting new friends and thoroughly enjoyed all of the activities.

We wish you every future success going forward and please convey our appreciation to all staff involved”

Hatherop School Residential

“We have thoroughly enjoyed the adventure residential programmes with Cumulus Outdoors over the past few years, their attention to detail and absolute focus on providing the best possible residential experience has always been what sets them apart. We therefore had every confidence that the programmes they devised and delivered for us this year would be safe while retaining the element of fun, challenge and most importantly the Adventure of Childhood!”

Planning for school residential trips in 2021

The transformation of our outdoor residential centre in Swanage continues in preparation for 2021. There is still more to be done with the outdoor spaces with plans for the new Target Sport Range, Aeroball and enhanced bushcraft area. The dormitories offer first class en-suite facilities and, including our bungalow, we are able to accommodate up to 133 students and staff on site.

Three common rooms allow ample space for students to relax with table football, air hockey and lounging areas. Our updated kitchen facilities allow us to supply students with good hearty meals three times a day and maintain our excellent feedback on food.

We have also taken delivery of Cumulus branded sleeping bags and liners – the sleeping bags have all been made from end of line and off cut material, which helps reduce their environmental impact. As always, all kit will go through a cleaning and checking process ready for next year. We look forward to seeing you!