Hampshire DofE Gold Residential – Environmental Science at Aberystwyth University - Monday 21st to Friday 25th July 2025

Hampshire DofE Gold Residential – Environmental Science at Aberystwyth University

Monday 21st to Friday 25th July 2025

Hampshire Outdoors is excited to be working in partnership with Aberystwyth University to offer a bespoke residential experience tailored to Duke Of Edinburgh participants with an interest in the ecology, geology and physical geography. The programme will showcase some of West Wales’ most stunning scenery through the lens of environmental science.

Located in Ceredigion Bay, Aberystwyth provides easy access to beautiful coastlines, mountains, and valleys. Field trips led by subject experts will explore the natural landscape, from ancient glacial and volcanic activities to modern land management practices. Thriving marine wildlife can often be spotted from the town, giving a fantastic opportunity to survey local bottlenose dolphin populations, and observe other species on the rocky shore.

In this five day residential, you will stay in accommodation on campus, near the seaside town, with day trips and studies supervised by experts from the universities world-leading research departments 

Closing date for booking is 16th June 2025.

Where

Aberystwyth University

Staying in shared facilities on campus

What’s included?

• Accommodation and food; accommodation for the summer residential will provide the full student experience in shared facilities on campus
• All activities for the duration of the residential, including evening activities such as sunset walks along the beach
• A written assessor report for your award, or for college and university

What’s involved?

• During your stay you will have the opportunity to experience the following activities. Note that these are dependent on weather and other nature-driven factors and are therefore subject to change
• Marine surveys including dolphin watching, run together with Cardigan Bay
• Marine Wildlife Centre
• Hike in Snowdonia to look at glacial geology
• Visit to peatland restoration area Pwllpeiran, a research centre located in the heart of the Cambrian mountains
• Demonstration of the use of drones in survey work
• Rocky shore field trip – explore habitats and ecosystems on the rocky shore, animals and plants
• Lab work to explore rocky shore animal behaviour (do crabs have personalities?) and dolphin diets (including human factors like microplastics)
• Visit to Ynyslas sand dunes and Cors Fochno site of special scientific interest (SSSI)
• Plenty of opportunities to talk to leading experts in the fields of environmental science about pathways and careers

Through practical workshops, lectures and seminars you will explore the industry, understand the opportunities on offer, and what you need to do to get to where you want to be.

Details and booking

Full price: £595.00

Deposit: £255.00 (and 2x instalments of £170 at later dates)

If the deposit option has been chosen, you will be sent a link to the instalment page for later payments.

For more information on this Gold Residential, please contact dofe@hants.gov.uk

Cancellations

If you wish to cancel your place on the residential, please notify Hampshire DofE office as soon as possible.

Cancellations made 12 weeks before the start date of the residential – Hampshire Outdoors will reimburse the participating individual 90% of their payment.

Cancellations made between 12 and 6 weeks of the residential – Hampshire Outdoors will reimburse the participating individual 50% of their payment.

Cancellations made within 6 weeks of the start date of the residential – The participating individual is liable for the full fee; no refund will be available.

Please note: This residential is run on minimum numbers. If they are not reached, a full refund will be issued.

All of the above information is required, so please complete each box or it may cause a delay in successful booking.

Your booking is not confirmed until a signed medical form has been returned (you will be sent this after booking your place).

Terms and Conditions can be found here