Adventures

Adventure Team

Outdoors Activities Adviser - Jayne Treadwell

Residential Adviser - April Deacon

Walking Adviser - Teresa Monks

Boating Adviser - Alison Dixon

GAW Co-ordinator - Margot Bullwinkle

International Adviser - Rachel Day

Queen's Guide Adviser - Maz Pearce

Duke of Edinburgh Adviser - Kay Mitchell

Contact details for all can be found under 'Directory'

Adventurous Activity Policy and Procedures

This policy explains what we consider an adventurous activity and the risk management steps you need to take.

Adventurous activities policy

Adventurous activities procedures

Adventure Activity Finder

What will your next adventure be? Run, slide, climb, row, walk, paddle, skip and whizz your way through these challenging activities - use this tool to find the perfect adventure for your unit, get inspiration and any specific guidance to carry it out. 

Adventure Activity Finder

Practical tips for planning your residential

Going on a residential is an exciting experience for girls, and volunteers too. But there are things to think about to keep everyone safe. 

Here’s a reminder of what to consider when you’re planning.

Going away with scheme

Learn how to plan trips and ensure the safety of your girls away from home

Residential events are one of the highlights of guiding for many girls.

The going away with scheme is for any active leader who’d like to run overnight residentials for their girls. By completing the going away with scheme, you'll learn all about the practical elements of planning a residential - from health and safety to maintaining camping equipment.

The new going away with scheme is now online!

We’re excited to launch the new going away with scheme so that more leaders can take girls away on amazing residentials. It’s now available as a digital learning programme on the learning platform. Our aim is to make it accessible with a blend of elearning courses, offline tasks, mentor check-ins, FAQs, and a resource bank so that you have the knowledge to take girls away safely.

Who can complete the new scheme?

Volunteers who hold a leadership qualification (LQ) or leadership development programme (LDP) and are active leaders, advisers or commissioners. If you’re a leader in training, you’ll be able to access the scheme as soon as you’ve completed your LDP.

What if I already have the previous going away with scheme?

Volunteers who hold the previous going away with scheme (or historic equivalent) can view and complete the new content too. So, whether you’re a supporting role (mentor, adviser, trainer, or commissioner) or a going away with scheme holder and would like to see the elearnings, you can do so on the learning platform.

How can I get started?

1. Contact your local commissioner and let them know you’d like to do your going away with scheme so they can contact the county GAW Co-ordinator who will assign a mentor to you. You cannot complete the scheme without this. If you’re not sure who your local commissioner is, you can check on GO or ask a local leader.
2. Log in to the learning platform and complete the going away with scheme sign up form. The scheme will then be automatically added to your GO record as ‘in progress’ within 24 hours.
3. Start working through the elearning activities and make notes in your learners’ journal along the way. It’s available to download from the going away with scheme resource bank in the planning and admin section and will come in handy for conversations with your mentor and leadership team.

New GAW scheme

Core courses

• Planning and admin
• Health and safety
• Programme
• Teamwork
• Venue management

Additional courses

• Camping
• Catering
• Outdoor cooking (launching 2026)
• Travelling abroad (launching 2027/8)

For core and additional courses, a mentor, residential, visitor and verifier is required and will be assigned by the county.

Top-up courses

• Programme
• Teamwork
• Venue management

Top-up courses are elearning activities only and suitable for those with the old GAW.

Old GAW scheme

Core modules

• Module 1: Planning
• Module 2: Admin
• Module 3: Safety and security
• Module 4: Health and first aid

Additional modules

• Module 5: Catering
• Module 6: Programme
• Module 7: Facilities
• Module 8: Camping
• Module 9: Travelling abroad