Residential challenge

The residential part of top awards requires you to spend nights away from home on a purposeful, shared activity with new people. The goal is to build independence and develop new skills in an unfamiliar environment alongside peers and staff you do not initially know. 
 
To help you understand how attending WINGS 2026 counts as your residential activity, we’ve outlined the details below
 
Time and Location
  • Duration: Wings goes beyond the 5 days / 4 nights requirements providing you with 7 days / 7 nights of residential experience (and fun)  
  • Setting: WINGS will take place in an unfamiliar residential environment away from home, set in a unique location (how many people get to do it in the King’s back garden…….)
  • Accommodation: You will be camping in tents on the Mercia (volunteer) subcamp.
Group and People
  • Group Size: At least 5 people will be in your group, including yourself. 
  • New Faces: Most of your group and staff must be unknown to you prior to WINGS. If you do go with a friend, you will be joining a much larger group of strangers. We will help with you to make new friends!!
  • Evenings: Evenings are just as important as daytime activities. You will be spending down-time, eating and socialising with the group.  
Activities
  • Purposeful: You are being part of the YIST or IST team this will help you gain skills & development as part of a shared purposeful activity.
  • Providers: The activity is organised by a registered charity, WINGS is run by Berkshire Scouts and Berkshire Girl Guides
Next Steps
  1. Get Approval: Always discuss your planned residential with your DofE Scout or Guide Leader and ensure it is approved beforehand.
    1. Berkshire participants: email your form for approval to: [email protected]
    2. Other counties: get the form signed up by your local award leader and email to: [email protected]
  3. Appointment of an Assessor: We will work with you and identify an onsite adult assessor who will monitor your progress during the camp and write a report at the end.  
  4. For more information on how to fill in the form and your edofe profile, see the Guidance document and email [email protected]  if you have any questions.