Introduction to Residential Experiences training

The Section Leader training modules are part of the Wood Badge training for Section Leaders and Assistant Section Leaders. This is optional for Section Assistants. 

You can complete the modules in any order, within the first three years of volunteering.  

An Introduction to Residential Experiences (module 16) is one of the Section Leaders training modules. 

Validation is showing what you know and that you can use it in practice.   

If you hold the Nights Away Permit, this will count as validation for this module.

If you don't have a Nights Away Permit, talk to a Training Adviser to decide if you’ll need to do the learning for this module, and what you’ll do to validate it. 

To validate this module, you’ll need to complete the Residential Experiences Quiz, and discuss your answers with a Training Adviser.

You'll also need to complete one of the following:  

• Help plan and support a residential experience, describing or showing how you've addressed two of the following areas:
  • The main aspects of organisation and administration 
  • Selecting a team and the roles undertaken by the team  
  • Appropriate adult to young person ratios  
  • Identifying and dealing with potential issues (logistics, behaviour, budget)  
  • Where additional support and information can be gathered.  

• Show evidence of how you're promoting and providing opportunities for young people to take part in residential experiences, describe how these opportunities are benefiting them.  

Some examples of how you can demonstrate these actions to a Training Adviser are: 

• Show documentation relating to the residential or promoting the residential.
• Ask a Training Adviser to attend a camp briefing or sectional meeting. 
• Give a Training Adviser a written or verbal statement from someone who can describe your role in planning, supporting or promoting a residential experience. 
• Discussion with a Training Adviser, focusing on your role. (This should be accompanied by another form of evidence) 

See the Adult Personal File (pages 54 and 55) for more examples of how you can demonstrate what you’ve learnt. 

You can start other Section Leader training modules before validating this one. 

This module is for Section Leaders, Assistant Section Leaders and Section Assistants who are completing a Wood Badge, and it should be completed within the first three years of volunteering. 

If you are not sure if you need to do this module, check POR Chapter 16: Roles Table. 

You can also ask your volunteer line manager or a Training Adviser, or contact the Support Centre.

Training courses are organised locally. Most Districts, Counties and Areas offer course dates on their own websites. 

A Training Adviser will be able to answer any questions you have. Don’t worry if you haven’t been assigned one yet, you can speak to your volunteer line manager, local Training Manager or County Training Manager.  

If you're not sure who to speak to locally, you can contact the Support Centre.