As well as a wide range of activities including swimming and crafting we usually go for a day out off site, and we always end the week with a special party night.

See our photos page for examples of previous years’ activities.

Each year we have a camp theme and encourage everyone to dress up for party night. You can see our themes from the last few years here.

A typical day at camp goes something like this:

• 7:30am - wake up bell!

• Breakfast

• Happy hour - we do chores each day to keep camp looking good and running smoothly

• Morning activity

• Lunch

• Afternoon activity

• Evening meal

• Evening activity / socialising

• Bedtime

We spend our time in groups, known as patrols. This ensures our volunteers can provide consistency of help.

Patrols often do activities together so you will get to know everyone at camp.

You can see a sample menu from a previous camp here.

• On your first day you will be introduced to your patrol leader who will work with you to identify the right helper, or helpers, for you.

• The tents at Woodlarks have ramps, camp beds, and hoists for those who need them.

• The bathroom block includes toilets with hand grips to help you get on and off, accessible showers including shower beds, electric hoists, and adjustable sinks.

• If you have medicines our camp nurse will store them safely and give them to you when needed.

• If you bring specialist equipment, like hoist slings, wheelchairs, chargers, cups, or spoons, please label them clearly with your name so they don’t get lost.

• If you want to stay up late but you need help getting into bed, please work with your patrol to decide who will help you get into bed. They will need to get some rest themselves, so you might sometimes have to go to bed earlier than you would really like.

• Each night, we arrange a night patrol of two trusted volunteers who stay awake from 11pm until 7.30am. If you require night time care for your disability, they will visit your tent about every 30 minutes and shine their torch near your tent (so you can see it if you’re awake). If you need help, just say so. If you communicate silently, we can arrange to check discreetly that you are OK.

  If you do not require night time care, we will not usually check your tent unless you ask us to.

• Please arrive between 5pm and 6pm, by which time there will be someone ready to greet you.

• When you arrive you will be introduced to your patrol leader who will work with you to identify the camper or campers you will be working with.

• You’ll have a tour of the campsite and a training session where we’ll teach you some basic things about how to work with people who have disabilities, such as lifting safely, how to use a hoist, and how to keep yourself safe and ask for help.

• During the week you’ll help campers participate in activities and you may be asked to help with personal care. Our application form will ask you if you are comfortable with this, or if you prefer to help with other camp tasks.

• You may be asked to volunteer to be part of a night patrol which is where two volunteers stay awake from 11pm until 7:30am. The night patrol check on campers every 30 minutes to see if anyone needs help. If you are new, an experienced volunteer will work with you.

• You can bring your own tent, or share one of ours. Please let us know your preference on your application form.

• We set up our tents before the campers arrive. We have mattresses which you can borrow for the week to sleep on.

• Please arrive between 2:15pm and 3pm so that we can complete the training and set up the tents before the campers arrive.

• Odyssians offers you the opportunity to work with adults who have disabilities for the residential part of your Gold DofE Award.

• We’ll work with you to make sure you get the training you need, and you’ll share the workload on an equal basis with our other volunteers.

• All we ask you to do is stay with us for the whole week, just like all our other volunteers (that’s three nights longer than DofE usually requires). You’ll also need to make sure your DofE Leader (or Operating Authority) approves your trip first.

• If you’d like to find out more and you can’t find what you need here on our website, please Contact Us

• What do our previous DofE volunteers think of Odyssians?

  • Mike
    Everyone was friendly and accommodating and all of the campers were patient with my lack of experience. The whole spirit of the camp was fantastic. It was a really fun, relaxed and interesting residential and I would certainly recommend it to anyone on DofE or indeed anyone with a spare week in the summer.

  • Amarjit
    I went to Odyssians for my DofE residential, with no expectations and extremely nervous. However, everyone, whether camper or helper was extremely friendly and I settled in right away. All the activities were exciting and enjoyable. For me it was a life-changing experience. This is the best residential for any young person doing their D of E Gold Award. So good, I would go next year, or continue to go for years to come.

  • Helen
    I had a super, super, super time, Thank you! It was extremely challenging but hugely fulfilling experience that has given me a whole range of new skills that I will be able to use in a wide range of situations. Thank you for everything.

• Fancy dress
  Please make or bring a costume inspired by our theme to wear on the last evening of camp. It doesn’t have to be expensive or elaborate, just whatever party wear you have.

• Clothes
  Jacket (waterproof)
  Jumpers or fleeces

  T shirts / Shirts, some long sleeved if you are sun-sensitive
  Trainers / Shoes & Sandals
  Shorts & Trousers
  Skirts
  Socks & Underwear

  Swimwear
  Sun hat

• Sleeping
  Pyjamas – these are important because we often have a film night in our pyjamas.
  Pillow and pillowcase (mattresses are provided).
  Sleeping bag or duvet and bottom sheet to cover the mattress.
  An extra blanket to keep you warm in bed (or to put over your legs if we are out in the evenings).

• Mobility Kit
  Wheelchair - if you have an electric wheelchair, don’t forget your battery charger and a manual wheelchair for backup.
  Hoist sling (sorry, we do not provide these).
  Slide Sheet (if you have one).
  Please put your name on ALL bits of kit you bring to camp to help us ensure you take them home again.

  If you have a disability which means you can’t check your own luggage, please bring a checklist of your things and give it to your team leader when you arrive. This will help us keep all your stuff together.

• Accessories
  Mobile phone and charger, both labelled with your name (we have electrical sockets).
  Sunglasses.
  Torch and spare batteries.
  Two Towels (one for showering and one for swimming).
  Adapted cutlery if used, e.g., if you use a straw for drinking, please bring a supply of your own (none provided at camp).

• Toiletries
  Wash kit.

  Sun cream.

  Insect repellent.
  Tissues.
  Wet wipes - we have showers, but they get busy in the mornings so these are great to freshen up.
  Flip flops to get to and from the showers.
  Lip salve.
  Personal medication, labelled with your name.
  Your own urine bottle if required, camp does not provide disposable ones.
  Enough sanitary wear for the week.

• Money
  Your food and activities are included in your camp fees, so you don’t need to bring money. But you might want to bring a little extra to pay for souvenirs and treats, especially if we go off site. We can keep your money in our small safe, but we don’t have enough space for things like cameras and phones, which you bring at your own risk.

• Labels
  If you have an impairment which makes it difficult for you to identify your own property, please label everything you bring, including your own clothing, with your name to help us reunite you with your stuff.

  Even if you can identify your own stuff, please consider labelling things like phone chargers with your name to help you find them.

• Alcohol
  If you drink alcohol and can drink responsibly, please feel free to bring your own alcohol. If you’re under 18 or unable to make your own decisions about alcohol, we’ll ask you to get permission before we permit you to drink it. We’re happy for your parent, guardian or carer to tell us about any limits or supervision you might need, too.

During camp we always have a day where Friends & Family can join us for lunch and that afternoon’s activities.

Odyssians is easily reachable by car or train.

The address is:

Woodlarks Campsite
Tilford Road
Farnham, Surrey
GU10 3RN

Train: The nearest train station is Farnham, from where you can take a taxi to camp. It’s 1.3 miles (2km) away. Farnham has a direct connection to London Euston.

Car: After you travel for about 5 minutes from the Surrey town of Farnham, you will see our driveway on the right.