Duke of Edinburgh

faq's

Where is Somerset ?
Somerset is located on the Colo River, 20 minutes from Windsor and just over an hour North West of the CBD. Our Base Camp is located on our 360 acre riverfront property, and we have a further 14 campsites located on private land, stretching over 40km of the Colo Valley. All of our properties also adjoin the Wollemi National Park, and we hold a Commercial Operators Licence to extend our programmes into this spectacular wilderness.

Please note: GPS units have trouble locating our address, please follow the directions on our map

Is there public transport to and from Somerset?
There is no public transport available to or from Camp Somerset. Our closest train station is Windsor which is a 20 minute drive from Base Camp. We suggest that students car pool with friends if transport is difficult.

What does the Expedition involve ?
Your Expedition will involve some planning and preparations at Base Camp, followed by a suitably graded expedition for the level of your Award. You will be working in a team of around 12, and expected to play an active role in the group with navigation, campcraft and care of the environment. For practice expeditions, your leader will work through a series of lesson plans throughout the Expedition to develop your skills and experience, for test expeditions, leaders play more of a passive role, and observe you putting your skills into action.

Where will we Camp ?
Expeditions utilise a range of campsites, depending on their level and the time of year. These campsites range from established campsites on our own land within the valley, to remote wilderness sites within the Wollemi National Park.

What about supervision ? Are the group leaders qualified?
All Somerset Duke of Edinburgh Expeditions involve students moving in groups of around 12, with a qualified, experienced Group Leader from Somerset.

Our group leaders hold relevant tertiary outdoor qualifications and are certified to industry standard first aid. Somerset staff have all passed an in-house induction which focuses on the company's values and goals as well as logistical training, activity familiarisation, safety, group facilitation and child protection – just to name a few! This holistic approach to training equips our staff with the essential skills needed in our outdoor environment.

What food do I need to bring ?
You need to bring along all of your food for the expedition. See Food for Your Trip for more information.

For our Preliminary Training Day we provide lunch and dinner on the first day and breakfast on the following morning.  If you have a dietary requirement, it is important to include this on your medical form. In general, our policy is to provide standard alternatives for those with common dietary needs, as well as other basic alternatives. We invite parents to decide if these alternatives are suitable for their child and if not; ask that they send along alternative meals. Please note that Somerset is a nut aware camp and a member of the Coeliac Society.

What are the toilet and shower facilities ?
Our Base Camp is supported by fully serviced toilet blocks and hot showers, with most groups starting and finishing their expeditions at Base Camp. On expedition, toilet facilities range from established composting toilets with running water, to no facilities where minimal impact toileting is required.

What is the weather like at Somerset? And what happens if it rains?
Summers are generally hotter than Sydney in the Colo and winters are cooler. During a summer programme there is the opportunity to have a swim in the river after a day of expedition walking. In the winter you can snuggle up by a campfire at night time. Check out the link to the weather at the top of our website’s homepage, we are generally 2°C to 4°C warmer in summer and 2°C to 4°C cooler in winter then what Richmond’s forecast is.

Part of any outdoor experience is being subject to the weather. At Somerset we have worked hard to establish a range of facilities to ensure that Expeditions can go ahead in all weather, even the rain! We have shelter facilities in some form, available at all campsites, and have alternate walking routes to make use of should conditions require.

I have an allergy/medical condition, how will this impact on my camp?
Our administration staff will be in contact with parents/guardians in the week prior to camp to discuss this further and how this may or may not affect a students camping experience. Working with schools for over 30 years, we are accustomed to the vast array of needs of every individual and work hard to accommodate this into our programmes where possible. In general, most conditions requiring medication can be easily managed on camp.  Please feel free to contact us if you want to discuss this further.

What sort of equipment do I need to bring to Somerset?
As the weather in the Colo Valley is very different to Sydney and you will be spending the majority of your time outdoors (even when you are sleeping!); please ensure you pack the right clothes to make your camp comfortable so you can focus on having fun! Fleece or woollen jumpers are ideal for winter as they stay warm even if they are wet (cotton does not do this) for added warmth thermals are a good idea too.

Essential equipment for expeditions such as tents, rucksacks and sleeping gear (including a sleeping mat and inner sheet) can be hired from Somerset for a small fee or purchased from our online store.  Trangia stoves and fuel for cooking your meals will be provided.  Recommended gear is not crucial; however it does assist in making you more comfortable on your expedition.

For a list of essential and recommended equipment for your expedition, click here. Check out our gear shop for recommended products, which can be handed out to you on your first day of camp.