Bushcraft

Bushcraft

What is it? 
Bushcraft is an outdoor activity focusing on survival skills. It covers a range of basic skills including fire lighting, how to cook on an open fire and shelter building. You can also learn more advanced skills such as plant identification, sourcing and purifying water and much more.

What does it involve?

True bushcraft requires little to no equipment at all as naturally occurring items are used to build shelters and start fires however there are many variations of bushcraft available to schools.  The main focus of bushcraft is the element of learning and practicing survival skills with an emphasis on environmental sustainability.

Why do it and what are the benefits?
Bushcraft is becoming an increasingly popular activity within the U.K. learning the range of skills on offer is sure to boost a child’s confidence. It allows individuals to improve their knowledge of the environment and more specifically methods for sustainable living. It can also introduce a range of transferable skills including the ability to assess risk and manage it effectively. Bushcraft develops an individual’s ability to work well within a team.

What equipment do we need?
Most companies running bushcraft skill courses will provide the majority of equipment that you’ll need to participate although you should check beforehand though. Common items you will be expected to bring whilst participating in bushcraft are suitable outdoor clothing and a sleeping bag if you are staying over night. 

Who is it suitable for?
Bushcraft can be adapted for suitability of most age groups with the exception of early years and key stage one pupils. Companies offer a range of courses with varying levels of difficult. We would suggest you discuss the suitability of your pupils for a specific course with the provider before booking.

Costs?
There are a lot of factors to consider when booking a bushcraft course as a result there can be a large variation in cost. Courses can last from a matter of hours to matter of days. The amount of pupils and the range of activities you partake in also have an impact on the cost. Make sure you research a number of companies in order to get the best value for your school.

Issues/Things to think about? (unsuitable for age groups, medical conditions etc)
Children should always be supervised when participating in bushcraft activities especially as courses are often conducted outdoors and children may wish to explore their wider environment! It is important that children listen to the instructions given to them from members of the company providing the course. It is important to take any student specific medication along with you.

How do we include?
Disabled access to wooded areas is not common. If there are members of your group that do have a disability then you could consider getting a company to run a short course at your establishment.

Doing it abroad?
There are a lot of companies across Europe that can provide bushcraft courses.

Main website: 
For more information about Bushcraft please visit this website. Be sure to check out providers in your area before you book.

Venues with this Activity

Children’s author Michael Morpugo and his wife Clare founded Farms for City Children in 1976. The charity now owns three farms in the west country of which Wick Court is one. We welcome around 3,200 children and 400 teachers a year.

Children’s author Michael Morpugo and his wife Clare founded Farms for City Children in 1976. The charity now owns three farms in the west country of which Wick Court is one. We welcome around 3,200 children and 400 teachers a year.

Nethercott House is a traditional mixed dairy, beef and sheep farm in the heart of Devon..

Children’s author Michael Morpugo and his wife Clare founded Farms for City Children in 1976. The charity now owns three farms in the west country of which Wick Court is one. We welcome around 3,200 children and 400 teachers a year.

Wick Court is a small-scale traditional livestock farm, with sheep, beef cattle, pigs and poultry.

Box Hill, North Downs

Juniper Hall is an amazing location for fieldwork, set in a quiet wooded valley in an unspoilt area of the chalk North Downs at the edge of Box Hill (less than 10 minutes from the M25). 

Dale is the sunniest place in Wales and averages in excess of 1,800 hours of sun shine a year. It is a perfect location for a field trip. It is surprisingly accessible and once here you'll appreciate its fantastic setting.

Discover amazing island scenery, brilliant wildlife and quality teaching at FSC Millport. Millport offers residential and day field trips for all ages, linked to Curriculum for Excellence or all the England and Wales exam boards. All our courses are tailored to your requirements and our experienced staff will work with you to develop a course to suit you and your students.

In addition to our two residential centres in Cumbria, FSC has a dedicated team of teaching staff who deliver full or half day courses for schools using the stunning locations found within the Lake District. A typical day begins at 10.00am when one of our teaching staff will meet you at your chosen site.

Pembrokeshire Coast

Orielton Field Centre is ideally placed to explore the diverse environments & habitats that Pembrokeshire has to offer. As a centre we cater for University Groups, Schools and leisure learners.

Neath Port Talbot / Castell Nedd Port Talbot

Set in 850 acres of beautiful parkland where 600 deer roam freely, Margam Discovery Centre offers high quality environmental education to all age groups, both residentially and for day visits. The centre is a state of the art low carbon footprint building designed by The Welsh School of Architects.

FSC Malham Tarn is an excellent base for primary school trips. At Malham Tarn we offer opportunities in both fieldwork and adventurous activities for primary school children.

Amersham Field Centre is located in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The FSC manages the centre and nature reserve on behalf of National Grid Transco. The 30 hectare site provides a mosaic of woodland, grassland and pond habitats for all ages to study.

In the Heart of Ancient Woodland

Epping Forest Field Centre is a purpose-built non residential centre located in a terrific Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Area of Conservation that provides excellent learning opportunities.  It has excellent transport links and is only a few kilometres from the M25 and M11 and from Loughton Station (Central Line for London Undergro

Experience learning in the great outdoors with Magdalen. Magdalen Farm with its diverse landscape, animals and purpose-built residential centre provides a safe and secure environment to learn about organic farming, sustainability and nature.

For school trips, excursions and European school tours for UK and overseas school groups

Ardmore Educational Travel, part of The Ardmore Group, offer over 100 educational school tours in 32 countries. We partner with schools to provide one-off tours, multiple tours or total extra curricular solutions for schools and students aged 11-18.

If you are looking for somewhere that is more like a home from home, with outdoor education programmes that are crafted with care, delivered by quality people, driven by our values of Education, Inspiration and Play; a place rooted in the rich heritage and tradition of learning outside  – Great News! You have just found it.

The Island Classroom

Education Destination is an Isle of Wight based business specialising in providing bespoke, curriculum-focused school trips to our lovely island. We help you create outstanding curriculum-led learning visits to the Isle of Wight and can provide a full door-to-door service, taking care of all your requirements, or simply support you in making your own arrangements.

Two discrete centres within 26 acres of private woodland, surrounded by 200 acres of public woodland, overlooking the seaside town of Sheringham.

Hilltop primarily offers comprehensive outdoor educational opportunities to Primary and Middle schools and Sixth Form / Further Education Colleges.

A learning experience a million miles outside the classroom!

Bushcraft is one of the most engaging activites for younger people available in the current age, whether they are working with fire, discovering wild foods, or tracking along the woodland ride, you will see eye's light up and an enthusiasm awaken that other activities just cannot bring.

We offer a wide range of activities for all ages and abilities. Please see the drop down headings for more information on each one.​

West Yorkshire's Ultimate Outdoor Adventure Centre

We are able to offer packages to schools in a specific time slot during the week day and, because the time slots are limited we are able to offer packages from £10.00 per student.

Condover Hall is a prestigious Elizabethan residential activity centre, hosting teambuilding and non-stop educational activity ideal for school children, sports groups, summer camps and corporate team building events and conferences alike.

We are specialists in providing outdoor activities for children on either school residential trips, youth group residentials, kids summer camps, junior and adult netball tournaments and family adventure holidays.

Welcome to Action Zone - As seen on Sky TV!

Every year we engage thousands of people of all ages with their local environment where they make a positive difference to their community.

Relive the story of our famous farming past in the beautiful surroundings of Aden Country Park

Long famed for high quality Aberdeen-Angus cattle, the North East contains a quarter of Scotland’s arable land and consequently farming is an essential feature of rural life. The award-winning Aberdeenshire Farming Museum at Aden Country Park brings alive the story of this famous farming past in the unique semi-circular Aden Estate home farm.

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