Practical, accredited training for adults working with children and young people
Give children the opportunity to explore, create and develop practical outdoor skills, with the confidence that activities are being introduced safely, responsibly and progressively. Our five-day Bushcraft with Children course is designed for teachers, teaching assistants, outdoor educators, youth workers, community practitioners and group leaders who want to incorporate bushcraft into their work. This is a practical, hands-on course leading to the Level 2 Award in Bushcraft Skills.
When used thoughtfully, bushcraft can give children meaningful opportunities to:
- Develop confidence and independence
- Solve practical problems
- Work collaboratively
- Manage appropriate risks
- Build patience, resilience and perseverance
- Learn about natural materials and resources
- Strengthen their connection with the natural world
- Experience a genuine sense of achievement
Activities can be adapted for different ages, abilities and settings, making bushcraft a valuable addition to outdoor learning, youth work and community programmes.
What will you learn?
The course develops your knowledge, personal competence and confidence across a range of bushcraft skills, including:
- Bushcraft health, safety and legal responsibilities
- Risk–benefit assessment and safe group management
- Selecting, checking and using tools safely
- Fire lighting, fire management and extinguishing
- Choosing suitable firewood and understanding wood properties
- Campcraft, shelters, knots and cordage
- Identifying and using natural materials responsibly
- Recognising useful, unsuitable and potentially harmful plants or materials
- Caring for equipment and maintaining safe working practices
- Communicating and demonstrating practical skills clearly
Who is this course for?
This course is suitable for:
- Teachers and teaching assistants
- Outdoor learning practitioners
- Youth and community workers
- Rangers and environmental educators
- Scout, Guide and youth group leaders
- Holiday club and childcare practitioners
- Adults responsible for delivering outdoor activities with groups
You do not need to arrive as a bushcraft expert. Our friendly and experienced tutors will help you develop your skills progressively and understand how to use them confidently within your own professional practice.
Entry requirements
The course is suitable for anyone who would benefit from developing fundamental bushcraft knowledge and practical skills.
Learners should:
- Have literacy and numeracy skills at approximately Level 2.
- Be able to undertake self-directed study and complete a portfolio.
Assessment
The qualification is assessed through a combination of:
- Tutor-observed practical assessments.
- A learner portfolio or workbook covering all assessment criteria.
- Evidence of practical work, such as observation records, annotated photographs, video evidence, witness statements or peer observation.
- Evidence of completed bushcraft products and practical tasks.
Practical assessment includes safe tool use, shelter building, fire lighting and management, making a bushcraft implement, collecting water, tree identification, natural cordage and finding direction using natural indicators.
You will have 6 months to complete the portfolio for this course.
Book online or contact for invoice (If you wish to receive an invoice for this course, please contact the office, and this can be arranged)
Course dates: 12,13,19 Novemeber 2026
Skills assessment days: 20 and 27th November
Running from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm each day
This course is held at Heath Farm , Swerford , Chipping Norton
