Language Learning Experiences
Outdoor Education Experiences
Forest School sessions give children something a classroom rarely can: time, space and freedom to learn by doing in a real woodland. At The Bushcraft Company, we see it every day. Pupils who hang back on day one are lighting fires, leading shelter builds and cheering on their friends by the end of their stay.
Children today spend more time indoors and on screens than any generation before them. Teachers tell us the same thing again and again: pupils need more chances to take healthy risks, work as a team and switch off from the pressure of tests. Forest School offers exactly that.
Forest School is a child-led approach to outdoor learning. Rather than following a rigid lesson plan, children explore, ask questions and build skills at their own pace, supported by experienced instructors. The woodland becomes the classroom, and every den, campfire and muddy boot becomes part of the lesson.
In this guide, we look at the key benefits of Forest School sessions, what a session at The Bushcraft Company looks like, and how your school can get involved.
Forest School is built on small, achievable challenges. Tying a knot, whittling a stick or getting a fire going with a flint and steel all give children a clear moment of success. Each win builds on the last. Children who spend entire afternoons perfecting mud pie recipes with their friends, and leading creative games balancing on logs, develop essential social and developmental life skills.
In a carefully managed environment, children learn to assess risk for themselves. Climbing, using tools and working around a campfire teach them to think before they act and to keep going when something doesn’t work first time. A shelter that collapses is not a failure. It is a chance to try again, and that mindset is one of the most valuable things a child can take away.
Time in nature helps children feel calmer and more focused. Away from screens, bells and busy timetables, pupils can slow down, breathe and simply enjoy being outside. Many teachers notice that quieter or anxious pupils open up in the woodland, where there is less pressure and more room to be themselves.
Building a den big enough for the whole group or cooking a meal over an open fire can’t be done alone. Forest School activities naturally encourage children to share ideas, listen to each other, take turns and solve problems together. These are the same skills that make classrooms calmer and friendships stronger back at school.
Forest School is hands-on learning at its best. Science comes alive through identifying trees and minibeasts. Maths turns up in measuring, estimating and building. Literacy grows as children describe their adventures, tell stories round the fire and learn new vocabulary. Learning by doing helps knowledge stick in a way a worksheet rarely can.
Walking over uneven ground, carrying logs, sawing and climbing all build strength, balance and coordination. Children also learn practical, real-world skills such as safe tool use, fire lighting and outdoor cooking. For many pupils, it is the first time they have tried any of these, and they are hugely proud of what they can do.
Children protect what they love. Spending time in a real woodland helps young people understand how the natural world works, from the trees that shelter them to the wildlife they spot along the way. That connection lays the foundations for a lifelong respect for the environment.
Our woodland adventures are designed for pupils from early years, reception, to years 1, 2 & 3, making them a brilliant fit for both primary and early secondary schools.
Every programme can be shaped around your school’s goals, whether that is wellbeing, teamwork, curriculum links or simply giving pupils an adventure they will never forget.
At The Bushcraft Company, Forest School learning happens in some of the most beautiful private woodlands in England. Pupils swap the classroom for the trees and spend their time building, exploring, cooking and creating, guided by our experienced instructors.
A typical session might include:
We welcome schools to our woodland sites in Gloucestershire, Kent, Hertfordshire and Northamptonshire, each set within a stunning private estate. Every site gives pupils a true sense of adventure while staying safe, secure and easy to reach for schools across the country.
Safety comes first in everything we do. The Bushcraft Company holds the LOtC Quality Badge and the AAIAC Adventuremark, is RoSPA accredited and is a member of BAPA. Last year, we welcomed over 23,900 students to our sites.
Forest School skills come into their own on a residential trip. Pupils sleep in cosy bell tents in the woods, while teachers enjoy bell tents with real beds and a dedicated teacher area with tea, coffee and fresh snacks every day. It is the perfect way to give children a real back-to-nature adventure.
Forest School is a child-led approach to outdoor learning that takes place in a natural woodland setting. Children learn through hands-on activities such as shelter building, fire lighting and nature exploration, building confidence, resilience and practical skills as they go.
The key benefits of Forest School include greater confidence and self-esteem, stronger resilience, better wellbeing, improved teamwork and communication, hands-on curriculum learning, physical development and a deeper connection with nature.
We welcome pupils from Year 3 and above, including Key Stage 2 groups and Year 7 and Key Stage 3 groups.
Yes. All activities are led by experienced instructors and carefully risk assessed. The Bushcraft Company holds the LOtC Quality Badge and AAIAC Adventuremark, is RoSPA accredited and is a member of BAPA.
Our woodland sites are in Gloucestershire, Kent, Hertfordshire and Northamptonshire.
Comfortable outdoor clothes that can get muddy, sturdy footwear and layers, plus a waterproof jacket. We will send a full kit list when you book.
Forest School sessions give children the confidence, resilience and teamwork skills they need to thrive, both in the woods and back in the classroom. At The Bushcraft Company, we make it easy for schools to give every pupil a real outdoor adventure.
Ready to take your class into the woods? Get in touch with our friendly team today to talk through your goals, dates and favourite site, and we will build the perfect Forest School experience for your pupils.
