Woodland feasts: Food, fire and learning with The Bushcraft Company 

Our menus change daily, with a wide variety of exciting dishes made from high-quality ingredients, including farm-assured meats, free-range eggs, and MSC-approved fish. All meals are served hot, and we proudly aim to cater to every dietary need, whether vegan, vegetarian, halal, gluten-free, or lactose-free. Every camp is also completely nut-free, giving peace of mind to teachers and parents alike. 

Cooking skills in the curriculum 

Food plays an important role in the national curriculum, particularly in Design & Technology. At a Buschcraft camp, your students don’t just eat well, they also have the opportunity to learn practical cooking skills in a unique woodland environment. 

Through our Wilderness Cookery activities, your students will: 

• Prepare and cook their own burgers or hearty stews over a campfire. 

• Experience the art of making wood-fired pizzas in our outdoor ovens. 

• Develop safe fire-handling and food-preparation skills. 

• Learn about the importance of sourcing sustainable ingredients. 

An example of one of our Wilderness Cookery activities is our Salmon Ponassing Activity; a perfect blend of learning, fun, and flavour! The session kicks off with a live demonstration on how to expertly fillet a salmon, followed by some fascinating ‘fishy facts’ that reveal just how incredible these creatures are. Then you’ll watch and learn different techniques for cooking salmon over an open fire, transforming the fresh catch into smoky, mouthwatering bites. And of course, the best part, tasting your fire-cooked salmon snack at the end! 

These hands-on activities directly support curriculum aims such as: 

• Understanding the principles of nutrition and healthy eating. 

• Learning how to cook a repertoire of savoury dishes. 

• Developing a curiosity about where food comes from and how it is prepared. 

“There’s something really special about cooking in the great outdoors, the smells of the fire, the crackle of the wood, and the excitement from the students as they tuck into a meal they’ve just prepared. We take real pride in making food that’s not only nutritious and high-quality, but also memorable. For many of the young people who come to camp, it’s the first time they’ve eaten a meal cooked over an open fire or pulled a pizza straight from a wood-fired oven, and that’s an experience they’ll never forget.”
— Simon Caple, Head of Catering, The Bushcraft Company 

More than just a meal 

Cooking outdoors is an incredible way to bring learning to life. Students see first-hand how heat, fire, and natural resources can be harnessed to create nourishing meals. Working in small groups to prepare food encourages teamwork, communication, and problem-solving – all valuable life skills that extend far beyond the classroom. And, of course, there’s nothing quite like sharing a hot meal with friends in the fresh woodland air!