Bushcraft Courses for Schools

Bushcraft, Wilderness and Survival Lessons

Bushcraft is an exciting and engaging way for UK school children to learn about the natural world and develop important outdoor skills.

Quite a few of the outdoor adventure companies we work with have started adding bushcraft options to their school trip itineraries. Together with specialist bushcraft companies, they are making a great case for the teaching of sustainability and nature awareness courses.

From constructing simple shelters using only natural materials found in the local environment, to starting fires without matches or lighters, and even foraging to identify edible wild plants. In our modern age, we face an growing disconnect from our natural environment. Learning practical survival skills through Bushcraft is a great way for young people to reconnect with the environment. Or, take a look at our Forest School page if you are looking to give children an immersive connection with nature.

Speaking to some of the experts who have designed and run these outdoor bushcraft courses, we love what they have to offer school groups, and are keen to share them with you. We can offer you courses up and down the country, suitable for any key stage, from half day experiences to multi day adventures. We can even send bushcraft specialists to your school to teach your children on the school grounds. Take a look below or get in contact with us for more information.

Children living in urban areas often have very little contact with the great outdoors. Our woodlands and hills, rivers and streams are not part of their daily life, and many kids are completely detached from the natural world. Traditional residential activity holidays are great for getting school kids out in the fresh air, getting muddy, but a new breed of outdoor adventure trips are gaining serious momentum - the bushcraft trip - life without technology!

Want to book Bushcraft trips and workshops?

Let us find the Bushcraft adventure experience for your school trip




Popular school trip September 2026 !

Mill on the Brue Outdoor Activity Centre

location icon South West
apple iconBushcraft, Citizenship, Food, Physical Education, PSHE


Come and spend some time in our new wood where the bush craft activity takes place. The pupils will learn to light fires with a fire steel and build a shelter big enough for the whole group. We take the time to use enjoy the peace of being in the beautiful wood and learning about tree and plant id...

first image
second image
main photo



child on a crate stacking activity
Walton Firs Activity Centre
map pin London & South East

Walton Firs Activity Centre offers a growing curriculum of bushcraft-based activities, from taster sessions for the inexperienced, through to specialist weekend survival experiences! Please contact us for more information, or visit our website.
> read

Image for a residential school trip at Bishops Wood Field Centre Outdoor Activity centre in Derbyshire KS2 KS3 KS4 Field Studies School Trips
Bishops Wood Field Centre
map pin West Midlands

Identify basic survival needs, explore the woods, build a shelter and forage for wild foods. Follow a woodland trail and search for tracks and signs. A day filled with team building and...
> read

YHA Edale Activity Centre
YHA Edale Activity Centre
map pin East Midlands

Outdoor adventures in the Peak District don't get better than this! YHA Edale Activity Centre is a grand country house literally on the slopes of Kinder Scout, and surrounded by the gorgeous scenery of the valley.
> read

Edgmond Hall Centre for Outdoor Learning
Sole-Occupancy Residentials
map pin West Midlands

Our bushcraft sessions immerse pupils in hands?on outdoor learning that builds confidence, teamwork and a deep connection with the natural environment. Children learn essential woodland skills...
> read

Field Studies Council - London field sites
Field Studies Council - London field sites
map pin London & South East

Identify basic survival needs, explore the woods, build a shelter and forage for wild foods. Follow a woodland trail and search for tracks and signs. A day filled with team building, navigation skills...
> read

Rock climbing at Frank Chapman OEC
Frank Chapman Outdoor Education Centre
map pin West Midlands

Creating fires, building shelters and dens in our ancient oak forest is a memorable experience. We'll link the activities to your chosen aims and outcomes, and draw upon recreations of stone age processes and mastery of the environment!
> read

Rock climbing at Conway Centres Anglesey
Conway Centres Anglesey
map pin Wales

The aim is to help equip young people with the physical and mental skills to survive in the natural modern world. Each session aims to encourage young people to embrace nature, whilst cooperating and...
> read

Image for a residential school trip at Castle Head Field Centre Outdoor Activity centre in Cumbria KS2 KS3 KS4 Field Studies School Trips
Castle Head Field Centre
map pin North West

Identify basic survival needs, explore the woods, build a shelter and forage for wild foods. Follow a woodland trail and search for tracks and signs. A day filled with team building and...
> read

children on an activity obstacle course
Skern Adventure Abbotsham: Residential Trips
map pin South West

With over 12 acres of countryside and woodland, Skern Adventure Abbotsham provides the perfect environment for immersive bushcraft experiences. Students learn essential outdoor skills such as shelter...
> read

school children in green canadian canoes
Explore, Challenge and Grow
map pin Wales

We are located within Snowdonia, and in 18 acres of Meadow/Wood Land beside (and with access to) a Lake which we utilise whenever possible. Being in Snowdonia we also have access to the surrounding forests and mountains - with our trained instructors.
> read

aerial view of selson farm
Fallow Fields Selson Farm
map pin London & South East

Various bush craft based activities are offered in our specially designed bush craft area, including: Pioneering: Learn knot tying, lashing (tying spars together with rope), whipping (binding the...
> read

Image for a residential school trip at Slapton Ley Field Centre Activities Outdoor Activity centre in Hampshire KS2 KS3
Slapton Ley Field Centre
map pin South West

Identify basic survival needs, explore the woods, build a shelter and forage for wild foods. Follow a woodland trail and search for tracks and signs. A day filled with team building, navigation skills...
> read

Image for Team Building school workshops Primary and Secondary schools.
Team Building Outdoor Adventures
map pin West Midlands

Camp fire, den building and outdoor pizza making are all activities we offer. We also offer a woodland navigation activity which enhances our outdoor woodland offering. Children will enjoy toasting...
> read

Bronze Age artifacts on a red table
Beauty versus Bounty - A Bronze Age passion
map pin in-school workshop

When we talk about bushcraft in todays terms what we are really referring to is the skill set that everyone of our ancestors would have needed in order to survive. Our workshops offer a huge array of...
> read

group of school children team building and problem solving
Onsite School Team Building Days
map pin in-school workshop

Our bushcraft workshop provides a fantastic experience for students to engage in outdoor learning skills from fire lighting, bow drill work, shelter building, water filtration, orienteering and...
> read

children learning blindfolded trust exercises
Grafham Water Centre Residentials
map pin East of England

Unleash your inner adventurer at Grafham Water Centre! Learn to build shelters, light fires, and cook in the wild. Bushcraft teaches survival, science, and self-reliance in nature's classroom-perfect for schools, groups, and curious explorers of all ages!
> read

Image for a residential school trip at Dale Fort Field Centre Outdoor Activity centre in Pembrokeshire KS2 KS3 KS4 Field Studies School Trips
Dale Fort Field Centre
map pin Wales

Identify basic survival needs, explore the woods, build a shelter and forage for wild foods. Follow a woodland trail and search for tracks and signs. A day filled with team building and...
> read

Image for a residential school trip at Buzz Active Outdoor Activity centre in Sussex KS2 KS3 KS4 Adventure School Trips bushcraft archery adventurous school trips
Buzz Active Bushy Wood
map pin London & South East

We offer a great location to explore all aspects of forest School, and bushcraft/ fire craft. With an abundance of material for backwoods skills and bushcraft creativity. Bushy Wood has all you need...
> read

Image for a school trip at Leighton Hall in Lancashire KS2 KS3 KS4 History School Trips Victorians Bushcraft Wildlife and Art school trips
Leighton Hall
map pin North West

Bushcraft: Unique hands-on learning, with fully supervised sessions in bushcraft and survival skills and a role play "rescue". Including shaping wood, making a shelter, lighting a fire and fire safety. Activities include: Building a camp fire, wood whittling, making a shelter and foraging.
> read

children learning to sail in four sailing boats at grafham water
Grafham Water Centre Day Visits
map pin East of England

Discover the thrill of bushcraft at Grafham Water Centre! Young adventurers learn essential survival skills like fire lighting, shelter building, and outdoor cooking-boosting confidence, teamwork, and a deeper connection with nature in a fun, hands-on environment.
> read

So what is Bushcraft?

A bushcraft school trip is primarily designed to get children out of the classroom and into the wild (or as wild as we get in the UK), for a true nature experience. By the end of the course, especially if you are giving them a multi day experience, your school group will have a better understanding of our natural environment, and the children will have gained some practical and valuable outdoor skills. The type of knowledge that would have been commonplace to among our ancestors, but which many of us would now struggle with.

The typical school bushcraft trip will be aimed at beginners, giving everyone a chance to try lots of fun and challenging activities. Pupils will be taught how to safely enjoy a range of outdoor crafts, including camping and survival. Specific topics will include foraging for food, food preparation – build an open fire to keep you warm and to fill your tummies by cooking fish or meat, shelter building – guess where you are sleeping tonight! Learn to make a safe and secure shelter to keep you dry and warm, sourcing and filtering water, making tools out of natural materials, identifying plants and trees, tracking and navigation skills, crafts and much more.

bushcraft course
bushcraft for schools
bushcraft skills
bushcraft lessons

Stone Age bushcraft

Looking for something a bit different? Our friends at The Stone Age Company offer multi day residentials in woodland locations, or short day and half day courses at your school, suitable for and tailored to all key stages. Get hands on with cave art, fat lamps and stone tools in this incredible stone age experience – feedback from teachers who have been on this courses is extremely enthusiastic! Read more about this one here: Stone Age Bushcraft Course



feature thumbnail

How Schools Can Integrate Bushcraft into Outdoor Learning

Bushcraft introduces students to essential survival and traditional skills that have been passed down through generations. Learning these skills gives young people a sense of achievement and confidence, especially when students see...

feature thumbnail

Woodland Activity Days Proving Popular at Oaker Wood

A school residential or activity day at Oaker Wood gives children the opportunity to develop valuable life skills while enjoying the great outdoors. From learning practical survival techniques to gaining a deeper...

Simplify school trip planning!

Get school trip ideas by email. Unsubscribe at any time, we won't share your email with anyone else, just send you all the best offers and inspiration for your next class trip!

Join The Staffroom