BushcraFt
Do you want to get back to nature? Learn about how to survive in your natural surroundings? Then a bushcraft activity is for you. There are opportunities to create shelters, make fires ‘for a purpose’ and join in campsite cooking. Under supervision, groups can work with a range of different tools to whittle and work with wood. There are opportunites to spend a night under the stars bivvying out or in one of our tipees.
Enjoy being part of nature and fending for yourself
Fire
Lighting fires provides a fantastic opportunity to look at safe and responsible fire lighting techniques. We make sure we ‘leave no trace’ after we have used a particular site. We can look at different trees and find the best fallen branches as fuel for our fire. This can be a perfect introduction to using the natural environment responsibly, to learn about a variety of survival skills. It can also be a great addition for those students who have already gained some experience of this environment through the Forest Schools programme. A fire is often incorporated into a canoe journey on the Menai Straits.
Outdoor Cooking
We will use the fire to cook on. This can be simply finding green sticks to toast marshmallows but often be cooking pancakes, a great lunch time treat as part of a canoe journey! For longer courses we can look at skinning a rabbit or baking bread using the hot embers.
Shelter Building & Whittling
Using what wood we find the groups can create shelters of all sizes. These may be small for emergency cover or large enough to spend a night out among the trees.
Whittling is also popular, teaching safe practice and use of knives. The group can create pointed sticks for marshmallows or decorative items like flowers or more practical tools.
Learning Outcomes
For Outdoor Education Courses
- Learn about the natural environment and promote minimising impact we have upon nature.
- Unstructured time to freely explore the outdoors.
- Work together as a team to look after each other and complete common goals.
- Understand fire and the associated hazards.
Activity Venues
For a short session we can use the grounds of Arete Outdoor Centre. We often use the woods around Llyn Padarn or the Menai Straits both of which can be combined with canoe journeys.
A more dedicated day of bushcraft in the forests south of Beddgelert work well for quiet surroundings.
Bushcraft Courses
Bushcraft forms part of our outdoor education courses at Arete. Through the outdoor adventures, and residential stay, we incorporate a range of educational benefits for the pupils. It is often incorporated into a canoe journey, but can also be run as a stand alone activity.
Courses of all lengths available throughout the year. A dedicated and experienced instructor is allocated per group. They will tailor the outdoor education programme, that will be flexible to adjust to pupil progression and weather.
Costs: As an example, a 5 day fully catered course starts from just £235 per pupil for courses in November – February.
How to Book: Please email info@aretecentre.co.uk or use our contact form. Let us know the time of year, approximate size of course, year group and any aspirations or learning objectives you may have.
See our Primary or Secondary section from more information on our outdoor education courses. We also have a general Teachers & Leaders Guide.
All of our activities, including bushcraft, can be booked as a private session for any type of group. Bushcraft is normally combined with one other activity for a full multi-activity day with a canoe journey being the most practical and popular.
Costs: Regardless of activity combinations, £70 per person for a full day of activity, £50 per person for half day of activity. Minimum payment of £280 for a full day or £200 for a half day of activity.
Discounts: For groups, every 10th person can attend for free. 10% discount for schools, colleges, scouts & guides, cadets and certain youth charities.
Ratios: We run our courses at low ratios of 1:11 or less to ensure your safety and maximum participation.
Included: Safety kit, wetsuit and / or waterproofs as necessary. Transport can also be provided if you’re staying at Arete Outdoor Centre.
How to Book: Please email info@aretecentre.co.uk or use our contact form. Let us know your preferred date, approximate size of course, ages and any aspirations or learning objectives you may have.
More information: Please see our page on Adult Groups, Youth Groups or Family Activity.
We run Gold DofE Residential courses and Summer Camps during the holidays. Bushcraft can form a part of this 5 day multi-activity course. The accommodation is fully catered. You will meet like-minded individuals and have a great week of adventure.
2020 Dates: 20-24 July, 17-21 August, 24-28 August
Cost: £300 per person fully catered
How to Book: Please email info@aretecentre.co.uk or use our contact form. Let us know you preferred date.
More information: See our Gold Residential or Summer Camp page. Alternatively contact us if you have further questions.
Bushcraft forms part of our outdoor education courses at Arete. Through the outdoor adventures, and residential stay, we incorporate a range of educational benefits for the pupils. It is often incorporated into a canoe journey, but can also be run as a stand alone activity.
Courses of all lengths available throughout the year. A dedicated and experienced instructor is allocated per group. They will tailor the outdoor education programme, that will be flexible to adjust to pupil progression and weather.
Costs: As an example, a 5 day fully catered course starts from just £235 per pupil for courses in November – February.
How to Book: Please email info@aretecentre.co.uk or use our contact form. Let us know the time of year, approximate size of course, year group and any aspirations or learning objectives you may have.
See our Primary or Secondary section from more information on our outdoor education courses. We also have a general Teachers & Leaders Guide.
All of our activities, including bushcraft, can be booked as a private session for any type of group. Bushcraft is normally combined with one other activity for a full multi-activity day with a canoe journey being the most practical and popular.
Costs: Regardless of activity combinations, £70 per person for a full day of activity, £50 per person for half day of activity.
Minimum payment of £280 for a full day or £200 for a half day of activity.
Discounts: For groups, every 10th person can attend for free. 10% discount for schools, colleges, scouts & guides, cadets and certain youth charities.
Ratios: We run our courses at low ratios of 1:11 or less to ensure your safety and maximum participation.
Included: Safety kit, wetsuit and / or waterproofs as necessary. Transport can also be provided if you’re staying at Arete Outdoor Centre.
How to Book: Please email info@aretecentre.co.uk or use our contact form. Let us know your preferred date, approximate size of course, year group and any aspirations or learning objectives you may have.
More information: Please see our page on Adult Groups, Youth Groups or Family Activity.
We run Gold DofE Residential courses and Summer Camps during the holidays. Bushcraft can form a part of this 5 day multi-activity course. The accommodation is fully catered. You will meet like-minded individuals and have a great week of adventure.
2018 Dates: 9-13 April, 20-24 August, 27-31 August, 3-7 September.
Cost: £295 per person fully catered
How to Book: Please email info@aretecentre.co.uk or use our contact form. Let us know you preferred date.
More information: See our Gold Residential or Summer Camp page. Alternatively contact us if you have further questions.
ENVIRONMENT
This provides a fantastic opportunity to look at safe and responsible fire lighting and how to ‘leave no trace’ after we have used a particular site. We can look at different trees around and which of the fallen twigs and branches are the best wood for our fire. This can be a perfect introduction to using the natural environment responsibly, to learn about a variety of survival skills, and can also be a great addition for those students who have already gained some experience of this environment through the Forest Schools programme.COURSES
As with our other activities, bushcraft can be booked by private Adult or Family Groups. Prices start at £195 for two people with each additional person (up to a maximum group size of 10) adding £15 to the cost. Contact us for available dates. Bushcraft is an integral part of most of our Schools and Youth courses at Arete. Example 5 day catered residential from £235 per pupil. Combined with a canoe journey, bushcraft could well be integrated into either the multi-activity or water-based Gold DofE Residentials or young persons’ Summer Camps.
