Exploring the natural world through the skills of bushcraft together as a family, is both rewarding and immensely satisfying. There are few things more in keeping with natures pace than an evening together around a cheery campfire, sharing stories and jokes.
Fresh air, sleeping in the outdoors, lighting fires, building shelters and just being together. This is a perfect way to spend time with your loved ones and learn a little more about our natural heritage.
Further Information
It can seem as though every aspect of modern life is conspiring to pull the family apart. This two night course offers you the chance to be a family in the old way, exploring the joys and secrets of nature together.
Memories such as these are priceless:
Making a campfire
Making shelters
Nature awareness
Animal Tracking
Recognition of useful plants and trees
Campfire games
Campfire stories
The Family Bushcraft course is designed to not only be a fun few days with your family enjoying being out in the woods, but also to give you some knowledge of the core skills involved within bushcraft. It is a fantastic way to learn together and experience some of the wildlife the woodland has to offer.
This course will start at 16:00 on day 1 and will finish at 16:00 on day 3.
Catering
This course is self-catering, so please bring enough food for the duration of the course and a stove to cook it on. Many clients have found in the past, bringing a cool box is useful to keep all of your food inside.
Course Site
The Family Bushcraft course will take place at an expedition style camp in East Sussex. The camp is situated in beautiful private woodland with no public access with lots of wildlife including deer, owls, badgers, fox and butterflies. We do not have shower/toilet blocks at our sites, therefore all aspects of the course will have a fantastic wilderness feel, using a screened camp shower and a screened latrine in the woods.
We have a car park at the course site where you your car will be kept during the course (if you bring one).
Other Details
Please note: Each place booked on this course is for one person only, so each course attendee must have their own booking.
Please call the office for bookings of 4 people or more for a group discount.
Joining instructions will be sent to participants of the course 9 weeks before it is due to start, giving details of where to meet, at what time, and what to bring with you.
Course Dates
This course is coming soon. If you want to be informed when this course is allocated a starting date, please sign up for course notifications below.
Course Reviews
Family Bushcraft is rated 5/5 based on 10 customer reviews.
All of our reviews are from people who have attended our courses.
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1 of 10
This was a great experience for my son and I. The location was great (helped by the excellent weather) and the instructors were both very knowledgeable and very friendly. We learned a lot in a short space of time and the experience has really whetted our appetites for this kind of thing. My son especially is very interested in tracking and foraging now, and I hope his renewed interest in the outdoors continues. If any other courses become available for kids his age (10) then we'd be very interested.
Darren Anstee
Rated: 5/5
2 of 10
Really enjoyed the course - the instructors were knowledgeable, approachable, and very friendly. I was concerned my son's head was going to crack in half he was smiling that much!
A Colebrook
Rated: 5/5
3 of 10
I have just returned from the Family Bushcraft course in East Sussex, with my 12 year old daughter Eliza. What a fantastic experience!! She was probably the oldest of the children on the course, but this was not a problem, as everyone made her feel so welcome (adults and children alike).
The setting was excellent, the weather kind, and the course content and instructors, Nick, Tom and Steve of who we wish to thank so much for making it a great weekend. Everything was so well explained and even though we spend a great deal of time outdoors in our normal lives, the course provided so much more that we can use in the future.
The night out under the tarp, was also in many ways a highlight!! - even though the sleep was a little patchy!
Our thanks to the team and hope to make it to another course in the future.
Paul & Eliza Stenning
Rated: 5/5
4 of 10
Keith and the team on the Family Bushcraft course made my son feel comfortable and confident, at ease and able to express himself in a way where none of his self-consciousness came to the fore in any meaningful way. When his mild autism began to bubble it was sympathetically dealt with - the time you (Keith) brought him back in while he was becoming frustrated with the fire was wonderful. He made a connection with his surroundings, with the staff and with the other members of the group - all of which can be challenging for him at times and none of which were difficult for him this weekend.
Robin
Rated: 5/5
5 of 10
Thanks to Sarah, Nick and Dave for a well organised and very enjoyable introduction to Bushcraft. The activities were pitched at just the right level to be interesting to both adults and children. The staff were very knowledgeable, patient and happy to help. The activities kept me and my nine year old son occupied both mentally and physically and we both learned a lot in two days.
I can think of no better way to spend a weekend than in the woods, learning from experts and spending time in good company around a camp fire.
The best way to learn is to get out there and do it with the experts.
Graham Hay
Rated: 5/5
6 of 10
A massive thank you to Sarah, Nick and Dave for a fantastic weekend on the Family Bushcraft course. It was very special spending time with my 10-yr-old son and bonding over fire-making and being brave enough to sleep under a tarp! We will be back next year with our next oldest child :-)
C Barton
Rated: 5/5
7 of 10
Just a note to say thanks for a wonderful course
The instructors were knowledgeable, professional, friendly and very welcoming. The woods camp set up was professional and very safe. I was a bit apprehensive before I came in respect of how safe the activities and facilities would be, given I was bringing my young daughter, however it was clear a lot of thought had gone into the camp, the course and the safety arrangements.
It’s just a pity you guys didn’t do any of the family or junior courses a bit further North - we had a 7 hour trip down but it was worth it.
I must say that the course was everything I was expecting from the Ray Mears organisation - good basic field craft delivered professionally and with thought by approachable experts. I’m ex-Army and have spent a few years camping out, but this course taught me a lot.
My daughter is still buzzing with it and wants to do the Junior Fundamental Bushcraft course.
I’m really grateful for the chance to spend some time on one of your courses.
Harrison
Rated: 5/5
8 of 10
Would love to thank the team for a great few days. Ryan and myself left the course with better knowledge and a greater understanding of the outdoors, really shown and explained well. Highly recommend the course to other families and we particularly enjoyed sleeping in the leaf shelter (apologizes for sleeping in and thanks Ross for waking us up). Such a good experience all round and enjoyed meeting other families (good company). Again, thanks to everyone and can't wait till Ryan is a little older to go on the Junior course.
Paul Mcinerney
Rated: 5/5
9 of 10
Hi Folks, I just want to say a huge thankyou to the team; Nick, Ross, Callum, Suzie, who looked after us on the family bushcraft course this weekend. We had a fantastic time on the course, learned loads, made some great memories and will be back when we can as well as giving it a go on our own too. Many many thanks to four great people who are indeed generous with their great skills. Andrea, Tony, Amber and Scarlett.
Andrea Andrews
Rated: 5/5
10 of 10
Dear Woodlore
I wanted to write and thank you all for the great time Leah and I had on the Family Bushcraft Course (25-27th July) We had been looking forward to it for over a year and it was worth the wait.
One of the things that made it so good was the friendliness, helpfulness, patience and professionalism of the instructors. They were all very individual but came together to represent Woodlore in the best way.
I think the content and pace of the course was just right for the age range and kept them interested but not over loaded. I also learnt a tremendous amount by doing hands on what you can't really absorb from reading. The setting for the course was ideal (other than being a long drive from Leeds!) and allowed us to explore the woodland but not be 'punished' for leaving things in the car.
I would recommend the course to anyone with a young family and look forward to myself and Leah being able to participate in future courses and also Leah's sister Isobel, when she is old enough.
David Marson
Rated: 5/5
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Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to frequently asked questions about this course can be found here. If you have a question about this course, please contact us.
We do not have toilet and shower blocks at our course sites, preferring to use more simple and natural facilities. The toilet is simply a trench dug into the ground in a secluded spot, just like you would use when on a trip in the wilderness. We provide a container with toilet paper, hand gel and matches. This is a hygienic, easy and practical method. If you would like to have a shower, we have a canvas bag shower in a private area and a bucket for heating water over the fire. You may find it useful to bring some flip flops or similar to avoid getting your feet dirty while showering.
Yes, we carry on whatever the weather. We will obviously try to keep everyone as sheltered as possible when it is raining and some of the schedule may be altered but the course in its entirety will take place.