Woodcraft School offer the first and only accredited course designed specifically for bushcraft instruction in the UK. We have written the qualification together with the NCFE who are the regulating body.

Previously we wrote and delivered a similar course at Plumpton College. We used a large mix of existing outdoor awards at various levels because, until then, no qualification was available specifically for bushcraft instruction. Now this unique instructor programme is being run solely by Woodcraft School and has been designed for budding bushcraft instructors or those already in the field wanting a formal qualification to their name. The course is divided into 4 mandatory categories and covers the following subjects in depth:

Outdoor Living Skills - bushcraft skills including fire, water, shelter, equipment and clothing, backcountry cooking techniques, food hygiene (cert), navigation and hygiene.

Natural History - plant identification and use, tracking skills, wild foods, habitat and woodland management, ecology and conservation.

Craft - tool use and selection, tree felling and timber conversion and craft items including barkcraft, cordage, carving and bow making.

Lead and Instruct groups in Nature based Outdoor Learning - instructional & teaching techniques, legislation for outdoor practitioners, codes of practice and risk assessment.

Also included in the course teaching is a 5 day Remote Response First Aid training, Basic Expedition Leaders Award - BEL, and Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate.

Accreditation
This entire qualification has been accredited by the NCFE as a level three qualification. This means that the subjects mentioned above are studied at an advanced level. The process of accreditation is run by the NCFE who are responsible for the quality assurance and control it in exactly the same format as any other wards they run.

Certification
The qualification is endorsed throughout by the NCFE who are responsible for certification. Successful candidates will receive a Certificate in Bushcraft Leadership Level 3 with both Woodcraft School and the NCFE logo present. You will also receive a sew on badge with the logo as at the top of the page.

Class of 2007 completing June '08 (click on picture for reviews)

Class of 2008 completing June '09 (click on picture for reviews)

Classes of 2009 completing June '10 (reviews coming soon)

Class of 2007-8: read their reviews here
Class of 2008-9: read some of their reviews here
Classes of 2009-10: reveiws coming soon
See the Gallery page
Interview dates for 2010 now available - scroll down for info

This programmme is designed to equip you with the skills needed to instruct Bushcraft / Woodcraft courses and to lead groups in lowland Britain. The programme is working towards you achieving a certificate from a national awarding body in both expedition and leadership skills, as well as field study skills.

To get the most out of this course we would expect students to have at least a basic knowledge and understanding of the outdoor environment and outdoor industry. Our Advanced Bushcraft Award Level 3 is an ideal entry into this course. 

To allow flexibility for the students, the course is taught over a full academic year consisting of 10 x five day blocks which start on Wednesdays and finish on Sundays. We have found this system allows students to attend the course and still remain fully employed.

Progression

The course also focuses on personal and professional development and will help identify specific needs and areas for further study to enable easy access into specific career paths. Past students have progressed to a variety of careers from setting up schools, becoming freelance instructors and finding roles as educational rangers or field studies officers.

If you have any questions or would like more information about this course please feel free to contact us for an informal chat.

Fees

Please note that this is not a funded course and therefore we are unable to offer student funding that might be available in other colleges. We do have payment options, from regular standing orders to 3 month lump sum payments.

Attendance dates –please note these dates are compulsory. Due to demand, we are putting on a second course starting in October 2010.

Details
Selection is interview based. Once we have processed your enquiry (see form below) then you will most probably be invited for interview and we have 1 new date available - however, if you cannot make any of the interview dates please do contact us anyway as we have some other options

Max course size is 16

You can download the course information booklet and enquiry form below or if you have not got a printer then please contact us on 01730 816299 so we can arrange to send you one.

If you would like to apply for this course then see the Student Information Pack below together with the application form which should printed off and sent back to us.

Course information- pdf document

Enquiry Form- pdf document