Open
College
Network Qualification
Level 1 & 2
Real Adventure, Real Learning
Enriching the lives
of young
people
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 of Woodland Survival Crafts has spent many years
developing programmes for young people, especially those who
struggle with more conventional education.
Following this experience Dave developed the "Woodland Survival
Skills (Bushcraft)" course in conjunction with the North East
Midlands Open College Network. It is the first (OCN Level 1 &
2) of its kind.
The Woodland Survival Skills (Bushcraft) course is now
additionally accredited with the Duke of Edinburgh's Awards
scheme and is accepted as the residential part of the Gold
Award.
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Natural
Pathways is proud and excited to be a leading part in
pioneering a brand new, nationally recognised certification
in Woodland Survival Skills (Bushcraft) in Kent.
This groundbreaking
course has been
developed to give young people a practical foundation in Woodland
Survival Skills and achieve a worthwhile
qualification.
This
course will draw out the very best in young people by teaching
them practical skills like shelter building, friction fire
lighting, cooking on open fires and nature awareness. These
skills have a remarkable way of inspiring young
people… helping them to gain confidence…
recognise their talents… and sometimes help them
let go of their past troubles and move on with renewed
hope.
Our Vision at
Natural
Pathways is to give young people from all walks of life the
opportunity to learn the ancient knowledge of our ancestors and
the art and science of Bushcraft/Survival and Nature
Awareness.
It is our desire to impart this knowledge through explanation,
demonstration and hands on practical experience our wish is to
share our love of Nature and its resources, to show that we are a
part of Nature and not separate from it.
Our teaching incorporates practical skills, nature awareness
games, story telling and sharing the knowledge that you have so
that we can learn along side you
We have worked with various groups’ children and young
people within various organisations like “The
Prince’s Trust” “Raleigh International”
“Footsteps” and “ Kent County Council Social
Services” namely Key Training Services and The Motiv8
Programmes.
We have a range of activities, which are designed to motivate
and engage young people these activities also allow young people
communicate at different levels. Bushcraft/survival skills is a
wonderful medium it allows people to explore nature through their
awareness of who they are and what their relationship is with the
natural world of which they are not separate.
Nature awareness is about understanding your part within your
environment each programme can be tailor made to suit the groups
and your needs.
Young Adults
Through work carried out in South Africa, the
USA,
Australia and New Zealand, it has been shown that wilderness
experience carries with it a healing capacity and can be used to
augment work with youth at risk and young offenders.
In South Africa, initiatives have been used extensively to help
develop leadership skills in youth at risk, bring rival gangs
together and work on personal reform in young offenders.
www.wilderness-trust.org
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Woodland
Survival Skills
1
OCN Level 1 & 2
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The course
begins with
a 24-hour “taster” session. The aim of the session is
to give the students a thorough grounding in basic Bushcraft.
They will be taught practical Bushcraft skills and some theory.
This session is the most important because it provides a sound
foundation on which to build.
It also highlights the need for responsible behaviour and
encouraging a happy, open and safe working environment.
Over the 24-hour period a number of essential skills will be
covered:
- Health, Safety And Personal
Hygiene
- Working Together And Looking
After Each
Other
- Construction Of Shelters
Using Natural
Materials
- Identifying Wild Foods
- Food Preparation
- Lighting Fires By Friction
- Cooking On Open Fires
- Making String And Cordage
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24-Hour
Activity
Programme
(This can be split into day sessions over a number of
weeks)
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Day 1
Introductions
Health And Safety Briefing
Programme Outline
Shelter Construction
Lighting Fires By Friction
Building & Lighting Fires
Personal Hygiene
Food Hygiene And Preparation
Cooking an Evening Meal
Care Taking
Nature Awareness Games
Sleep in Shelters
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Day 2
Breakfast
Making String And Cordage
Identifying Wild Foods
Nature Awareness Games
Break Camp
Course Review And Feedback
Depart
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On completion of this phase, all
students will
receive a well-earned Natural Pathways Woodland Survival Skills
Certificate.
Students can then move onto the next phase of training. At
this stage the student, group leaders and tutors all need to
agree whether it would be in the best interests of the student to
continue onto the next level of the program. This discussion is
essential as the next phase of training is more adventurous in
nature.
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Woodland
Survival Skills
2
OCN Level 1 & 2
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In this
phase of the
programme the main focus is on getting the student ready for the
OCN assessment.
We build on and expand the foundation skills learned earlier.
New techniques are introduced and new skills developed over a
48-hour period.
New subjects covered in this phase are:
- Use And Care Of Equipment
- Water Collection And
Purification
- Nature Awareness
- Improvisation
Now the students really start to come into their own. Because
this is a 48-hour session with a more focussed group of students,
they really begin to flourish.
During this session the tutor and instructors will discuss with
each student the level of certification they are aiming for. Time
will be spent explaining how the assessment is made, answering
questions and reducing any fears the student may have.
When everyone is comfortable and clear about the assessment
objectives, students can then be registered with the Open
College.
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48-Hour
Activity
Programme
(This can be split into day sessions over a number of
weeks)
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Day 1
Arrival
Introductions
Health And Safety Briefing
Programme Outline
Advanced Shelter
Bow Drill Fire by Friction
Building & Lighting Fires
Safe use of Knives
Nature Awareness Games
Sleeping in Shelter
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Day 2
Breakfast
Forest Furniture
String/Cordage
Woodland Provisions
Wild Foods
Wilderness Cookery
Whistle Making
Nature Awareness Games
Nature Awareness Games
Sleeping in Shelter
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Day 3
Breakfast
Collect Water/Purify
Prep for Assessment
Care Taking & Break Camp
Depart
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Woodland
Survival Skills
3
OCN Level 1 & 2
Course Assessment
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The
assessment is aimed at finding out what students can physically
demonstrate and explain in simple terms. Photographs, verbal
questions and simple forms, which can be filled in by the student
with the assessor's help if necessary, are the methods of
assessment. Every effort is made to ensure that a student who can
demonstrate and explain their understanding is not disadvantaged
because of their possible limitations with pen and paper.
Once in the wood, students pair up and are given the tasks of
building a shelter and bed using the resources available;
lighting a fire with the materials provided; and cooking their
food.
On the second day they show the instructor individually how to
make string, filter water and find wild food.
Cost Of Course
Number of students per course: 6 - 12
Woodland Survival Skills Part 1: £ 700.00
Woodland Survival Skills Part 2: £1200.00
Woodland Survival Skills Part 3: £ 950.00
Total:
£2850.00
(The cost for the complete package
is
£475 per student if 6 students attending and £237.50
per student if 12 students attending.)
Arranging and booking a Course
Please contact us to discuss your requirements and arrange suitable dates, following that we provide a booking form and nominal roll below for your completion. We strongly
advise that you read the terms and conditions. On receipt of your
deposit and booking form we will send a Further Information Pack,
which includes the following:
- Joining Instructions
- Risk Assessment
- CRB’s
- Insurance Policy
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Dear Geoffrey & Hannah
I just wanted to write and commend you on the excellent
provision you have given our young people over the last six
months.
We were looking for an activity day that would promote working
as a team, awareness of self, others ands environment and to
raise individual interaction and self-esteem. Your well-planned,
supervised and self-evaluated day has met all these aims and
more.
The feedback from all our learners, without exception, has been
extremely positive with many expressing a wish to do a longer
residential course with yourselves and some enjoying it more than
our power boating activity day, which we had always thought to be
a highlight of our motiv8 course.
Many of the young people we work with have been unable to engage
in education, training or employment and therefore have a very
negative self-image.
Natural Pathways with its fresh and flexible approach
successfully addressed these issues while meeting the needs of
the group as a whole.
As you know I am now moving on into New Pastures but it is very
reassuring to me that Natural Pathways is now part of our motiv8
Programme.
I wish you success in the coming year and thank you for the
ongoing good work you are doing in partnership with KEY Training
Services.
Yours Sincerely
Rebecca
Miller
Regional Marketing
Officer
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