schools & groups
Small-group outdoor skills sessions for young people who are bright and capable, but currently overwhelmed by school and everyday demands and need a practical way to rebuild confidence.
Practical Skills
Fire-making, navigation, campcraft, and real-world judgment.
Steady Confidence
Calm learning through doing, with clear structure and support.
Belonging Outdoors
Small groups, fresh air, and a simpler setting where progress is visible.
Who these sessions are for
These small-group outdoor skills sessions are designed for young people who are finding school, social life, or everyday demands hard to cope with.
​
This work is particularly helpful for pupils who are bright and capable, but currently overwhelmed — those who may be avoiding school, struggling to engage in class, or finding it hard to cope with social and sensory demands despite support being in place.
​
This may include young people experiencing anxiety, school avoidance, neurodivergence, chronic stress, or health challenges — particularly those who struggle in noisy, fast-paced, or highly abstract environments.
What happens in the sessions
Sessions focus on practical outdoor skills such as fire-making, navigation, campcraft, and managing time and equipment. The emphasis is on calm, steady learning through doing, rather than discussion, performance, or assessment.
​
• Fire-making and safe tool use
• Navigation using map and compass
• Campcraft and shelter-building
• Planning, judgement, and managing equipment
​
Sessions are skills-based and practical, rather than therapeutic or discussion-led. Activities are carefully structured and supported, allowing young people to engage at their own pace while developing confidence through real-world tasks.
Why outdoors works (when classrooms don’t)
Outdoors provides a simpler, more honest setting. Decisions have clear consequences, challenges are real but manageable, and progress is visible.
This creates an environment where young people can practise staying grounded, making decisions, and taking responsibility without the constant social and sensory pressures of classroom settings.
​
For many young people, this feels safer and more achievable than school-based learning.
Skills are learned through experience rather than explanation, and success is immediate and tangible — helping rebuild confidence and trust in their own judgement.
Safety and safeguarding
Sessions are skills-based and practical, rather than therapeutic or discussion-led. All activities are fully risk-assessed and delivered by a qualified Mountain Leader, with appropriate safeguarding, first aid, and insurance in place. SVG clearance.
What schools and families often notice
Schools and families often notice changes quite quickly. Pupils tend to become more settled, more willing to attend, and better able to stick with tasks. They begin to take responsibility more readily, having experienced themselves coping successfully with real situations.
​
These shifts are often subtle but meaningful, and can support progress back into learning, routines, and everyday responsibilities.
How programmes are delivered
Groups are kept small, and sessions are carefully structured and supported. Programmes can be delivered as one-off days or as part of a longer-term package, depending on need and context.
​
Sessions are suitable for schools, local authorities, charities, and small community groups. The skills practised outdoors — planning, judgement, persistence, and staying calm under pressure — are the same ones needed for education, work, and adult life.
​
If you are supporting a pupil or small group who are currently struggling to cope in mainstream settings, we are happy to talk through whether this kind of programme would be appropriate. Initial conversations are informal and exploratory.
​
If you’d like to talk through whether this kind of programme might be appropriate for a pupil or group, please get in touch.
​