28 Outdoors & Rural Skills courses

Wild food and foraging identification workshop, near Edinburgh.

Woodland wildfood and foraging walk, near Linlithgow

Over the years our 2 day bushcraft course has proven to be our most popular bushcraft course.  It’s been carefully designed to initiate you into the joys of outdoor living, although many of the skills that you’ll be taught are easily transferable to other outdoor activities. This 2 day bushcraft course is intended for people who would like to understand what bushcraft is all about and to learn simple, repeatable bushcraft and survival skills.  This includes campers, backpackers, hikers and other outdoors people who wish to learn some of the skills required to be comfortable in the outdoors, so that you have the time to really enjoy what is around you. We have people attend who have no previous bushcraft experience as well as those with some prior experience and we can say with absolute honesty that everyone leaves knowing more than when they arrived! During your time spent with us on this bushcraft course, you will: - Learn how to safely use essential bushcraft tools including knife, folding saw and bow saw - Have plenty of practise creating a flame using matches, fire steels, fire pistons, wire wool & a battery, solar mirrors, flint & steel, chemicals and fire by friction - Carve your own honey spreader or spatula from materials you gather in our ancient woodland - Understand the pros and cons of debris shelters, where & how to build one, and sleep in one if you wish - Put up a tarp and hammock using only 3 simple knots that can be tied and untied wearing gloves (you can sleep in a hammock if you like) - Find, filter and purify your own water - Go for a woodland walk to gain an insight into some of the trees and plants around us and what they can be used for - Learn how to sharpen a knife so that it will slice through a sheet of paper - Locate and identify different natural tinders easily found in the woods - Gather your own materials and light a fire following a method that will work in all weather conditions. At the end of this bushcraft course you will have a good working knowledge of the skills needed to enjoy your time in the woods or enhance your camping or outdoor activities. About us and the venue: Jack Raven Bushcraft was founded in 2011 and we've been delivering bushcraft, craft and foraging courses since then from our 30 acre private ancient woodland on the Kent Downs in an area of outstanding natural beauty. Courses in  the summer are held outdoors in our woodland camp complete with covered work areas, an outdoor kitchen and a composting loo.  Courses in the winter are held in our workshop in a converted barn. What's included in the price? Included in the price is: - Breakfast and dinner - Hot and cold drinks - Tools, equipment and materials Cancellation policy Strict - Cancellation and a full refund can be obtained up to 8 weeks before the course starts

Located between Canterbury and Ashford, join us at our ancient woodland camp on the beautiful Kent Downs for this introductory 1 day bushcraft course. We’ve put together this 1 day bushcraft course for people whose time is precious but would like to gain a thorough grounding in the key skills of outdoor bushcraft and survival. So we’ve created a package that will ensure that you leave us with simple, repeatable skills that’ll give you the confidence to broaden your horizons in the great outdoors. During your time spent with us on this 1 day course, you will: - Learn how to safely use a knife - Build a debris shelter and gain an understanding of the design principles involved - Have plenty of practise creating a flame using matches, fire steels, fire pistons, wire wool & a battery, solar mirrors, flint & steel, chemicals - Make char cloth, create a tinder bundle and blow an ember into flame - Find, filter and purify your own water - Go for a woodland walk to gain an insight into some of the trees and plants around us and what they can be used for - Gather your own materials and light a fire following a method that will work in all weather conditions. At the end of the course you will have a good working knowledge of the skills needed to enjoy your time in the woods or enhance your camping or outdoor activities. About us and the venue: Jack Raven Bushcraft was founded in 2011 and we've been delivering bushcraft, craft and foraging courses since then from our 30 acre private ancient woodland on the Kent Downs in an area of outstanding natural beauty. Courses in the summer are held outdoors in our woodland camp complete with covered work areas, an outdoor kitchen and a composting loo. Courses in the winter are held in our workshop in a converted barn. What's included in the price? We include all tools, equipment and materials. The kettle is always on for tea and coffee. Cancellation policy Strict - Cancellation and a full refund can be obtained up to 8 weeks before the course starts

Chainsaw Maintenance and Cross-Cutting

This 5 day camp is a bark tanning intensive. You'll learn ancient processes of using tree barks to tan and preserve skin into leather and furs. 

Gain the skills and confidence you need to lead your goups on the beach!

Day 1 will start with an outdoor classroom input, and then out on the ground to practise some map reading skills and some compass work. Day 2 will be out on the hills all day, and will include individual assessments. The 2 days will be very relaxed and enjoyable. Successful candidates will receive an official NNAS certificate.

Youth Options offers bespoke programmes of learning for children and young people (either 1:1 or in groups). Our aim is to support children and young people to feel inspired and capable to achieve something worthwhile, address issues they are facing, improve mental and physical wellbeing whilst appreciating the importance of the world we live in.

For more information about upcoming courses please visit: https://skylarkguiding.co.uk/navigation-course/ [https://skylarkguiding.co.uk/navigation-course/]