Bushcraft at Calvert Devon
What is bushcraft?
Bushcraft is an activity that unleashes creativity and resourcefulness in the great outdoors.
It’s an adventure that sparks self-reliance, imagination and a bond with nature that’s as strong as the friendships you make along the way; carving tools from branches, hunting for wild critters, or crafting cosy shelters.
Join a Calvert Devon bushcraft session for a perfect mix of learning and fun!
Depending on your group’s needs, sessions can involve building shelters, sharing stories, foraging and, of course, roasting marshmallows over a campfire.
Families and school groups can embrace nature and spend time simply being outside while re-discovering its therapeutic benefits.
Embrace your inner child, connect through enriching hands-on tasks, and connect with each other in the tranquil woodlands of Calvert Devon.
Your bushcraft session
Click on each step for more information on what you can expect from a bushcraft session at Calvert Devon…
1: Get ready
- You will meet your instructor at your allocated meeting point
- They will take you to the bushcraft area
- Then they’ll show you around and offer you a seat whilst they set up any equipment and make sure everyone is settled
2: Learn how
- Once the group is settled into the circle seating section, the instructor will talk to you about how the session will run
- They’ll include a safety briefing, which is crucial for when the campfire is lit
- There will be a discussion on group expectations and specific 1:1 explanations if needed
3: Have a go
- Your group will begin the tasks given by your instructor
- This can involve active tasks like collecting natural materials and crafting tools to build shelters
- Tasks can also be sensory-based, like listening for sounds, touching materials or looking for specific flowers or critters
- If appropriate for the group, you may move to the land around Wistlandpound Reservoir
- Every bushcraft session involves lighting the campfire for some tasty cooked marshmallows and warm drinks whilst telling stories or even singing songs around the fire
4: Finish up
- At the end of your bushcraft activity, you’ll help put away any equipment you’ve used and tidy up together
- Take any photos of your successful shelters to remember your achievements before heading back into the centre
Yes! We leave no one out, and no matter what, we do everything we can to ensure that you can enjoy the experience of bushcraft in a way that suits you and keeps you safe whilst having fun.
Our instructors use the term ‘challenge by choice’, which ensures that while you’re taking part and given challenges along the way, you ultimately always have the agency and control over your own limitations.
As bushcraft is more of a laid-back activity session, it is possible to observe and relax whilst enjoying the company of those around you.
Our bushcraft activity takes place in a wooded area about 2 minutes from the accommodation buildings near the Equestrian Centre.
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