Bushcraft Training

Bushcraft is an established and growing sector of the outdoor industry with increasing numbers of outdoor practitioners now including bushcraft elements in their day-to-day activities.

The IOL Bushcraft Professional Practice Group (PPG) has a long-standing reputation for quality and innovation within the field of Bushcraft. They recognise the need for instructors, teachers and leaders to demonstrate that they have a basic level of safe and
competent bushcraft skills and are following recommended good practice.

Bushcraft Competency Award

Training (2 days)
Consolidation (60 hours)
Assessment (1/2 day)

Bushcraft Competency Certificate

Training (3 days)
Consolidation (120 hours)
Assessment (1 day)

The Overview for the IOL Bushcraft Competency Award includes the following:

An assessed award covering bushcraft skills and knowledge suitable for instructors working in outdoor centres or schools and delivering bushcraft skills sessions. Suitable for a wide range of people working or volunteering in formal or non-formal settings such as early years, schools, colleges, outdoor centres, education centres, wildlife trusts, national parks, youth and voluntary organisations, etc.

Covers five bushcraft subjects

Pitching tarp shelters, knots and lashings
Campfire cooking
Safe use of edged tools and knife law
Establishing fires and leaving no trace
Water sourcing, filtering and purification

Who is the course aimed for?
Designed for the outdoor learning workforce to deliver progressive bushcraft learning experiences in their setting, including FE/HE students, apprentices, instructors, teachers, leaders, etc.

What do you do after completing the course? Following the completion of this course, a consolidation period with logbook documenting 60 hours is required prior to assessment. Supporting evidence should include a mix of guided learning, self-learning, reflective practice, instructing/teaching, mentoring, etc. The assessment is a half day course.

Is it accredited? This award is a nationally accredited award by the Institute for Outdoor Learning.

Accommodation

If you plan to camp in the woodland, overnight during your course, then you will need to bring all of your associated camping equipment yourself. Such as; tent/shelter/tarp/hammock etc, sleeping gear, cooking kit, eating kit & utensils, food, wash-kit, toiletries, towel, spare clothing etc. If you do wish to camp then please let us know via email beforehand. Drinking water is provided onsite for you to use. Please be advised that this is a private woodland-camping location but there are no toilets and showering/washing facilities, it is a wild-camping site and all waste MUST be removed from the site. Or you can stay at Dalraddy Caravan Site or at Aviemore.

What can you do after completing the award? You can progress onto the Bushcraft Competency Certificate.

The Itinerary for the IOL Bushcraft Competency Award includes the following:

IOL Bushcraft Competency Award is a 2 Day course where attendees will cover the following and will have to demonstrate knowledge, skills and behaviour in them:

Edged Tools – Knife and Saws

The current UK Knife Law
Explain and demonstrate the key dangers and safety considerations of the use of a blade.
Demonstrate safe/competent usage of a fixed blade
Demonstrate the safe/competent use of a bow and folding saw.

Fire

Demonstrate at least three ignition sources from the following list and describe the advantages and disadvantages of each method demonstrated.
Have knowledge of a selection of tinder from the following list and explain the preparation and use of the tinders discussed. Describe any environmental considerations.
Have knowledge of a selection of man-made tinder from the following list and explain the preparation and use of the tinders discussed. Describe any environmental considerations.
Gather fuel and then build and light a fire in a timely fashion showing due consideration to location and environmental considerations.
Maintain a fire long enough to boil half a mug of water, demonstrating consideration to the size and type of fire and environmental impact.

Water

Know at least five different sources of water and be able to comment on the advantages/disadvantages of each.
Know how to use a ground well to obtain water.
Know at least four different indicators of water
Filtering and purifying water.

Tarp shelters and knots

Explain how to site a tarp shelter taking into account safety and other environmental factors.
Different tarp configurations.
Natural cordage.
Knots and lashings

Campfire cooking

Know about the properties and nature of different firewood and its suitability for various methods of cooking with respect to ember production, flames,
smoke etc.
Cooking on a fire.
Different methods of cooking.

Date	Time	Spaces	Price	Book
7 March 2024	09:30 - 16:00	12	£200	Book Now
12 October 2024	09:30 - 16:00	12	£200	Book Now

Please download these resources for your information

IOL Bushcraft Competency Certificate £300.00

Overview
Itinerary
Course Dates
Downloads

The Overview for the IOL Bushcraft Competency Certificate includes the following:

Would you like to gain a Nationally accredited certificate in Bushcraft?

If your answer is ‘yes’, then this course is for you! This course is fully accredited by the IOL and delivered by Andy Lewis Bushcraft.

Who is this course for?

Bushcraft enthusiasts, outdoor instructors, scouts leaders, teachers and anyone who want to demonstrate that they have a basic level of safe and competent Bushcraft skills, and are following recommended good practice. The training course is recommended for people who want to progress to the IOL Bushcraft Competency Certificate assessment.

Why Attend?

This 3-day training course is practical and relevant for instructors, leaders and teachers working in all areas of; outdoor learning, education, personal or professional development, outdoor therapy, expeditions, etc.

Interested?

This training course is only delivered by IOL Organisational Members who have gone through a comprehensive IOL Accredited Course quality assurance process, and have approval from the IOL Bushcraft PPG to deliver it. You can be assured of the highest standards when you attend our training, delivered to you by highly experienced and highly qualified instructors.

Accommodation

What do I do after this course?

After successful completion of this course, assessment for the Bushcraft Competency Certificate requires a completed Bushcraft Competency Logbook demonstrating 120 quality hours of consolidated bushcraft experience. Supporting evidence should include a mix of guided learning, self-learning, reflective practice, teaching, mentoring, etc. On completion, you can attend the 1 day assessment course.

What can I progress onto after this?

The 5 Day Bushcraft Competency Diploma

The Itinerary for the IOL Bushcraft Competency Certificate includes the following:

The Bushcraft Competency Certificate is a 3 Day Course. This course includes the following elements:

Safe shelter construction.
Safe use of tools and knife law.
Establishing and maintaining fires by; bow drill, fire-steel, flint and steel and other methods.
Leaving no trace.
Water sourcing, filtering and purification.
Tree ID & uses.
Natural navigation.
Cordage making from natural materials.