Issue 21 - Spring 2016

HOBBIES & ACTIVITIES
Wild Woodcraft
“It not only creates
enthusiasm and enjoyment
but also promotes social
interactions, team work and
problem solving skills.
What a wild adventure!
I have a passion for education and inspiring our
future generations to follow their dreams and fulfil
their potential. I too have been inspired to learn
new skills, take myself out of my comfort zone and
embark upon a new venture alongside Matthew
Chapman. Together it is our desire to enable
children and adults to experience the outdoors
through a Wild Woodcraft experience.
For the last six years I have
been fortunate to teach at
Tealby School, an innovative
forward thinking village
primary with an inspirational
head unafraid to lead her
staff into new inventive ways
of teaching.
Four years ago, Tealby
School embarked upon a
journey into Forest School
with all children experiencing
learning outdoors
in local woodlands.
Matthew Chapman
came along as a
parent helper and
it soon became
clear that he
had amazing
knowledge and expertise
in the area of bush craft,
survival and primitive skills.
Matthew pinpoints the time
when he developed an
interest in wildlife and the
outdoors to when he was
a young boy aged seven.
At this time he watched a
weasel and a rat fight to the
death, (the weasel won!) The
passion for the outdoors was
born!
Matthew was encouraged
and supported to obtain
the required qualifications
necessary to become a
Forest School leader and
has since attended courses
in primitive skills with a
nationally leading expert,
Will Lord. From this point on
the school’s Forest School
experience was intensified
“I was
amazed at the
learning and
enthusiasm
which took
place.”
and taken to another level
with Matthew at the helm
because he had developed a
scheme of outdoor learning
for children from Reception
to Year 6 and beyond that
was firmly rooted in skills
development.
My first experience of the
forest was assisting Matthew
with a group of children
back in the summer of 2015.
I couldn’t believe
it! Seeing children
working together
to achieve difficult
tasks including the
preparation, cooking
and eating of a
rabbit astounded
me. Watching the lighting of
a fire with a primitive bow
drill and seeing the children
model this to light their
own fires took education
and learning into a new
dimension.
Matthew and I are now
working together as Wild
Woodcraft to offer schools
the opportunity to experience
high quality outdoor learning.
We are offering experience
days to other schools to
enable more children to
participate in this invaluable
experience. It is our belief
that woodcraft is suitable
for all ages and abilities of
children and adults.
We offer school trips, both
single day experiences and
also tailor made residential
courses. During these
experiences participants
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Spring 2016