— Wilderness Therapeutic Programme
The BEING PROJECT: COHORT 1
Set in a beautiful Essex woodland, young people were invited to take part in 6 sessions which incrementally and simultaneously build their skillset and self esteem. The skills taught and the level of application and risk involved developed intentionally but naturally, so that, over the course of the sessions, the group felt more equipped and empowered to execute tasks with greater competence and confidence.
Self esteem is built via six pillars which are universal for all humans. We intentionally focus on bushcraft and therapeutic activities which promote growth in the six pillars.
Client
Colchester Secondary School
Date
Oct-Dec 2024
Duration
6 sessions over 3 Months
aim
Building capability & self esteem
if there is power to do something,there is inherent responsibility to get involved, to be an active participant and to accountable to your team.
In a wilderness-bushcraft environment, participants can not act as lone wolves. But instead, as pack animals to set-up camp, collect firewood, light and tend to the fire, and cook food. Operating in this environment demands application and communication. Week on week their ability to work as a team and function improved exponentially – Rachel, Co-Facilitator
young people
all day sessions
camp set-up's and fires lit
outcomes
— The Challenge
Challenge & outcomes
A group of six year 10 secondary school boys were referred due to low attendance, poor academic performance and challenging behaviour. Each young person was assigned 3 actionable and observable objectives for the project and their strengths and difficulties were measured before and after the project finish. Needless to say they were fantastic on the programme; they flourished in an outdoor environment where purpose and achievement sat at the core of their day.
As Deputy Headteacher, I am looking for meaningful interventions that can genuinely re-engage students who are struggling both academically and emotionally. This project blended challenge with support in a way that allowed each student to have the space to be themselves and learn skills. All the students who attended were finding it difficult to regulate their emotions in the classroom, maintain positive relationships and remain engaged. It was evident that the day spent in the woods was the highlight of their week and we saw positive shifts in their confidence, emotional resilience and ability to reflect on their behaviour. Kevin Rowland, Deputy Headteacher (DSL), The Thomas Lord Audley School, Colchester.
Skills learnt by the cohort
Sessions built on the young people’s capability and competence in the following areas:
- How to start a fire using cotton and birch bark
- How to grow a fire and maintain it well enough to cook on it
- Cooking and eating food they cooked on an open fire
- Sawing firewood
- Collecting appropiate firewood from the woods, from spaghetti size to logs
- Whittling hazel into a butter knife using a bushcraft knife
- Putting up a large camp shelter to provide physical and psychological enclosure
- Putting up small tarps to provide shelter
- Learning knots and using them to fix the main camp shelter to trees
- Constructing a log circle using large trucks and tree stumps
- Looking after themselves and each other by becoming more efficient in setting up and packing down the areas of the camp including the toilet area, the hand washing area, and the fire and cooking areas.
- Communication and listening skills by being part of reflective therapeutic activities
Let’s Start A Project
office
Colchester, Essex, UK
Contact
rachel@thegreatoutdoors.org.uk