Free to Learn

Woodland education group

Organisation links
Location address: Staplecross, TN32 5QA
Chosen age group:

Ages: 7 - 16 years

Available tickets:
Autumn/Winter term £210
Next date: Monday 25th Nov,
A SUMMARY
PLEASE MESSAGE US BEFORE BOOKING IF YOU WANT YOUR CHILD JOIN THE GROUP FOR THE FIRST TIME. Free to Learn woodland education group encourages children to be fully immersed in nature in all weathers throughout the year. Our magnificent ancient woodland site in Staplecross allows children to spend a whole day far away from the busy world outside. Children are free to roam, free to explore, free to feel, free to question and ultimately Free to learn. Participants are dropped off and left with our qualified and experienced staff team. We aim to create a safe and secure environment in which we can empower and entrust participants to explore and push their own physical and emotional capabilities. Free to Learn brings together traditional nature based indigenous teachings from around the world and makes them accessible and relevant. We aim to facilitate deeper emotional connections with the natural world, with one another and with ourselves. We want to give back what has been lost, a relationship with this beautiful, complex wonderfully unfathomable world. This group is available to both home educated and school children aged 7 - 16 years. Due to the nature of the wilderness site and the activities offered participants must have a certain level of physical capability. Students must also be able to spend the day away from parents, we can offer support with this and younger children will be considered – please contact us to discuss individual needs further.  Sessions are 10am – 3.30pm every Monday (term time only). Regular attendance is very important, so all spaces are booked up and paid for in advance termly. These groups are very popular. Contact us to discuss how your child can join. Learning will include: Natural History: Learning about the natural world around us in hands on, interactive and fun ways. Increasing knowledge. understanding and connection with nature. Conservation, woodland management and sustainability: Participants will engage in ongoing environmental education, gaining a greater knowledge and understanding of ecology and bio diversity. They will learn woodland management and conservation skills, including tree felling and habitat creation. We will also explore the challenges we face including climate change and pollution: we aim to help children understand these issues more fully and give them a platform to think about what we can all do to help. Advanced Bushcraft, woodcraft and primitive living skills: Traditional fire lighting skills, foraging, campfire cooking, natural medicine making, primitive tool making, green woodworking, survival skills, shelters and woodland structure creation, natural cordage and woodcraft. Nature connection and Community development: Throughout the course we will explore a range of nature connection activities including mindfulness and basic nature philosophy, to help create close and trusting relationships within the group and with the wider environment. We aim to create a Community in which all individuals feel valued and supported socially and emotionally. We will also encourage all participants to review, reflect, and share their own learning journey regularly. Natures Cycle: Throughout the years cycle we celebrate seasonal changes, bringing our attention towards what is happening externally in nature and internally for us individually. We do this by working with the land in seasonally appropriate ways and celebrating traditional seasonal ceremonies. These celebrations are taken predominantly from the Celtic calendar which relates more directly to our own land, but we also explore and learn about seasonal celebrations from around the world Storytelling: Sharing stories together is important. Staff will share nature based stories from around the world, helping to expand on our learning journey and connection with nature and our ancestry. Children will be encouraged and supported to share their own stories. This can work in a variety of ways, such as traditional storytelling, writing, film making, photography, or singing and performing. Overnight camps: Students are given the opportunity to wild camp in the woodland in natural shelters, hammocks or tents. Advanced booking is essential due to limited numbers.
About your mentor
Project Rewild
Rewilding children, families & communities
Project Rewild is a non profit Community Interest Company (CIC) which aims to re connect and rewild children, families, adults and communities. The project is made up of a range o passionate and skilled staff and volunteers who are committed to the aims and objectives of Project Rewild. Free to Learn is led by Luke Funnell. He has worked as an outdoor instructor and facilitator for many years leading transformative woodland projects for children, teenagers and adults. He is qualified as a forest school leader, advanced level bush craft and survival instructor, health and social worker and teacher. Luke has spent the last 5 years training in deep ecology, nature connection and nature philosophy based on ancestral teachings from around the world. Luke has over 20 years of experience working with children and teenagers as a youth worker, teacher, playworker, behaviour adviser and residential social worker. The work he is most skilled in and passionate about is working with young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. “I have been working with at risk and vulnerable young people in society for most of my career; without doubt the most important and profound changes I have witnessed in these individuals is when I work with them in nature. I passionately believe in the therapeutic and transformative effects of working with people in this way. I enjoy engaging and inspiring people to be outdoors more and I feel it is my purpose to help reconnect people with nature.” “As a dad it saddens me to think of my children growing up in a world where they will not play outside with friends without adult supervision. They won’t spend hours exploring wild spaces. I know the world has changed a lot since I was a child but I passionately believe that children need to grow up around nature, they need to play outside, and they need to have the space to roam freely with other children. I have set up Project Rewild in an attempt to re-introduce children to playing outside in nature, to show a new generation that it really is amazing out there! To do this I want to offer accessible opportunities for children and families to spend time outside in nature”. “Project Rewild is not another Forest School group, I don’t want nature to be experienced as another club or school subject. Time in nature and free play is absolutely essential to our children’s development, and to our ongoing health and happiness. I want to inspire children, to engage them, and entrust them to play in, and enjoy nature. I want to see children playing in woodlands and outdoor spaces again, to get muddy and learn about nature by touching, smelling and tasting it. I want to rewild our children (and everyone else!)
Learning aims
Aim 1
To have a deeper understanding of native fauna and flora
Aim 3
understand how to safely use a range of tools, including saws and knives
Aim 5
know how to use natural recourses for food, medicine, crafts and shelter
Aim 7
improve physical health
Aim 9
feel part of a tribe or community, a place of belonging.
Aim 11
be able to talk and share in groups
Aim 2
To understand and participate in conservation and woodland management
Aim 4
Develop a deeper understanding and connection with the natural world
Aim 6
Develop confidence and self esteem
Aim 8
have a greater understanding of sustainability and climate change
Aim 10
develop team work skills
Pricing information
Ticket name Autumn/Winter term
Price£210
Information£30 x 7 days
LEARNER REFLECTIONS0 reflections
Where we'll be
Pennywort Wood, Cripps Corner Road, Staplecross, East Sussex, TN32 5QA
WHAT’S PROVIDED
Equipment
Safety
Enhanced DBS
Basic DBS
Risk Assessment
Public Liability Insurance
Safeguarding Training
First Aid Training
First Aid Kit

Please note

Please note, it is the responsibility of the booker to satisfy themselves about the adequacy of the safety measures. This platform is merely an introducer and does not verify the items listed here.

Cancellation Policy
No refunds are given except in the case of a cancellation by the Mentor.

My experience is an educational activity and the 14-day cooling-off period under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 therefore applies. After the 14 day period my standard policy will apply.

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