Professional Bushcraft training

Helping you become the best bushcraft practitioner you can be

The Instructor Mentoring Scheme is an initial 8 month course with additional options designed for professionals who wish to deepen their knowledge and take their existing skills and confidence further. Part 1 comprises of 4 inspiring 2 day blocks where you will gain real ownership and more thorough practical understanding of the key skills. Part 2 is a platform  to grow through ongoing support, experience, opportunities and professional networking, with options to suit different timescales, requirements and budgets.

Previous Mentees' Successes

Read about some of the successes of previous attendees of the scheme.  Hear their feedback and find out what they are doing now, as a result of completing the scheme.

Click here to read some of our mentee successes

Bushcraft Mentoring Part 1 (£825)

Taken over 4 sets of 2 days each key subject is expanded both in depth and width in order for you to adapt to a variety of scenarios.

Unit 1

Day 1 Shelter frame designs. Variety of materials plus various refinements

Day 2 Fire Lighting, reading the landscape to find dry material. Confident use of various tinder and kindling. Developing your understanding of trees

Unit 2

Day 3 Confident use of the Bow Drill. Comparing base boards and drills, creating an efficient set. Hand Drill and Pump Drill basics

Day 4 Effective Water Filtering. Various materials. Splitting Wood regardless of size. Using Axes

Unit 3

Day 5 Wild Food and Wilderness Cookery course (see web site)

Day 6 is a day of a variety of options depending on requirements.

Unit 4

Day 7 Natural Cordage- various materials for variety of set tasks/scenarios

Day 8 Bow Drill using natural cordage. Additional session to fit IOL Level 3 units


Dates for 2024/2025  

30th November – 1st December 2024

11th – 12th January 2025

19th – 20th April 2025

14th – 15th June 2025

Bushcraft Mentoring Part 2

Following on from the part 1, part 2 becomes very much more personalised and so we have created a 4 tier system from which you can decide based on your requirements as well as  your time and money budgets.

Bronze – This level is for those aiming for one of the Bushcraft awards but who feel that they require a little more of a confidence boost. This level includes one to one time with one of our mentors plus some time online.

Silver – This level is aimed at those who want to be guided and advised on their delivery methods and styles in order to stand out more clearly in their profession. Assisting on courses and helping at shows are among the opportunities that will be available. There will also be personalised support from Dave or one of the mentors plus some time online.

Gold – This level is ideal for those who plan, or have started, a business venture using Bushcraft but who would value extra support, contacts, sounding board etc. For up to 2 years, you will be offered a wide range of opportunities and support as well as online meetings and one to one tuition.

Platinum – This is for those who have a big plan and would value Dave`s focused support to get things off the ground and established. Taken over 2-3 years this is designed to give you what you need, when you need it to the best of our ability.

Please contact me directly to book or arrange a FREE 15 minute consultation about the scheme.
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Howard Jeffs, BC, LOtC & Adventuremark Inspector

Dave`s manner and evident expertise persuaded me to enrol on the Instructor Mentoring Scheme…

Lizzy Maskey, Pippin and Gile Bushcraft and Foraging

Being on the mentoring scheme with Dave has hugely developed my depth of understanding of the key principles of Bushcraft. The scheme has given me lots of opportunities to improve my own professional practice, work alongside a range of different instructors, develop my own teaching style and meet a range of people within the industry.
I’d highly recommend the instructor mentoring scheme to anyone who is actively looking to improve their understanding, confidence and skill in delivering high quality Bushcraft sessions.

Karen Shephard, Forest School Leader

The Mentoring Scheme has enabled me to extend the basic skills and knowledge I had as a Forest School leader in directions that I didn’t know existed; I have become much more aware of the “Why”, “How” and “What” behind my work, which has given me the confidence to be more thoughtful and flexible in my approach.

Peter Morton, Red Oak Bushcrafts

I joined the mentoring scheme to expand my knowledge of bushcraft. The format and flexibility made fitting in training days easy and the opportunity to test skills learned and improve delivery of those skills was invaluable. It is not only being able to deliver the skills but the depth of knowledge gained which allowed me greater understanding allowing me to troubleshoot where clients are going wrong giving them a much better experience.

Since completing the mentoring scheme I have also started my own small Bushcraft and Wilderness Skills business which is gradually building, without the knowledge and experience I gained from the mentoring scheme this would not have been as successful and with each bit of feedback I receive, I can directly link most of it to what I have learned during my time on the mentoring scheme. Dave has also been extremely supportive of me in my new endeavours.

Howard Morris, WSC Bushcraft Trainer and Outdoor Instructor

I feel that Dave has created a valuable programme and framework with the Instructor Mentoring Scheme. It enables personal development and progression to a stage where participants have a genuine level of confidence and ability, enough to comfortably lead sessions independently. For me, it has been an extremely useful and fulfilling experience.

Tara Crank MA BA(Hons), Instructor at Dryad Bushcraft, Learning Assistant at Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust

Choosing to do the mentoring scheme was one of the best decisions I’ve made. It has provided me with a community of peers and a structure for gaining experience in a way that suits both myself and the content. I have had an outstanding year(2019); I am constantly learning and being challenged, which is exactly what I’d hoped for. With every opportunity to grow, there is an opportunity to reflect and I feel very safe in doing this honestly with Dave.