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.

Our Bushcraft Courses meet the training requirements for the following awards:

Our 2 Day Bushcraft Course – Bushcraft Competency Award

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

Our 3 Day Bushcraft Course – Bushcraft Competency Certificate

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

To book onto either of these training courses head to our Bushcraft Training Page: Bushcraft Training – Backcountry Survival Ltd

Below is more information regarding each level.

The Bushcraft Competency Award covers bushcraft skills and knowledge suitable for instructors working in outdoor centres or schools and delivering bushcraft skills sessions as well as bushcraft enthusiasts wanting to develop their skills. 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?
The Bushcraft Competency Award is suitable for the outdoor learning workforce who are looking 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? If you are wanting to follow the Bushcraft Competence Award route, then following the completion of this training 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.

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

The Bushcraft Competency Certificate is aimed at Bushcraft enthusiasts, outdoor instructors, scouts leaders, teachers or anyone who wants to demonstrate that they have a basic level of safe and competent Bushcraft skills, and are following recommended good practice.

​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. It is also a great course to develop your own bushcraft skills and knowledge.

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.

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.

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 or one of our Survival Courses

The Bushcraft Competency Diploma – An assessed award suitable for teachers or instructors to demonstrate a breadth of bushcraft knowledge and skills and deliver learning experiences in any setting.

It covers 14 modules:

• Safe use of edged tools and knife law
• Establishing fires and leaving no trace
• Bow Drill
• Water sourcing, filtering and purification
• Debris shelter construction and bedding
• Tree identification and uses
• Natural navigation
• Cordage from natural materials
• Fire use and management
• Pitching tarp shelters, knots and lashings
• Safe use of aces
• Animal tracking and awareness
• Campfire cooking
• Plant identification

Optional units – 2 of these will be covered:

• Carving and tool maintenance
• Game preparation
• Making natural containers
• Trapping, snaring and fishing

Who is this course for?

Designed for professionals in outdoor learning to deliver progressive bushcraft learning experiences in any setting, including FE/HE students, apprentices, instructors, teachers, leaders, etc.

Bushcraft Competency Diploma training courses include good practice when sharing bushcraft techniques with others – teaching tips and advice, site safety, sustainable practices, etc. Generic teaching and instructions skills are not covered or assessed.

Pre-requisites 

Attendees must have completed the Bushcraft Competency Certificate prior to attended.

What do you do once you complete the course?

Assessment for the Bushcraft Competency Diploma (BCD) requires a completed Bushcraft Competency Logbook demonstrating a further 120 quality hours of consolidated bushcraft experience since completing your Bushcraft Competency Certificate. Supporting evidence should include a mix of guided learning, self-learning, reflective practice, instructing/teaching, mentoring, etc. On completion of this, a 2 day assessment course is to be completed.