Half Term Family Bushcraft

Families will be warmly welcomed in our circle around the fire, where we will get to know each other before going out into the woods to start our day! We will start by considering the importance of meeting our basic needs in a natural environment before going on to try our hands at shelter building, filtering water, lighting a fire, identifying common native trees, some of their uses as well as a little natural navigation!
Britta and Carrie will share some simple and easy to replicate skills to take away with you for your adventures together in the woods.

We will stop for lunch at 12:30. Families will need to bring their own packed lunches. We will keep the kettle on and supply tea, coffee and biscuits and drinking water throughout the session.

We finish at 2:30 when we will gather to say goodbye.

The day is led by Into Nature Leaders, Carrie Roet and Britta Lippiatt.

If you or your child have particular needs please let us know on the booking form.
Please do contact carrie@into-nature.org if you would like to arrange a phone conversation prior to you or your child/ren attending.

ACCESSIBILITY
The site is only a few minutes walk from the car park along rugged, often muddy woodland paths.
We are just off the main road and there is easy parking and a compost toilet.
Unfortunately, public transport is not an option for this group.
If you have any questions about accessibility please get in touch so that we can have a chat.

TICKET OPTIONS
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With thanks to the Cotswold Youth Network who have funded this session, we have two payment options: subsidised ticket (per family size) and a fully funded ticket - for those on a low household income and/or in receipt of benefits (we do not ask for proof but rely on people’s honesty).
If the subsidised ticket option is too much and you don't feel that you qualify for a fully funded ticket, please do get in touch so we can arrange a ‘pay what you can’ option: carrie@into-nature.org. It is important to us that no-one is excluded on the basis of cost.


FOOD AND DRINK
Hot drinks, drinking water and biscuits will be provided. Please bring your own lunch to picnic in the woods during the session. Please also indicate on the booking form if you have any specific dietary requirements so we know ahead of time for snacks.

WEATHER
Our sessions run in any weather including heavy rain; the trees provide a lot of shelter and we have a number of under-cover areas if needed. Often the really wet sessions are the best!

Generally, just stay for as long as you and your child/ren enjoy it. If they are wet and cold, it is best to have a short, positive experience rather than a long, negative one where they don’t want to come back.

We sometimes have to cancel a session due to weather, when we have strong winds, thunderstorms and icy conditions, which might pose a greater risk. If these are forecast, we will get in touch via text message the day/evening before or sometimes even on the morning of the session. Please make sure you check your phone before setting off.

Very rarely we might start a session and then deem it unsafe to carry on. If we have to cancel due to the weather, this is purely for your safety and we hope you support us in these decisions. You will either be offered an alternative session or a refund.

WHAT TO WEAR AND BRING
Please wear weather-appropriate clothing, especially waterproof coats and waterproof trousers if it might rain. We recommend sturdy boots or wellies (for both you and your child/ren); for smaller children, it is more important that they wear shoes that fit well. The woods are often colder than elsewhere so an additional layers are a good idea plus hats and gloves and extra socks if it's particularly cold (!). There are ticks at Hailey Wood – we highly recommend long trousers and long-sleeved shirts even in summer.

You can also bring the following optional items:
your own drinks and snack
hand sanitiser if you prefer to use your own
a small towel for drying your hands
work gloves for you and your child - don't worry if you don't have these; we will provide gloves.

TOILETS
We have a toilet shelter in the woods with a simple toilet system. If you prefer, ‘wild wees’ are possible and we can tell you good places to do this; however, there are ticks on site you need to be aware of.
We have a baby changing mat. Please bring a towel or similar to put on it, or wipe with surface cleaner before and after use.

TICKS
As mentioned above, we do have ticks. The best measure against ticks is not to let them get onto you, i.e. wearing long trousers and long-sleeved tops. We highly recommend you check yourself and your child on returning home; with smaller children, ticks can often be found in the hairline. Good information about ticks, what to look out for and how to remove them can be found on www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk.

It is also possible to apply permithrin to clothing in order to make them tick-repellent.

CANCELLATIONS
You can cancel or transfer your ticket up to five days before the session for a full refund. After that time, no refund is given.

If we have to cancel, e.g. due to illness, illness of a household member or weather, we refund the full amount. Please check your phone before leaving in the morning as we might have to cancel at short notice.


If you have any other questions before booking, please get in touch: carrie@into-nature.org