Students’ love for outdoors ignited by survival and traditional craft workshops at York College Forest School
A group of General Education students have been channelling their inner Bear Grylls by learning traditional craft and survival techniques at York College’s Forest School.
The workshops are focussing on skills such as fire lighting, wood chopping and wooden spoon carving and are being led by Alex Wade and Frank Garside of SylvanKin – an outdoor-based organisation who help connect individuals with nature and foster personal development.
York College tutor Claire Amos was first introduced to Alex and Frank during a SylvanKin Axe Carving Workshop.
She then invited them to work with our General Education students outside of the traditional classroom setting, which has proven to be a game-changer for those who might struggle with conventional learning environments.
Claire has since observed a remarkable shift in the students’ perspectives since the workshops began with many expressing newfound interests in outdoor careers like animal conservation.
She has also noted their growing pride in the skills they are developing.
The practical nature of the sessions helps the students build resilience and confidence, too, while improving their ability to work as a team.
On how the project is benefitting her students, Claire said: “Working outside of the classroom gets the students so much more engaged and involved as they use lots of skills that they wouldn’t necessarily use inside of the classroom. Being at the Forest School helps develop their confidence in trying new things that they probably haven’t had any experience of.”
Speaking of the challenges some students often face in classroom settings, she went on to say:
“The activities help the group to focus better. Spending time in a classroom, concentrating on writing can be difficult for some students.
“We try to mix it up and put in as many activities as we can, but there’s nothing that can replace being outside, being creative and being practical. They couldn’t have done anything like this in the classroom.”
Even from the first session, a lift in the mood and motivation levels of the group was witnessed, with Claire adding:
“I’ve 100% seen a lot more motivation from getting the students outside. On the first morning, when they set off, they were all a bit miserable but, as soon as they got to the Forest School, they were all laughing and chatting and they all got stuck in. I can honestly say, they are thoroughly enjoying it.
“Whenever we bring them outside, they come alive. They’re a lot more engaged and enthusiastic. They all have a laugh and enjoy it. Then, because they’re enjoying it, they want to come more.
“They’ve all learnt something, even the science side of it. It’s been so valuable.”
Many transferable skills have been gained by the participating students with Claire witnessing members of the group start to consider career paths that might not have been on their radar previously.
“Working outside teaches them that they can try stuff and give things a go,” she explained. “It might be something they’ve not done before, but it’s getting them interested in the outdoors. It helps them to consider other things than standard career paths and jobs.
“It’s also taught them that sometimes things fail. One of the groups had to start their fire three times to get it going, so that’s taught them resilience.
“The students can do so much more outside; it’s teaching them survival skills. The activities are giving the students a sense of achievement and they’re all really proud of what they’ve done. The sessions with SylvanKin are challenging them in a positive way.”
Gracie Taylor – one of the participating students – pointed out that she feels some of the skills she has learned will be transferable to her chose career field.
“I’ve found the project fun,” she enthused. “It felt good to be able to make something myself and be able to see what I’ve achieved.
“I made the spoon in a couple of sessions, and it’s inspired me to make more things. I’d like to work in a nursery so I feel like I’ve gained skills that I could use there, even if it’s just building dens in the forest. I have an interview to be an apprentice in a nursery so I’m hoping this goes well!”
Leona Elliff who is also studying the General Education programme at College, initially felt a little reluctant to try out the sessions but explained:
“I was a bit nervous to start with and wondered how it would go. When they talked about survival, I imagined rolling around on the floor doing combat stuff!
“When we were told what we were going to be doing, I thought it was going to be mint! We learnt about how to make a fire safely and we toasted marshmallows to make s’mores.
“I found it interesting how far and fast fire travels, how it spreads and how dangerous it can be. It was good to learn about how to control it.
“I feel like I learn a lot more outside of the classroom, it is a lot better for me and I’ve really enjoyed it.”
General Education student Rowen O’Malley spoke to us about her experience of learning how to make a wooden spoon using the skills and techniques delivered in the workshops.
“We got a block of wood and then we chose what shape spoon we’d like to make,” she pointed out. “We then started carving out the bowl of the spoon and making the handle. It was really fun, and I enjoyed it.
“We used a curved knife which you use to scoop out the wood to shape the spoon. We used lots of different tools and it took about four hours in total to make.
“You have to have a lot of patience. I think I’d like to make another!”
Speaking of her experience of connecting with nature, Rowan went on to admit that she has been inspired to spend more time outdoors in the future.
“I really enjoy being outside and doing practical things,” she said. “It was really fun being able to make things all by yourself.
“It’s inspired me to go outside and be in nature. I’ve missed it because I used to go out quite a lot.
“Unless you’re outside, you feel like you’re just doing the same thing every day. When you’re going outside, it makes your day a lot more fun.
“It’s made me really appreciate the outdoors again.”
Fellow General Education student Olivia Sen spoke with enthusiasm about what she has gained from the sessions, despite approaching them with low expectations.
“I wasn’t expecting much but I was willing to take part,” she explained. “I ended up really enjoying it though!
“The most interesting part was learning about fire. When it’s warm, it’s not actually the flame, it’s what’s happening underneath.
“I felt supported and confident to ask questions during the session, it’s such a nice environment.
“I think it’s good to have this knowledge. I didn’t know half of this stuff before and, if I end up going camping in the future and we need a fire, I’ll know what to do.”
Olivia admitted that she can often find a traditional classroom setting challenging and, on the educational benefits of the Forest School setting, she declared:
“I’m really enjoying the activities because, when I’m in a classroom sometimes, I feel a bit trapped because it’s enclosed.
“I tend to get distracted in a classroom. Being able to get outside where there are multiple things going on feels a lot more open. I feel more relaxed, but in a classroom I can feel a bit anxious.
“I’ve found that the workshops with SylvanKin have even helped with getting me away from my phone and constantly scrolling.
“I really enjoyed the wood chopping session. We were taught the correct techniques so we could do this safely. I found it difficult at first but then I managed it.”
Olivia has even been inspired to pursue an outdoor-based career, adding:
“These workshops have inspired me to look into animal conservational work. I’ve realised that I really enjoy being around nature and that I don’t do it enough.
“I’ve been exploring my options and I’m finding it really fascinating.
“I really want to travel to Australia. I’ve researched animal conservation in Australia and there are so many things there that I can get involved in.”
SylvanKin co-directors Alex and Frank decided to set up the company because of their own passion for working outdoors and they adapt their sessions to cater for whatever students are interested in.
On the skills that are being acquired during the Forest School activities, Alex said:
“A lot of the stuff that we do in the outdoors requires persistence and grit, but you’ve also got to pay attention to what you’re doing so you can’t just wander off. You’ve got to focus on each task and it brings you into the moment.
“When we’re delivering our sessions, we can also see motor skills starting to build. You also see an increase in confidence with the students being able to do things practically.
“Also, a lot of the skills are transferable so, with the traditional skills, that’s how all the industries who have built society started.
“Helping the students with their confidence in being able to cut a piece of wood a certain way and even having an understanding of how it grew in the first place gives them that awareness of their surroundings.”
While speaking with us, Alex also shared a memorable experience:
“One of the biggest success stories that we’ve had was when we had someone come along who had a brain injury,” he said. “He was on the road to recovery and training to rehabilitate.
“His passion was therapy and helping other people. He was studying at university, and he wanted to work in clinical therapy.
“He came along to one of our sessions and was making something for his dad for Father’s Day, which was really thoughtful, it touched us and we really wanted to make it work.
“He enjoyed himself so much and it gave him so much confidence because he was using his hands and fine motor skills in ways he thought that he’d lost. It changed his entire outlook.
“He based his thesis around the stuff that we do, how it works and how it can be used for therapy, so we’re looking forward to seeing what he does next.”
SylvanKin are also looking at other ways the organisation can collaborate and expand, with Alex adding: “We would love to expand this project to other students in the future. One of our hopes and aims is to create a programme or a centre where everyone can partake in the different types of skills that we have on offer.
“We want to share what we do. There are a lot of people who are losing the types of skills that we teach. We’d like to bring back these skills on a much larger scale so that everyone can learn and benefit from them.”
For more information on SylvanKin traditional crafts, click here.
