“Canopy & Campfires helped me out a lot as I felt like part of something. I am also not as nervous to talk to a few teachers about my problems. It was good because I got to come out of school so I could concentrate when I got back and it helped me do better in lessons…” - AP (Year 9)

“Canopy was fun and it was easier because I could talk about myself… ” DB (Year 8)

“As well as good staff and support, I feel more secure with my friendships…” EB (Year 9)

“During my time at camp, the staff encouraged us to speak about our feelings comfortably and now I feel better talking to them and others about some of my issues…” CW (Year 10)

“I liked learning the practical skills, and even when I couldn’t do them at first I kept trying until I got it right. That made me feel really confident. I learned why perseverance is important…” DG (Year 11)

The Outdoors as a Therapeutic Space:

A woodland setting offers a freedom and stillness that can’t be replicated indoors. Fresh air, open space, and the sights, sounds, and textures of nature create a calm, non-clinical environment where pressure eases and conversation flows more naturally.

It’s a place where a young person can:

• Step away from daily demands and expectations.

• Engage their senses to support regulation and focus.

• Move at their own pace without feeling confined.

• Experience an environment that feels safe, contained, and non-judgemental.

The Role of Practical Tasks:

Our sessions are built around hands-on activities — from lighting a campfire to carving wood, cooking outdoors, or creating with natural materials. These are not just hobbies; they are purposeful, carefully chosen tasks that:

• Provide achievable challenges and opportunities for success.

• Build problem-solving skills and perseverance.

• Encourage communication and cooperation.

• Allow conversation and reflection to emerge naturally, without the pressure of sitting face-to-face.

Wellbeing Support in Action:

While practical skills provide structure, the conversational elements are central to every session. Discussion is built into the work naturally, often emerging while carrying out tasks or moving through the site, rather than in a formal sit-down setting. This can include:

• Brief check-ins at the start to gauge mood, focus, and readiness.

• Ongoing, side-by-side conversation during activities, which reduces pressure and supports openness.

• Prompting awareness of emotions and linking them to current situations or challenges.

• Encouraging problem-solving by asking questions and exploring options, rather than giving instant solutions.

• Acknowledging progress in skill, persistence, or engagement as it happens.

• Using environmental cues — weather, light, sounds — as grounding points or discussion prompts.

By combining purposeful activity with consistent, low-pressure conversation, emotional and behavioural needs can be addressed in real time, within a setting that supports focus and regulation.

How This Builds Confidence, Resilience, and Self-Esteem:

Confidence

• Trying new skills in a supportive environment.

• Experiencing progress over time.

• Receiving genuine, specific encouragement from a trusted adult.

Resilience

• Working through challenges like tricky tasks, unpredictable weather, or learning a new skill.

• Developing strategies for managing frustration and uncertainty.

• Understanding that setbacks can be overcome.

Self-Esteem

• Feeling capable and valued as an individual.

• Seeing strengths recognised and appreciated.

• Building a positive sense of identity outside school or home pressures.

A Lasting Impact:

The combination of nature, practical skills, and consistent relational support helps young people carry what they’ve learned into other areas of life. Whether it’s approaching school with more confidence, managing friendships with greater care, or feeling proud of their own growth, the benefits often last far beyond their time in the woods.