Our Approach
Bringing together the woodland, purposeful activity and mentoring to support development
The outdoors isn’t simply where the work happens. It’s part of how the work happens…
The woodland brings space, movement, change and challenge into every session. Weather shifts, seasons turn and there is always something to notice, explore and respond to.
There’s less emphasis on sitting still or talking face-to-face, and more opportunity to engage through movement, activity and the world around them.
“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)
Practical activity has a purpose…
There’s always something real to do. Put up a shelter. Prepare and light a fire. Cook a meal. Work with tools. Look after camp.
Each activity brings opportunities to solve problems, make decisions, take responsibility and develop practical skills. Adapting, persevering, and trying another way are all part of the experience.
Doing something for yourself feels different from being told you can do it.
“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)
Mentoring ties it all together…
We don’t stop the activities for mentoring. It happens while we explore, cook, chop wood, work on a project together, or while sat around the fire with a brew.
Having something else to focus on can take the pressure out of communication. There’s room for everyday chat, humour and silence, as well as reflection and more meaningful conversations when they arise.
Sometimes it’s easier to talk when talking isn’t the only thing you’re there to do.
“Canopy was fun and it was easier because I could talk about myself… ” DB (Year 8)
Real experiences, real development…
A fire that won’t light is a problem to solve
Cooking a meal brings responsibility
Mastering a new skill brings confidence
Doing something without help develops independence
Working through setbacks builds perseverance
Making real choices develops decision-making
Being trusted with a task builds self-belief
These qualities grow through experience, with opportunities to practise, succeed, struggle, adapt and try again.
“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)
Low pressure, real challenge…
There’s no pressure to perform, talk on demand or prove progress. Young people have time to settle in, find their own rhythm and engage in ways that work for them.
Low pressure doesn’t mean low expectations. There are still new experiences, problems to solve, responsibilities to take on and things that won’t always work first time.
We adjust the pace, support and level of challenge around the individual, stepping in when needed and stepping back when not
“Going to camp made me think that school were giving me a chance to do something I was good at. It made me care about school a bit more because of that…” JG (Year 11)
No two sessions look the same…
What works for one young person may not work for another. Interests, confidence, energy and what is happening in their wider life can all shape a session.
We keep the same approach, while adjusting the activity, pace, challenge and level of support around the individual.
The aim isn’t to fit a young person into the programme. It’s to make the programme work for the young person.
Could this approach help?
Canopy & Campfires works with young people for many different reasons. They don’t need to fit a particular label, diagnosis or set of circumstances to come to ust.
You don’t need to know which programme is right before getting in touch. We can talk through what you’re looking for and whether Canopy & Campfires could offer the right kind of support.