Our Core Programmes
Everything we do is built around our outdoor mentoring programmes.
At the heart of Canopy & Campfires are our three core programmes. They are not an add-on to what we do, they are the foundation of our work and the clearest expression of our philosophy. Each programme takes place at our dedicated woodland site, bringing together practical outdoor activities and steady, relationship-based support in a consistent setting. Sessions are small and tailored, allowing us to respond to individual needs, interests and energy levels.
While each programme has its own focus, they all share the same core ingredients: consistency, meaningful activity, and space for conversation. Together, they provide the main way we support young people to feel safe, valued and able to grow at their own pace.
Welcome to Our Camp!
1. Wilderness Mentoring
One-to-one woodland mentoring that nurtures trust, resourcefulness and a positive sense of self.
Wilderness Mentoring is the foundation of our work at Canopy & Campfires.
Each session blends practical outdoor skills with steady, relationship-based support, creating a calm, low-pressure space where young people can reflect, grow, and achieve at their own pace.
What it involves
Hands-on activities such as bushcraft, fire lighting, outdoor cooking, tool use, shelter building, or nature-based exploration.
Opportunities to try new skills, set achievable goals, and experience the satisfaction of progress over time.
Gentle, attuned mentoring woven throughout the session, encouraging reflection and supporting emotional regulation.
Who it's For
Wilderness Mentoring can be beneficial for young people who:
- May not thrive in conventional settings and would benefit from a calm, consistent environment.
- Are experiencing anxiety, low confidence, or difficulties with emotional regulation.
- Struggle with attendance or engagement in school and need an alternative space to rebuild routine and trust.
- Have experienced social or emotional challenges that affect their relationships or self-belief.
- Prefer practical, hands-on learning and respond well to being outdoors.
- Need space away from busy, high-pressure environments to slow down, reflect, and reset.
- Might be in home education, are looked after (LAC) or in foster care, have Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), or have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) such as autism, ADHD, and social communication differences. We also work with those supported by social care or early help teams, and those receiving additional pastoral or therapeutic input through their school or local authority.
Programme Format
Session length: Typically two hours, weekly or twice-weekly delivered one-to-one.
Programme length: Can be a short block of 6–8 sessions, a term, several terms, or on an open, rolling basis — guided by the young person’s needs and progress.
Tailored approach: Adapted to the individual’s pace, abilities, and interests, with flexibility to respond to changes over time.
Consistency: The same practitioner works with the young person throughout wherever possible, supporting trust and relational safety.
Environment: Sessions take place in a safe, private woodland setting, with shelter available in poor weather.
Reporting: Includes a rich, detailed Feedback and Observation Report at the end of the programme, offering a thorough, nuanced record of progress, engagement patterns, and developmental themes. Reports are written with care to reflect both strengths and areas where ongoing support may help.
Integration: Designed to complement other forms of support and can run alongside school, home, or therapeutic interventions.
How it Builds Confidence, Resilience, and Self-Esteem
It builds confidence through new skills, supported challenges, and steady progress.
It develops resilience through problem-solving, navigating setbacks, and adapting to changing conditions.
It increases self-esteem through recognition of strengths, personal achievements, and valued contributions.
Ready to explore if Wilderness Mentoring is the right fit? Enquire Now
2. Wilderness Wellbeing with Counselling
Two-practitioner outdoor sessions combining mentoring and therapeutic support.
Wilderness Wellbeing with Counselling blends practical, nature-based mentoring with dedicated therapeutic input.
Each session is led jointly by a Canopy & Campfires mentor and a qualified person-centred counsellor, working side-by-side to provide both the grounding effect of practical outdoor activities and the safe, supported space of skilled counselling.
The result is a calm, relational setting where young people can grow in resilience, self-belief, and emotional awareness.
What it Involves
Practical outdoor activities such as bushcraft, fire lighting, tool use, cooking outdoors, or nature-based exploration, guided by the mentor.
Campfire-based reflective conversations and therapeutic support, facilitated by a fully qualified counsellor.
A balance of doing and talking, allowing natural moments of reflection without the pressure of a purely sit-down session.
An adaptable approach where both practitioners respond to the young person’s needs in the moment.
Who it's For
This programme is especially valuable for young people who:
- Would benefit from both the structure of practical outdoor activities and a deeper dive with therapeutic conversation.
- Are experiencing anxiety, low mood, difficulties with self-esteem or identity, challenges with emotional regulation, or the ongoing effects of past trauma.
- May also be navigating grief or loss, relationship or family stress, significant life changes, or other circumstances affecting their emotional wellbeing.
- Need a supportive space to explore and process personal experiences in a calm, non-clinical environment.
- May have struggled to engage with counselling in a traditional indoor setting.
- Might be in home education, are looked after (LAC) or in foster care, have Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), or have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) such as autism, ADHD, and social communication differences. We also work with those supported by social care or early help teams, and those receiving additional pastoral or therapeutic input through their school or local authority.
Programme Format
Session length: Typically two hours, weekly or twice-weekly, delivered by two practitioners working together throughout the session.
Programme length: Can be a short block of 6–8 sessions, a term, several terms, or on an open, rolling basis — guided by the young person’s needs, progress, and goals agreed with the referrer or family.
Tailored approach: Activities, conversations, and pace are adapted to the young person’s abilities, interests, and emotional needs.
Consistency: The same two practitioners work with the young person throughout wherever possible, supporting trust and relational safety.
Environment: Sessions take place in a safe, private woodland setting, with shelter available in poor weather.
Reporting: Includes a rich, detailed Feedback and Observation Report at the end of the programme, providing a thorough, nuanced account of progress, engagement patterns, and developmental themes. Written with care, these reports reflect both strengths and areas for ongoing support. Please note that the content of the counselling sessions will remain confidential, so observations for these elements will be in broad, general terms.
Integration: Designed to complement other forms of support and can run alongside school, home, or therapeutic interventions. Where we are providing counselling, it is important that any additional interventions are considered carefully, so they do not duplicate, conflict with, or undermine the work taking place. This helps maintain clarity, protect the therapeutic process, and ensure the young person is supported in a consistent and coherent way.
How it Builds Confidence, Resilience, and Self-Esteem
It raises confidence through skill-building and recognising personal achievements.
It develops resilience through problem-solving, working through challenges, and developing coping strategies.
It increases self-esteem through feeling heard, supported, and recognised for individual strengths.
Ready to explore how this combined approach could help? Enquire Now
3. Wilderness Wellbeing with Woodland Crafts
Two-practitioner outdoor sessions combining mentoring and creative expression.
Wilderness Wellbeing with Woodland Crafts brings together nature-based mentoring and the creativity of woodland arts and crafts.
Each session is led jointly by a Canopy & Campfires mentor and a skilled artist, working side-by-side to offer both the grounding effect of practical outdoor activities and the freedom of creative expression.
This combination helps young people build confidence, self-esteem, and resilience while exploring new ways to connect with themselves and their environment.
What it Involves
Practical outdoor skills such as bushcraft, fire lighting, shelter building, or cooking outdoors, guided by the mentor.
Woodland-based arts and crafts led by the artist, using natural and found materials such as weaving, seasonal crafts, or simple woodwork.
Opportunities for emotional expression and sensory engagement through hands-on creative projects.
A calm, supportive space where practical skill-building and creativity flow naturally together.
Who it's For
This programme is especially valuable for young people who:
- Connect well through making, creating, and hands-on activities.
- Would benefit from both practical outdoor skills and the emotional expression offered by creative arts.
- Need space to regulate, focus, and explore ideas in a low-pressure setting.
- Are building confidence and self-esteem through tangible achievements and personal expression.
- Might be in home education, are looked after (LAC) or in foster care, have Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), or have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) such as autism, ADHD, and social communication differences. We also work with those supported by social care or early help teams, and those receiving additional pastoral or therapeutic input through their school or local authority.
Programme Format
Session length: Typically two hours, weekly or twice-weekly, delivered by two practitioners working together throughout the session.
Programme length: Can be a short block of 6–8 sessions, a term, several terms, or on an open, rolling basis — guided by the young person’s needs, progress, and goals agreed with the referrer or family.
Tailored approach: Activities and creative projects are adapted to the young person’s interests, abilities, and emotional needs, with flexibility to respond to changes over time.
Consistency: The same two practitioners work with the young person throughout wherever possible, supporting trust and relational safety.
Environment: Sessions take place in a safe, private woodland setting, with shelter available in poor weather.
Reporting: Includes a rich, detailed Feedback and Observation Report at the end of the programme, providing a thorough, nuanced account of progress, engagement patterns, and developmental themes. Written with care, these reports reflect both strengths and areas for ongoing support.
Integration: Designed to complement other forms of support and can run alongside school, home, or therapeutic interventions.
How it Builds Confidence, Resilience, and Self-Esteem
It builds confidence through learning new skills, creating unique projects, and seeing personal progress.
It develops resilience through problem-solving, trying new techniques, and working through creative challenges.
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Ready to see how creativity and nature can work together? Enquire Now