The last time I explored this topic in a blog was last summer, so I thought it would be interesting to review my “WHY” again and compare how It has changed and evolved.
Clearly my early inspirations have not changed and you can read about these in last summer’s editorial, but I feel that my “Why” now has shifted since last summer.
At Woodland Ways we are strong advocates for learning with a practical approach.
A big part of my “WHY” is teaching and sharing bushcraft and survival skills to young people, in a nurturing and caring way conducive to learning and personal growth.
Over the last few years, I have been developing my teaching approach to get the best from the groups I am lucky enough to spend time with. I maintain that in a group everyone has something to offer to a new learning objective and strive to elicit what they know already before starting new topics. It is a baseline from which to pitch new material from. A classic example of this is when you ask a group “Who knows anything about foraging for wild plants?” and everyone goes quiet because they are maybe too embarrassed to speak up or think they have nothing to offer. I then proceed to ask “have any of you picked a blackberry whilst on a walk” and all the hands go up. Most people have some starting point and the role of a good instructor in my opinion, is to draw that from them before starting to teach them new information.
Another of my simple techniques is to establish rapport in the car park at first meeting of new students to put them at ease and foster group bonding. I introduce myself and give a thumbnail description of myself and why I am here teaching them. I then ask them to do the same in a group circle in the carpark. This may seem like a crude get to know each other exercise but for me I am attempting to create a safe space where everyone feels comfortable to contribute. The bushcraft and survival world can be perceived as a very male dominated, intimidating, masculine, competitive environment. I am keen to break down these paradigms and create safe places for all to contribute and have a voice.
Another simple technique I like using is asking each member of the group to say one thing they know about the subject I want to talk about. We go around the group and everyone contributes one thing and then we discuss. It continues the theme of establishing the baseline and gives a discussion-based approach to learning.
Elicitation is a superb way for building confidence, fostering inclusion, and creating a safe place to try new things for children and adults. I use it to scaffold the learning process. It is also important to realise that we all learn differently and what works for one member of the group may not work for another. That is to be expected, but the mark of a good teacher is to find alternative approaches to get the information to stick. Sometimes it is just the process of getting started that is the hardest. I have noticed that there can be a fear of failure and that can be a big barrier to trying. By creating a safe, nurturing, encouraging space my Family Immersion groups can learn together and not feel judged.
I want my students to be present in the moment and take time to soak up being in the woodland environment. It is important to allow time for this and not rush students from one learning objective to the next. This is why I enjoy teaching the Family Immersion course because there is space for just enjoying being in the woods and soaking up the experience.
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I maintain the most important thing is to stay CURIOUS!
I strongly believe we are always changing and evolving. How can we be the same person yesterday, as today and tomorrow if we are open to new experiences and thoughts?
I am always looking for that deeper connection.
We have been conditioned to believe in the civilized, western world that humans are the dominant species that are above the other animals and that we need to dominate the natural world. We are all sentient beings!
In the civilized, western, industrialized world the artifacts that surround us in everyday life such as cars, houses and washing machines are endlessly reiterated and as such offer a sense of homogeny. Whereas the natural world is not predictable and reiterated and as such offers endless variation and fascination that draws me toward it. I can lose track of time when outside. I remember being out listening to a big old stag belching in the undergrowth at our local nature reserve at rutting time a few years ago. I was with my eldest son who was 10 years old at the time and we were mesmerized hoping to witness a fight. It felt like time stood still and nothing else mattered in that moment. We were totally immersed in the wonder of the experience. George still talks about it now at aged 17. In case you are wondering the fight never happened but the anticipation of it, the raw brutality of the sound coming from the buck and the fact that we were witness to it is burnt on our memory forever.
Another big part of my “Why” is mentoring others on their journey as Bushcraft Instructors. It feels good to give something back by offering encouragement and support. I have been doing this for a while in the bushcraft setting, but also in my other professional capacity as a landscape gardener I have been mentoring young gardeners to develop their confidence and skills to flourish. I suppose when I think about it I am also doing a similar role influencing the lives of my own four boys too! I have always been a reflective individual and prioritize personal growth in its many forms. I am currently working on a vision board to manifest the things I wish to bring into my life in the year ahead.
At the time of writing this we have just had Imbolc the halfway mark between the Winter solstice and the Spring equinox. It is a time of returning light, renewal and setting intentions.
What is your Why and how can it inspire you in 2026?