Woodland Adventurers® Ethos and values

The following tries to encompass our ethos of openness and positivity for encouraging and supporting both children and grown-ups to enjoying learning through outdoor experiences that provide a sense of freedom.  

We hope that you agree with our ethos, as many do, but we recognize that we may be challenging some of the more conventional norms that have been established for many years.  If you would like to understand more about our approach then do get in touch.  

The safety and well being of everyone that visits Woodland Adventurers (both children and grown-ups) is of paramount importance.  In particular this includes measures for safeguarding children and risk assessments for our locations and activities.

Some of the key aspects that aim to capture our ethos and values are stated below.

Learning is fun

Learning must be fun and exciting - then it can be influential and inspirational.

To keep the learner engaged it is absolutely vital that learning is fun and that it always remains fun - this is true for any age of learner - baby, toddler, child, teenager or grown-up. 

No chance of engaging with a bored learner!

One of our mantra's is "Learning is fun and fun is learning" i.e. they have the same meaning.
Woodland Adventurers – Outdoor Activity Centre – Box, Wiltshire – near Corsham Chippenham and Bath Somerset – boys and girls outdoor birthday parties – parent and toddlers – preschool – forest school PLUS – home education – bushcraft – forest school bath – forest school Wiltshire – team building – locations – Frome – Bath – Bristol – Chippenham – Corsham – Swainswick – Devizes – Calne – Melksham – Swindon – Batheaston – Bathford – Keynsham – Bradford on Avon – Holt – Shaw – Atworth – Westbury – Glastonbury – Malmesbury
Woodland Adventures® and outdoor activities
Woodland Adventurers – Outdoor Activity Centre – Box, Wiltshire – near Corsham Chippenham and Bath Somerset – boys and girls outdoor birthday parties – parent and toddlers – preschool – forest school PLUS – home education – bushcraft – forest school bath – forest school Wiltshire – team building – locations – Frome – Bath – Bristol – Chippenham – Corsham – Swainswick – Devizes – Calne – Melksham – Swindon – Batheaston – Bathford – Keynsham – Bradford on Avon – Holt – Shaw – Atworth – Westbury – Glastonbury – Malmesbury
Woodland Adventures® and outdoor activities

Learn anywhere at anytime and at any age

Learning takes place anywhere in many different ways and at any time.  It is not confined to school / college / university and the classroom.

Grown-ups should consider that they can learn loads from children as well as the other way around 

e.g. how to have fun and be happy - truly live in the moment, live for now and enjoy everything as it happens.

Learner focus (rather than teacher)

A shift in focus - the learner is the most important person and they should be treated as such.  If the teacher cannot stimulate and motivate the learner then the teacher has no value to that learner.

The only relevant perspective is the view of the learner - as only the learner can confirm if teaching has enabled learning. 

At Woodland Adventurers ® every learner is treated with highest importance - as their positive learning experience is our purpose for existing.
Woodland Adventurers – Outdoor Activity Centre – Box, Wiltshire – near Corsham Chippenham and Bath Somerset – boys and girls outdoor birthday parties – parent and toddlers – preschool – forest school PLUS – home education – bushcraft – forest school bath – forest school Wiltshire – team building – locations – Frome – Bath – Bristol – Chippenham – Corsham – Swainswick – Devizes – Calne – Melksham – Swindon – Batheaston – Bathford – Keynsham – Bradford on Avon – Holt – Shaw – Atworth – Westbury – Glastonbury – Malmesbury
Woodland Adventures® and outdoor activities
Woodland Adventurers – Outdoor Activity Centre – Box, Wiltshire – near Corsham Chippenham and Bath Somerset – boys and girls outdoor birthday parties – parent and toddlers – preschool – forest school PLUS – home education – bushcraft – forest school bath – forest school Wiltshire – team building – locations – Frome – Bath – Bristol – Chippenham – Corsham – Swainswick – Devizes – Calne – Melksham – Swindon – Batheaston – Bathford – Keynsham – Bradford on Avon – Holt – Shaw – Atworth – Westbury – Glastonbury – Malmesbury
Woodland Adventures® and outdoor activities

Facilitator (rather than teacher)

Children are provided with lots of learning opportunities through our outdoor activities where they have a level of freedom to pursue their interests.  

Grown-ups are learning facilitators (rather than teachers) – matching the needs of the learner and their interests at any point in time with opportunities for extending learning to include the widest range of curriculum and beyond curriculum topics.

Our aim is that children and grown-ups learn without even realizing that they are learning - as they are having so much fun!

Use first names

Respect is earned through building positive relationships as well as positive behaviors such as being open, honest, fair, fun, humble, inspirational and so on. 

Terms like "Sir", Mr…”, “Ms…”, “Miss…” and “Mrs…”  have no place as they create artificial hierarchical barriers that imply the teacher is more important than the learner.
Woodland Adventurers – Outdoor Activity Centre – Box, Wiltshire – near Corsham Chippenham and Bath Somerset – boys and girls outdoor birthday parties – parent and toddlers – preschool – forest school PLUS – home education – bushcraft – forest school bath – forest school Wiltshire – team building – locations – Frome – Bath – Bristol – Chippenham – Corsham – Swainswick – Devizes – Calne – Melksham – Swindon – Batheaston – Bathford – Keynsham – Bradford on Avon – Holt – Shaw – Atworth – Westbury – Glastonbury – Malmesbury
Woodland Adventures® and outdoor activities
Woodland Adventurers – Outdoor Activity Centre – Box, Wiltshire – near Corsham Chippenham and Bath Somerset – boys and girls outdoor birthday parties – parent and toddlers – preschool – forest school PLUS – home education – bushcraft – forest school bath – forest school Wiltshire – team building – locations – Frome – Bath – Bristol – Chippenham – Corsham – Swainswick – Devizes – Calne – Melksham – Swindon – Batheaston – Bathford – Keynsham – Bradford on Avon – Holt – Shaw – Atworth – Westbury – Glastonbury – Malmesbury
Woodland Adventures® and outdoor activities

Yes (rather than no)

The word ”yes” opens so many possibilities for the learner to explore, experiment and to learn through experiences.  

The word “no” stops everything.  For such as simple short word that can be used so easily, it emphasizes the hierarchy that the grown-up is more important than the child.  It has a place, but it must be used very sparingly.  A better approach is to be open, to explain, to reason, to negotiate or to divert attention to a more positive scenario. 

Get mucky!

Children and grown-ups should wear clothing that can get wet, muddy and mucky!  Children should be given the freedom to get mucky as this is central to exploring their learning.  At the end of the day it only means that the washing machine will get some exercise too!  Muddy clothes go towards demonstrating active involvement in an activity (for both children and grown-ups).
Woodland Adventurers – Outdoor Activity Centre – Box, Wiltshire – near Corsham Chippenham and Bath Somerset – boys and girls outdoor birthday parties – parent and toddlers – preschool – forest school PLUS – home education – bushcraft – forest school bath – forest school Wiltshire – team building – locations – Frome – Bath – Bristol – Chippenham – Corsham – Swainswick – Devizes – Calne – Melksham – Swindon – Batheaston – Bathford – Keynsham – Bradford on Avon – Holt – Shaw – Atworth – Westbury – Glastonbury – Malmesbury
Woodland Adventures® and outdoor activities
Woodland Adventurers – Outdoor Activity Centre – Box, Wiltshire – near Corsham Chippenham and Bath Somerset – boys and girls outdoor birthday parties – parent and toddlers – preschool – forest school PLUS – home education – bushcraft – forest school bath – forest school Wiltshire – team building – locations – Frome – Bath – Bristol – Chippenham – Corsham – Swainswick – Devizes – Calne – Melksham – Swindon – Batheaston – Bathford – Keynsham – Bradford on Avon – Holt – Shaw – Atworth – Westbury – Glastonbury – Malmesbury
Woodland Adventures® and outdoor activities

More than 80% outdoors

Learning happens both indoors and outdoors - although going outdoors is often so much more exciting.  It's also more exciting for grown-ups (as long as they fully embrace it!).

A child in nearly all cases doesn’t think twice about the weather.  Weather is more a consideration for grown-ups.  If a child says that they don't want to get wet or dirty it often means that they are already mirroring the approach of key grown-ups that are close to them.

Children (and grown-ups) should wear the right clothing to keep warm and dry and then they will be open to spending lots of time outdoors - this means lots of layers!

The outdoors is more exciting for a child (than the indoors) so they are more likely to have fun that creates the perfect openness to heaps of learning.

Woodland Adventurers ® aims to spend more than 80% of time outdoors provided the children are suitably dressed, comfortable and warm - and of course, there are going to be times when it is great to retreat to the comforts of the indoors!

Mix of male and female role models

Children need a mix of role models from different backgrounds and genders.  Often in modern society parents may not be as accessible due to commitments e.g. work.  It is still important that children learn from both male and female grown-ups as well as male and female children peers / friends.
Woodland Adventurers – Outdoor Activity Centre – Box, Wiltshire – near Corsham Chippenham and Bath Somerset – boys and girls outdoor birthday parties – parent and toddlers – preschool – forest school PLUS – home education – bushcraft – forest school bath – forest school Wiltshire – team building – locations – Frome – Bath – Bristol – Chippenham – Corsham – Swainswick – Devizes – Calne – Melksham – Swindon – Batheaston – Bathford – Keynsham – Bradford on Avon – Holt – Shaw – Atworth – Westbury – Glastonbury – Malmesbury
Woodland Adventures® and outdoor activities
Woodland Adventurers – Outdoor Activity Centre – Box, Wiltshire – near Corsham Chippenham and Bath Somerset – boys and girls outdoor birthday parties – parent and toddlers – preschool – forest school PLUS – home education – bushcraft – forest school bath – forest school Wiltshire – team building – locations – Frome – Bath – Bristol – Chippenham – Corsham – Swainswick – Devizes – Calne – Melksham – Swindon – Batheaston – Bathford – Keynsham – Bradford on Avon – Holt – Shaw – Atworth – Westbury – Glastonbury – Malmesbury
Woodland Adventures® and outdoor activities

Sensible ratios of grown-ups to children

The safety and well being of the children (and grown-ups) that participate in our Woodland Adventures ® / outdoor activities is of paramount importance.  Where applicable we provide ratios in line with or better than that required by law and where not applicable, we apply a common-sense approach that optimises the enjoyable experience, learning and safety.  Please note that higher ratios are not always better than lower ratios.

Mixed age groups for children

Woodland Adventurers ® encourages children to mix across age groups.  This approach supports child-initiated learning where learning takes place when each child is ready, interested and engaged.  It also encourages a nurturing role for older children where they can learn to be positive role models for the younger ones.  We believe this supports an inclusive community-aligned approach that encourages positive moral values.
Woodland Adventurers – Outdoor Activity Centre – Box, Wiltshire – near Corsham Chippenham and Bath Somerset – boys and girls outdoor birthday parties – parent and toddlers – preschool – forest school PLUS – home education – bushcraft – forest school bath – forest school Wiltshire – team building – locations – Frome – Bath – Bristol – Chippenham – Corsham – Swainswick – Devizes – Calne – Melksham – Swindon – Batheaston – Bathford – Keynsham – Bradford on Avon – Holt – Shaw – Atworth – Westbury – Glastonbury – Malmesbury
Woodland Adventures® and outdoor activities
Woodland Adventurers – Outdoor Activity Centre – Box, Wiltshire – near Corsham Chippenham and Bath Somerset – boys and girls outdoor birthday parties – parent and toddlers – preschool – forest school PLUS – home education – bushcraft – forest school bath – forest school Wiltshire – team building – locations – Frome – Bath – Bristol – Chippenham – Corsham – Swainswick – Devizes – Calne – Melksham – Swindon – Batheaston – Bathford – Keynsham – Bradford on Avon – Holt – Shaw – Atworth – Westbury – Glastonbury – Malmesbury
Woodland Adventures® and outdoor activities

Real experiences

Children enjoy and learn loads from real experiences.  This includes the use of real items - tools, utensils etc.  So often children do not connect well with the imitation toys that are manufactured for them.  Just give them the real thing.  E.g. pots and pans.  Why make a plastic or even wooden toy when the real thing is just as much fun, provides better learning and its safe.

Grown-ups need to see the world from a child's perspective

To truly connect with children you need to remember what it is like to be one.  Consider the world as if you were a child.  Too many grown-ups forget that the grown-up's perspective is different to that of the child's perspective.  Get down on your knees to their height, use words that they use, be honest and direct, use pictures if written words cannot be understood, get outdoors because its fun, get mucky, animate story telling, dance, sing, play and so on.
Woodland Adventurers – Outdoor Activity Centre – Box, Wiltshire – near Corsham Chippenham and Bath Somerset – boys and girls outdoor birthday parties – parent and toddlers – preschool – forest school PLUS – home education – bushcraft – forest school bath – forest school Wiltshire – team building – locations – Frome – Bath – Bristol – Chippenham – Corsham – Swainswick – Devizes – Calne – Melksham – Swindon – Batheaston – Bathford – Keynsham – Bradford on Avon – Holt – Shaw – Atworth – Westbury – Glastonbury – Malmesbury
Woodland Adventures® and outdoor activities
Woodland Adventurers – Outdoor Activity Centre – Box, Wiltshire – near Corsham Chippenham and Bath Somerset – boys and girls outdoor birthday parties – parent and toddlers – preschool – forest school PLUS – home education – bushcraft – forest school bath – forest school Wiltshire – team building – locations – Frome – Bath – Bristol – Chippenham – Corsham – Swainswick – Devizes – Calne – Melksham – Swindon – Batheaston – Bathford – Keynsham – Bradford on Avon – Holt – Shaw – Atworth – Westbury – Glastonbury – Malmesbury
Woodland Adventures® and outdoor activities

Lifelong learning

Learning is fun (or at least it should be!) and therefore you should keep learning - always - throughout your life.  Treat it as a lifelong adventure of discovery.

Participation

At Woodland Adventurers ® we believe that all children and grown-ups should enjoy playing in the outdoors - to have fun, laughter, excitement and happiness through having a sense of freedom.  Children are naturally good at this, whereas grown-ups often forget how to do so and their inhibitions can get in the way.

So without any apologies, if you attend a Woodland Adventurers® session whether it is an outdoor birthday party or other session, then you will be encouraged to actively join in (just a friendly warning!) - children and grown-ups.

We aim to be inclusive in our approach.  In fact we believe that it is important, positive and essential to welcome diversity and to ensure equality at all times (including and not limited to race, gender, age, additional needs).
Woodland Adventures
Woodland Adventures® and outdoor activities
Woodland Adventurers – Outdoor Activity Centre – Box, Wiltshire – near Corsham Chippenham and Bath Somerset – boys and girls outdoor birthday parties – parent and toddlers – preschool – forest school PLUS – home education – bushcraft – forest school bath – forest school Wiltshire – team building – locations – Frome – Bath – Bristol – Chippenham – Corsham – Swainswick – Devizes – Calne – Melksham – Swindon – Batheaston – Bathford – Keynsham – Bradford on Avon – Holt – Shaw – Atworth – Westbury – Glastonbury – Malmesbury
Woodland Adventures® and outdoor activities

Never-ending improvement

In everything we do at Woodland Adventurers ®, we are striving to improve and make it more effective, more efficient and better.  This is a passion that is engrained in our hearts.

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Copyright © 2011-2018 Woodland Adventurers Limited.  All rights reserved.  

Woodland Adventurers Limited is a company registered in England and Wales, registration number: 08298466.
Ofsted registration number RP907696 and setting numbers EY488277 (Box, Corsham) and EY492828 (Monkton Farleigh).

Registered Trademarks: 
"Woodland Adventurers", "Woodland Adventures" and "Woodland Adventure" are registered trademarks ® of Woodland Adventurers Limited. The names of all other products, services or companies mentioned on the present site may be trademarks of their respective owners. You are forbidden to use any trademark appearing on the present site without the written authorisation of Woodland Adventurers Limited or the owner of the rights over this trademark.