“To hear my children talk about all that they discovered, to see the life in their eyes as they relive their experience and to notice the depth of feeling is to know that I have given them something as a parent to treasure forever.”
Get ready for an unforgettable summer at the Forest Outlaws bushcraft nature camp! Located in the stunning landscapes of Devon, our camp is designed for adventurous teens aged 13-16 years, offering a unique opportunity to learn or hone essential survival skills, connect with nature, and make lifelong friends.
Why choose Forest Outlaws?
There are plenty of studies evidencing the well being benefits of nature connection e.g. increased resilience, more regulated emotion and the ability to relax, reduced depression, anxiety, and stress however according to new research from the RSPB and the University of Essex as children get older and move into teenage years their connectedness with nature drops away and in particular mid teenagers feel less connected to nature than any other group.
WildWise aims to instill a love of nature from an early age and to sustain and nurture that interest over the years by offering fun and challenging programmes that support that connection into adulthood and beyond. Our Forest Rangers camp is our ever popular nature immersion camp on Dartmoor for 8-12 year olds. This new Forest Outlaws programme aims to continue that journey offering activities, skills and challenges and a depth of experience geared towards older children.
What will the children gain?
Participants will:
Camp Highlights
How will the camp be?
Our team will create a supportive, friendly and nurturing environment in which children can learn new skills and develop existing ones to a deeper level; learn about wildlife, flora & fauna and the natural wonders around them; play outdoor team games and have fun. The children are generally active and lively but the pace is relaxed and without too much pressure. We aim to strike the right balance between slower paced relaxing activities and challenges that may push their boundaries but give them the opportunity to grow. There will always be the option to sit out and take a break when needed.
See details on the practicalities in the Essentials section below including how to reserve a place.
Elena Harris: Elena was the co-founder of Wildlings; an outdoor based home education setting in the Chilterns. She participated in WildWise’s outdoor leadership programme Call of the Wild 2017, and since then continued to train and volunteer with WildWise until being given an instructor position in 2020. She is a qualified level 3 Forest School leader and has also trained in bushcraft with Ray Mears’ company Woodlore. She home educated her 2 children focusing on nature connection, consent-based education and NVC resolution. She is passionate about reconnecting people with the land, indigenous knowledge and nature-based practices and crafts.
Richard Loizou: Richard is a qualified Forest School Leader and regularly leads events and camps for WildWise. He has a particular interest working with young people. He also work with adults, facilitating processes with a view to personal and social change. Richard also works at Acorns school in Denbury in Devon. Prior to this Richard was a Land Based Learning Facilitator for Embercombe which included working on week long residential camps with children aged eight to eighteen. Richard’s passions include making things out of reclaimed or natural materials, dancing, cycling and wild swimming.
You will need to bring:
This event will take place at our beautful riverside meadow venue, near Newbridge, on Dartmoor. Details joining instructions will be issued after booking. In the meantime the approximate location is indicated in the map below.
You can also check out the what3words location here ///extremes.skin.torso
We provide all main meals. We can cater for most dietary requirements including vegetarian, vegan, gluten free etc. Hot and cold refreshments are also available throughout the day.
To instantly book online with a reservation deposit click here.
Alternatively if you have any queries please complete a booking enquiry form here.
Finance: after you pay the reservation deposit online we will acknowledge your booking. A reminder and a link to a child health form will be sent out nearer the event date NB the balance is due by 1 month beforehand.
Note that:
**Kids Summer Camps Booking Now**
Dates are now confirmed for our hugely popular Forest Rangers camp for 8-12 yrs and the follow on, more challenging camp for teens, Forest Outlaws for 13-16 yrs. See the full 2026 schedule here