Youth Bushcraft Program: Skills for the Wild, Lessons for Life

The Youth Bushcraft Program at OARS is a hands-on, outdoor learning experience designed to help young people build confidence, resilience, and a meaningful connection to the natural world. Guided by trained instructors and grounded in safety, respect, and stewardship, participants learn foundational wilderness and woodland skills through experiential, age-appropriate activities.

Youth explore practical skills such as fire safety and fire-building, shelter construction, cordage and knot-tying, navigation and map reading, tool awareness, natural materials identification, and Leave No Trace ethics. Lessons emphasize problem-solving, teamwork, and situational awareness while encouraging curiosity and creativity in an outdoor setting.

The program is intentionally structured to support social-emotional learning, helping participants develop independence, cooperation, and confidence through guided challenges and group collaboration. Activities are adaptable for varying ages and abilities, ensuring an inclusive environment where all youth can participate meaningfully.

Beyond outdoor skills, the Youth Bushcraft Program fosters environmental stewardship, teaching participants how to responsibly interact with ecosystems and understand their role within them. By blending traditional bushcraft knowledge with modern safety standards, the program nurtures both respect for nature and practical life skills that extend far beyond the woods.

Ideal for beginners and returning participants alike, this program supports OARS’ mission to provide accessible, empowering outdoor education that strengthens youth, families, and community connections through nature-based learning.