Woodworking & tools guides
How-tos, guides & manuals to choosing & using tools outdoors.
Early Years & Primary School children can develop woodworking skills with proper training & supervision.
Forest School tools
Woodwork & tool use is an integral part of Forest School & outdoor learning - delve into our library of tool guides & related resources.
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Bushcraft tools
Various experts and suppliers suggest the most important bushcraft tools to have in your kit.
Read More about Bushcraft tools
Guide to palm drills
Palm drills are perfect to use with children as an introduction to tool use in woodwork and simple activities.
Read More about Guide to palm drills
Activities with tools & wood
Some of our woodworking tool guides and simple activities using tools suitable for the Early Years - explore the Outdoor Hub Activity section to find more!
Read More about Activities with tools & wood
Green woodwork & woodturning
How-to guides, histories & features on the traditional craft skills and uses of wood.
Read More about Green woodwork & woodturning
Dragons Sneeze
Fire lighting and campfire cooking can be a wonderful part of the outdoor experience for Early Years and Primary school children. The Dragons Sneeze is a fire steel & striker we designed and created especially for Forest School groups and practitioners - easy for all ages and abilities to make the perfect spark. Find out how and why the Dragons Sneeze became...
Read More about Dragons Sneeze
Woodworking
Early years woodwork expert Pete Moorhouse, introduces this section and offers tips and advice on woodworking with Early Years & Primary Schools. There are also guides to whittling and tool use, and research and articles on the future of traditional crafts.
There is a comprehensive woodworking section in our shop, that follows Pete's recommendations on tools and resources, and tool use guides & activities in our activity section.
Read More about Woodworking
Fire & Forest School activities & guides including: campfire cooking, building a fire pit, fire safety, using a fire steel, fireside activities and crafts. Our fire guides are useful whether you're a beginner or an expert.
For outdoor cooking inspiration explore our Campfire Cooking section.
Videos
A couple of useful practical guides to tool use from Forest School expert Louise Ambrose.
Safe Tool Use at Forest School - A 12 point system for using tools at Forest School
Safe tool use at Forest School can be a key part of the learner-led process – extending children’s play opportunities and developing skills. In this video I share with you my 12 point system for using tools at Forest School using an acronym ‘A.C.A.D.E.M.I.C.S S.U.C.’
14 June 2024 (36 mins 38)
Using a Knife Safely at Forest School - A Complete Guide to using knives with children
Using a knife safely at Forest School can open up creative opportunities, develop children’s skills, and support risky play. This is the full version of knife teaching from my Forest School training that I’m happy to share with you as a complete guide to using knives with children at Forest School. We even make a couple of tent pegs whilst we go through the techniques!
17 September 2024 (1 hour, 21mins)