Chapel Gate Nature Connection

30%

of people find woodland sounds to boost wellbeing (National Trust)

67%

of all adults agreed that spending time noticing nature has made them feel happier (National Trust)

The Chapel Gate Outdoor experience provides you with an excellent opportunity to build reslience, team work and a further understanding of the natural world. Environmental psychology, and the studies surrounding human well-being and connectivity to the environment have shown us that by staying close to nature we feel more grateful and appreciative of what it has to offer (Proshansky 1976)

We can help you develop personal skills that are applyable to your personal and professional life, these skills will be developed by combining camp craft techniques such as Fire Lighting & Safety, Tarps & Hammocks, Knots & Hitches, Shelter Construction, Adventure Games, Forest Art, Nature Walks & Education, Archery and how to use survival tools like knives, saws and axes safely.

Learn numerous ways to use natural resources wherever you may find yourself, and begin to see a world full of valuable and familiar tools that you can rely upon should you need them.

Our outdoor sessions can be tailored to suit the needs of your group, we will work with you to meet your aims and objectives for the session, whether this is a children's party or a corporate team building experience.

The outdoor communal area is also available for booking as a meeting space if you are looking for that functional space with a twist. We can provide your team with hot drinks, a short introduction to camp craft skills as an ice-breaker or team builder before or as part of your team meet.

Meeting Spaces are bookable by emailing [email protected]

Questions & Queries

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 01202 965012

Meeting Space

Welcoming the outdoors to your meetings doesn't just provide a change of scenery, it improves morale, well-being, health and team cohesion.

Available for small or large groups with a range of customisable and tailorable equipment, seating and even your own fire pit.

Inquiries & Bookings: 01202 965-012

What does Campcraft include?

Fire Safety & Lighting

Fire allows us to suvive in regions where it would otherwise be too cold or too wet. It warms us, cooks our food, dries our clothes, and makes our water safe to drink. It illuminates our camp, discourages dangerous animals and biting insects, allows us to signal, and provides the means to manipulate and shape natural materials.

Matches and lighters go out the window in this environment. We will show you how to make fire with minimal equipment, using the materials found in the woods, even in the pouring rain. We also teach how to safely manage your fire, what fuels to use, and even how to structure your fire to meet the purpose you are aiming for.

Shelter building and Hammocking

We’ll show you how to select and tie the most common knots and hitches and their applications in relation to setting up hammocks, tarps and shelters. Knot and hitches are an important addition to your repotoire, learning these intricacies helps to develop fine motor skills, patience, persistance and perserverance. Qualities that can easily transmit into other area's of our personal and professional lives.

Forest Bathing

Immerse yourself in nature. "Forest Bathing” originating in Japan as a health and well-being intervention, has been shown to have positive physiological effects, including blood pressure improvement, the boost of autonomic and immune functions, as well as psychological effects of alleviating depression and improving mental health. More recent research has shown that spending time outdoors can have a positive effect on stress reduction, lowering the hormone cortisol (Gidlow, Randall, Gillman, Smith & Jones, 2016) .

Adventure Games

Team Building activities such as Tug of war, Giant Ski Walk, blindfold mazes, spider’s web and a selection of other challenges dsinged to test and enhance your team work and leadership.

Nerf Battles – A selection of NERF based games in the woods, SportBU have their own equipment and eye protection, but you are welcome to bring your own.

Relive or continue to enjoy your childhood with Adventure based games such as Hide & Seek, Capture the Flag, Tracker and Survival Scenario's.

Forest Arts & Craft

Woodlands and forests are amazing spaces of imagination and inspiration. Vital places for artists to engage with and make forest art, giving our groups the opportunity to show their creative side.

Why not take time out, indulge in some forest bathing, drawing inspiration from what's around you to create your own bug hotels, pine cone palaces, bird feeders and even a log pile house.

Nature Walks

Knife work

Like with many professions, it's important to have the right tool for the job. Many of the tasks associated withcamp craft are possible without a cutting tool, some of which we cover. However, most are made easier if you have a knife, and a sharp one at that. We cover essential tool choice, safety, handling, use and care, and we include practical tutoring on sharpening safely.

Recent Testimonials

Our team took the opportunity of working together in a different environment by spending a day at Chapel Gate – holding our morning meeting in the woods and working on our laptops in the Garden Room in the afternoon. Layne was really welcoming and had a fire set up for us when we arrived, with bean bags and hammocks around, and hot drinks with water boiled on the fire. It really enhanced our team meeting in allowing us to connect with nature and offered time for reflection in a calm setting.

Thanks again to you and Mark for facilitating this day, we look forward to coming back again. - BU Student Services Team

Campcraft parties

Based at Chapel Gate, our 65-acre outdoor facility, Campcraft parties provide children with an opportunity to immerse themselves in the natural world, all while taking part in a range of fun and educational activities.

CoachBU

To inspire and broaden the aspirations of young people, enhancing lifelong skills and confidence supporting them to achieve their potential. To be a conduit for engagement with BU and the wider community.

Bookable camp craft and outdoor experiences