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Bushcraft Competency Award

Bushcraft Accredited Training Courses

Bushcraft Competency Award

 

 

Logo for Bushcraft Competency Award

 

 

An assessed award covering bushcraft skills and knowledge suitable for instructors working in outdoor centres or schools and delivering bushcraft skills sessions.

 

  • Covers five bushcraft units - edged tools – knives & saws; fire; water; tarp shelters & knots; campfire cooking.

  • Designed for the outdoor learning workforce including FE/HE students, apprentices, instructors, teachers, leaders, etc.

  • Suitable for a wide range of people working or volunteering in formal or non-formal settings such as early years, schools, colleges, outdoor centres, education centres, wildlife trusts, national parks, youth and voluntary organisations, etc.

  • Consists of a high quality training course, consolidated experience, assessment of bushcraft competence and certification by IOL Awards Centre.

Image relating to the IOL Bushcraft Competency Award Process

 

Training Courses

  • Open to all with an interest in passing bushcraft skills and knowledge on to others.
  • 16 guided learning hours (GLH) over 2 days. Delivered by IOL Accredited Bushcraft Competency Course Providers.

Cost set by the Accredited Course Provider.

Find a Bushcraft Competency Award Training Course

NOTE: This course was launched in November 2021 and the first Bushcraft Training providers are going though the approval process with IOL and the Bushcraft PPG. Watch the IOL Bushcraft Training Events page and the IOL Bushcraft Facebook page to find out when the first courses are available.

 

Consolidation Period and Logbook

  • Assessment for the Bushcraft Competency Award (BCA) requires a completed Bushcraft Competency Logbook demonstrating 60 quality hours of consolidated bushcraft experience.
  • Supporting evidence should include a mix of guided learning, self-learning, reflective practice, instructing/teaching, mentoring, etc.

IOL encourages candidates to submit a digital logbook of their required experience. Download in Word or PDF format and when completed, email to Fiona at IOL, no less than 10 days prior to your assessment, who will notify your Assessor.

 

Assessment Course

  • 4 guided learning hours (GLH) over 1/2 day. Award assessment courses are arranged by IOL with Bushcraft PPG Approved Bushcraft Assessors.
  • Skilled and knowledgeable bushcraft practitioners can go straight to assessment with a completed logbook of experience.

Find a Bushcraft Competency Award Assessment Course

 

Is the Bushcraft Competency Award for you?

Achieving the Bushcraft Competency Award demonstrates you follow good practice and have a high level of safety and competency in five bushcraft units.

 

Image relating to the IOL Bushcraft Competency Award Criteria

Statement of Good Practice in Bushcraft Competence

The IOL Bushcraft Professional Practice Group (PPG) has a long-standing reputation for quality and innovation within the field of Bushcraft . They recognise the need for instructors, teachers and leaders to demonstrate that they have a basic level of safe and competent bushcraft skills and are following recommended good practice.

The Statement of Good Practice in Bushcraft Competence is designed to assist and support practitioners to learn and develop bushcraft skills, and to demonstrate their skills and competencies in bushcraft. It is a valuable guide for those involved in educating, training, and assessing the competence of instructors, teachers and leaders in bushcraft.

 

 

Find a BCA Training or Assessment Course

Bushcraft Competency Award training courses are delivered by IOL Accredited Bushcraft Competency Course Providers. Award assessment courses are arranged by IOL with Bushcraft Competency Assessors.

 

 

Image to show the Bushcraft Awards Poster

 

 

Image to show the IOL Level 3 Bushcraft Competency Award - SPECIFICATION

 

 

Bushcraft Competency Statement of Good Practice

 

 

 

Bushcraft Awards Document Store

Log In to access all of the Bushcraft Award documentation

 

What is Bushcraft?

Bushcraft is a term for the skills our ancestors used, up until surprisingly recently, to tread softly on the land and survive and live well with what nature provides us. The skill range is vast but includes, for example, fire lighting, tracking, shelter building, bow making, flint snapping and so on. The more you learn, the more you realise there is to learn!

How does Bushcraft link into outdoor learning?

Over the last 20 years there has been a huge growth in the numbers of outdoor providers offering bushcraft as part of a programme, or as the main theme of a course. This is because it has been shown to have a great impact on peoples feeling of wellbeing, achievement, fulfilment, and in so doing it allows youngsters who are not academic to develop skills in an area they can find fascinating and engaging. Many aspects of school curricular can be covered or invigorated through bushcraft skills.

What Prior Experience Do I Need To Attend This Course?

Many course providers say that a basic foundation in some of the practical skills in bushcraft is a real benefit. They won’t expect you to know all the finer details of high-quality bushcraft skills, but if you are able to use a knife safely and feel comfortable in a woodland environment you will get the most from the course. You might consider looking at an introductory or foundation day in Bushcraft if your experience is very limited.

Can I go straight to an assessment course?

The Bushcraft PPG recommend attending a training course as the best option so you have a chance to fine-tune your bushcraft skills and knowledge to meet the Award criteria. Skilled and knowledgeable bushcraft practitioners can go straight to assessment with a completed logbook of experience.

How do I become an IOL Approved Bushcraft Competency Award Provider?

New providers

The process for new providers to be approved to deliver the IOL Bushcraft Competency Award, IOL Bushcraft Competency Certificate, or IOL Bushcraft Competency Diploma is:

  1. Read through the Course Specification and contact the IOL Bushcraft PPG and discuss your intentions and experience for delivering the course
  2. Design a scheme of work for your course that can:
    1. Best meet the needs and capabilities of your expected learners, and
    2. Satisfy the requirements of the award
  3. Complete the standard IOL Course Accreditation Application process
  4. Gain approval from the IOL Bushcraft PPG – usually following a site visit
  5. Complete annual renewals and attend standardisation and development meetings to support the quality assurance process

 

Current BCC providers

The process for existing providers for the IOL Bushcraft Competency Certificate (BCC) who wish to deliver the Bushcraft Competency Award is:

  1. Read through the Course Specification and design a scheme of work for the new course that can:
    1. Best meet the needs and capabilities of your expected learners, and
    2. Satisfy the requirements of the award
  2. Complete a ‘request to provide an additional course’ form with details of your competency to deliver the units required in the course. Gain approval from the IOL Bushcraft PPG
  3. Complete annual renewals and attend standardisation and development meetings to support the quality assurance process

How do I become an IOL Bushcraft Competency Assessor?

Fair, consistent and reliable assessment against the standards is at the heart of this high quality and valued award. The number of IOL Bushcraft Competency Assessors is demand led and follows the published process from the IOL Bushcraft PPG:

  1. Demonstrate meeting the IOL Bushcraft Competency Assessor requirements.
  2. Attend standardisation and development meetings to support the quality assurance process.

 

 

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