Discover Bushcraft for Families
"Want to wean them off their Nintendo DS? How about foraging for food and making camp on an organic farm, two and a half hours by train from Stockholm? Located deep in a forest, and under the expert guidance of your hosts, you will learn how to identify and gather edible food, read animal tracks and light fires." Recommended by British Airways High Life magazine.
Photo: Staffan Widstrand
Photos: 1:Staffan Widstrand, 2-5,7:A.Frick, 6:Nature Travels
This experience is an accessible, enjoyable and practical family bushcraft holiday for parents and "bushbabies" alike!
From your base at a remote organic farm located deep in the Swedish forest, and under the expert guidance and instruction of your local hosts, you will explore the forest world while learning some fun and very practical bushcraft and outdoor cooking skills. Your hosts, who know the forest intimately and the many resources and riches it contains, will help you unlock some of the forest's mysteries. You will learn how to light a fire and prepare food out of doors, how to identify and gather edible foods, and how to understand and read some of the many tracks and signs left by the forest animals.
Discover Bushcraft for Families is enjoyable and relevant for both parents and children. Adults will find your hosts, who run the farm on traditional agricultural principles and produce much of their own food, a deep well of valuable information and knowledge on all aspects of rural crafts and forest foods - a wonderful chance to improve your skills in preparing food out of doors and learn more about the natural world.
Children will love the challenge and adventure of finding and identifying tracks and signs of animals in the forest, the excitement of sleeping outside by themselves in tents (parents can sleep out too if they wish!) and the simple freedom and fun of a Swedish summer - clean air, fresh, cool lakes for swimming and an endless forest playground to discover. As well as having fun, learning and practising bushcraft skills is an ideal way to encourage respect for and appreciation of nature as well as a sense of responsibility in the outdoors.
Each day you will head out in the company of your hosts to learn more about the forest world, with breakfast and dinner around the open fire using some of the ingredients you have gathered and putting into practice the skills and techniques you learn. Accommodation is in family rooms at the forest farm, with the option for all or some participants to sleep out in tents for nights 2, 3 and 4.
Discover Bushcraft for Families is suitable for the whole family, including younger children. Each adult travelling on this experience can book one child for just £11, with children under 3 years free of charge, making this an ideal family summer holiday for those with a taste for adventure!
Arrival at the forest farm. You will have dinner together with your hosts and discuss the day's ahead. Your host, Åsa, is an accomplished farmhouse cook. All ingredients used at the farm are organic and locally produced/sourced wherever possible. Self-guided evening walk down to the lake (if you have the energy after dinner!). Accommodation for this night is in family room at the farm. The farm has just two rooms and offers a very personal and welcoming atmosphere.
Outdoor breakfast (regardless of the weather!). A short walk brings you to the spot where you will prepare breakfast together over open fire, under the expert guidance of your hosts - an ideal opportunity to learn about cooking techniques and hygiene considerations for preparing food out of doors.
With your hosts to guide you, you will take a walk in the surrounding area to gather foods from the forest - these may include berries, mushrooms or other foodstuffs according to the season. You will also come across tracks and signs left by the local wildlife (large and small!), which your hosts will help you to identify. Back in the farmhouse kitchen, you will help to prepare a lunch based on the ingredients you have gathered.
In the afternoon you will prepare your camping spot for the night. Everyone who wishes can spend the night under canvas, parents are welcome to sleep back at the farm and let the children experience the adventure of camping alone. Tents supplied are suitable for up to 4 children or 3 adults per tent. Sleeping bags and sleeping mats are provided, air mattresses are also available to borrow for "softies"!
Dinner by the fire, prepared from local ingredients from the farm and surrounding forest. If weather and temperature permits, an evening dip in the lake is a perfect way to end the day!
Following a morning swim in the lake (if you wish!), breakfast will be outside, as for Day 2, with the chance if you wish to prepare the fire and food yourself using the knowledge and skills gained the previous day.
You will be given a packed lunch for self-guided day-tour to the local nature reserve. You will be given and shown how to use a GPS to find your way to a beautiful viewpoint in the nature reserve. (As an alternative, your day-tour can also be guided by your hosts, but for this an additional fee is payable).
Dinner by the fire, with tales of the forest told by your hosts (for those brave enough to listen!). Overnight accommodation at the farm or in tents according to preference.
Morning dip and outdoor breakfast.
Today you will travel with your hosts by horse and carriage to a lumberjack cabin for lunch together.
After lunch you can explore the lake by rowing boat or simply enjoy the afternoon with a relaxing swim or paddle.
Your last evening is spent around the fire with dinner and songs in the sunset and a chance to reflect on and discuss your experience and the new skills you have learned.
Breakfast followed by departure.
Prices are in British Pounds. If you wish, you are also welcome to make your payment by bank transfer in Euros or Swedish Kronor. If this would be of interest, please let us know and we will be happy to provide prices.
Four nights in family rooms at forest farm. Shared bathroom/WC. On nights 2, 3 and 4, all or some participants may choose to sleep in tents close to the farm.
Tents (suitable for up to 4 children or 3 adults/tent), sleeping bags and sleeping mats are provided for participants who wish to sleep in tents on nights 2, 3 and 4. An inflatable mattress is also available to borrow on request.
All meals from dinner Day 1 to breakfast Day 5. Ingredients used are organic and sourced from the local area, the farm itself and also gathered from the forest during the tour as far as possible. Please let us know in advance if you have any special dietary requirements. Everyone will assist in collection and preparation of some foods.
Instruction in bushcraft and cooking skills from your hosts.
Alcoholic drinks.
If you are travelling by public transport, transfer is required to/from Söderhamn (approx. 45 minutes each way). Price 500 SEK (about £50) per transfer one way. Transfer must be booked in advance but is paid locally to your hosts on arrival.
You should be in general good health, enjoy the outdoors and be able to walk in a forest environment over uneven terrain. No previous bushcraft experience is required. This experience is suitable for the whole family.
A detailed recommended equipment list will be sent with your booking confirmation.
NB: We advise you not to buy equipment or clothes for your trip or to incur other non-refundable expenses such as flights until you have received confirmation of your booking from us in writing.
There are two rooms at the farm, each accommodating a family of 4-5. Max. group size is therefore two families total 8-10 persons.
This provider is a member of the Swedish Ecotourism Society.
Detailed information on travel options will be sent with your booking documentation. We are happy to advise on suitable connections and assist you with any aspect of planning your journey.
Fly to Stockholm for onward travel by train to Söderhamn (travel time around 2-2.5 hours), from where transfer is available as an optional extra.
Ferry from Harwich to Esbjerg (Denmark) for onward connections to Söderhamn.
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Nature Travels Ltd, 2 Leanne Business Centre, Sandford Lane, Wareham, Dorset BH20 4DY, United Kingdom
Registered Office: 26 Andover Green, Bovington, Wareham, Dorset BH20 6LN | Company No: 5636754 | Tel: 01929 503080 | Email: admin@naturetravels.co.uk
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