Call of the Wild 2025

OUR FLAGSHIP COURSE – A YEAR LONG FOUNDATION IN OUTDOOR EDUCATION LEADERSHIP

CALL OF THE WILD JOURNEY

The process of developing our capacity for nature connection, in ourselves and others, is a thrilling and soulful adventure that’s full of potential opportunities, challenges and possibilities. This programme will give you the skills and tools to navigate this journey for yourself and to bring your leadership potential into focus, supported by experienced professionals, a community of like-minded and inspired peers, and a deep connection with the natural world itself. Through the programme you will develop a more grounded and effective approach to facilitating nature-connection, you will deepen your own connection with the natural world itself, and you will also be more connected to yourself and your aspirations. Another profound and far-reaching aspect is the deep bond formed with your peer group, typically 18-24 in number, and who become an increasingly important part of this unique journey.

LOCATION:

Various locations across Dartmoor and South Devon.

STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAMME

• 7 Core Skills & Development weekends, April – November
• 4 WildWise one-day professional training courses
• 5-7 days fieldwork on WildWise camps and events or a related external project
• 5 mentoring sessions
• Various assignments and practices associated with developing nature connection and integrated learning
• Online peer group

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?

As part of the Call of the Wild programme you will:

• Learn and/or develop new skills, tools and techniques to become a more effective educator
• Be introduced to new ideas and new practices
• Adopt routines that connect you with nature and can facilitate others connection to nature
• Move yourself closer to your professional aspirations, and toward your dreams for yourself and the world
• Discover more of your gifts, passions, and vision
• Gain experience with a range of participant-groups
• Receive coaching, mentoring and support

FOUNDATION PROGRAMME OUTLINE

1. Core Skills and Development weekends
The weekends will focus on building your core skills and knowledge in the following areas: Nature Awareness, Campcraft, Bushcraft, Woodcraft, Sensory Awareness, Naturalist Activity, Creative Interpretation, Storytelling, Nature Games.

4-7 April – Orientation Module – Higher Ashton, nr Exeter

Introduction and induction. Village-building; Natural navigation; Introduction to core routines; Firecraft; Meeting the mentors; Night walk; Assignments and practices.

9-12 May – Hands Module – Moor Barton, Dartmoor

Bushcraft including whittling, coppicing, axe-work, firecraft, shelter-building; birds and birdsong; night activities; firesides; assignments and practices

13-16 June – Imagination Module – Modbury nr Ivybridge

Nature games; earth education; environmental storytelling; narrative storymaking; play theory; nightpaddle; firesides; assignments and practices.

18-21 July – Awareness Module – Moor Barton, Dartmoor

Sensory awareness; tracking skills; wildlife observation; night activity; intuition walk; assignments and practices.

5-8 Sept – Leadership Module – Newbridge, Dartmoor

Leadership styles and models; self leadership; project planning; overnight solo expedition; firesides; assignments and practices.

3-6 October – Heart Module – Higher Ashton, nr Exeter

Gaia theory and deep ecology; somatic awareness; movement medicine; body intelligence; active hope; grief-tending; intuition walk; firesides; assignments and practices.

7-10 Nov – Going Forth Module – Higher Ashton, nr Exeter

Council for all Beings; reflection on personal journey; harvesting; building networks for the future; firesides; celebrations and endings.

N.B. It is a pre-requisite that you are available for every module and that you attend in full -from 2pm on Friday to 1pm on Monday.

2. Professional Training
Students choose up to 4 days’ worth of training courses from the 2023 WildWise professional training programme to develop particular areas of interest. The course dates are not usually finalised until the Spring however the course selection tends to remain fairly consistent year on year so you can get a flavour of the short courses on offer here.

3. Fieldwork
You are invited to get involved with WildWise courses and camps, in order to gain experience of working at a wide-range of events and with a variety of participant groups. There is also an option to work with compatible external organisations. We recommend that you do between 5-7 days of fieldwork throughout the year.

4. Mentoring

You are offered 5 sessions of one-to-one focused enquiry with one of the programme mentors to support you to reflect on the course and how it is impacting upon you, to discuss your professional and personal aspirations and to clarify your next steps.

COURSE FEES:  £2,795*

* flexible payment terms are available plus we extend some concessions (discounts on 2-3 places) subject to application and based on financial need. Please contact us for more info.