May 9 @ 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
£75.00
Step into the woodland kitchen and discover the joys of traditional outdoor cookery in this immersive one-day course. Set against the beautiful backdrop of our woodland basecamp, this course celebrates the simple pleasure of preparing and sharing good food around the campfire. You’ll explore time-honoured methods of cooking in the wild, using cast iron, hot smoking, baking, and earth ovens, as well as learning how to manage a fire for a range of cooking tasks.
Led by experienced outdoor educator James Kendall, you’ll spend the day learning hands-on skills that transform humble ingredients into delicious campfire feasts. From baking bread over the flames to roasting meat in a ground oven, this course is a journey into the flavours, aromas, and community spirit of woodland cookery.
This course is perfect for anyone who wants to deepen their outdoor living skills, from bushcraft enthusiasts to food lovers looking to explore the art of cooking in nature’s kitchen. You’ll not only learn techniques but also enjoy the social experience of preparing, cooking, and sharing food together under the trees.
Your course is all set against the backdrop of mixed woodlands, wetlands and open meadows of Park In The Past, with 120 acres of wild space to explore.
- Use a cast iron Dutch oven to prepare a range of hearty woodland dishes.
- Bake your own rustic bread over the campfire.
- Use the lightweight & portable reflector oven to bake and roast.
- Explore hot smoking techniques for making smoked fish and jerky.
- Cook with a ground oven to slow roast a joint of meat and root vegetables.
- Learn how to manage and understand the four key areas of the cooking fire.
- Craft your own rustic cooking spit using knife whittling techniques.
- Enjoy a communal feast around the campfire, sharing food, stories, and skills.
By the end of the day, you’ll leave with a full belly, a head full of recipes, and the confidence to take your campfire cookery to the next level. Whether you’re a keen on the home bbq, an outdoor enthusiast or someone who simply loves good food, this course offers an inspiring, flavour-filled day celebrating the art of outdoor cooking.
Your Tutor: James Kendall
James is the Head Bushcraft Instructor at Woodland Classroom, having worked in outdoor education & conservation for over 10 years. James’ approach to teaching steers students toward fostering a deeper connection with nature through understanding the landscape around us; “Cooking outdoors brings people together like nothing else. The crackle of the fire, the smell of food on the flames, and the shared experience of creating meals in the wild—it’s not just about feeding ourselves, it’s about reconnecting to a simpler, more mindful way of living.”
In 2017 James received the Bushcraft Competency Certificate awarded through the Institute for Outdoor Learning after 2 years of teaching experience and practical study. He is also a member of the IOL Bushcraft Professional Practise Group. The group aims to promote best practice in the growing industry of bushcraft activity providers.
Skills you will learn
Over the course of the programme you will learn a range of skills, including…
YOUR DAY IN THE WOODS
Your day begins at our woodland basecamp, nestled beneath the trees, where the smell of woodsmoke mingles with the morning air. As you gather around the campfire with a fresh brew in hand, your tutor will introduce you to the timeless art of outdoor cookery, sharing how fire has always brought people together, not just for warmth and sustenance, but for community and celebration.
From here, we will explore the structure of the cooking fire itself. You’ll learn how to understand and manage the four key areas of the fire; essential knowledge for successful campfire cooking. You’ll discover how each part of the fire plays a role in different methods of food preparation, from fast frying to slow roasting.
Throughout the morning, you’ll get hands-on with a range of traditional cooking techniques. You’ll bake your own rustic bread in a cast iron Dutch oven, explore the use of a reflector oven for cooking with radiant heat, and prepare a variety of dishes using tried-and-tested campfire methods. Throughout the day, you’ll be nibbling on tasters and samples of your creations, experiencing the flavours as they evolve over the fire.
You’ll also delve into the world of hot smoking, where you’ll discover how we built our simple yet effective smoker using natural materials from the woodland, before using it to create smoked fish, jerky, and other delights infused with rich, smoky flavour.
You will follow in the footsteps of our ancestors as we fire up the impressive ground oven. You’ll be guided through the ancient process of building and cooking with an earth oven, using it to slow roast a joint of meat and seasonal vegetables to perfection. As the food cooks slowly beneath the soil, you’ll have time to reflect, relax, and soak up the rhythms of the woodland kitchen.
To add a dash of campcraft to the day, you will be set a challenge to design and build your own adjustable pot hanger for campfire cooking. Using natural materials and applying safe knife skills, you’ll craft a sturdy and functional tool for hanging pots and kettles over the fire, developing both your whittling confidence and your understanding of practical woodland skills.
As the day draws to a close, we will gather around the campfire to enjoy a celebratory feast, bringing together all the food prepared throughout the day. This is a moment to sit back, relax, and share stories, laughter, and good food in the glow of the fire, celebrating the skills, flavours, and friendships forged in the woodland kitchen.
Throughout the day, your tutor will weave in stories, traditions, and practical tips for taking your outdoor cookery skills further, whether you’re cooking for friends on a camping trip or preparing a feast in your own back garden.
By the end of the day, you’ll leave with a belly full of delicious food, the confidence to cook creatively over an open fire, and the warmth of having shared a memorable day of food, fire, and friendship in the woods.
Book now
This course costs £75 per person and is aimed at learners aged 16 years and over. Younger children can attend the course, and have done in the past, if you feel that they would enjoy it and understand that it is aimed at adults. Get in touch with us before booking to see if the course would be suitable. Any children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Get in touch if you have any questions. If you have any special dietary requirements, please get in touch before booking so we can be sure that this course can accommodate you. You can read our Event Terms & Conditions here.
