The podcast for outdoor professionals where we deconstruct the skills, attitudes and knowledge you need to help you earn a living in the great outdoors. Join us as we interview Forest School Leaders, discuss bushcraft philosophy, dive into nature as therapy, and dissect business structures. Hosted by Bracken Van Ryssen of Bracken Outdoors.com
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In this episode, I take a look at the wealth of experience most Forest School leaders have. The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freelance Woodland Leader, from bu…
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Episode 90 - 3 tips for encouraging construction play in Forest School
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In this video, I discuss how to introduce more construction-based play into your Forest School sessions to develop creativity and problem-solving. The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all …
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Episode 89 - Is your Forest School a hobbie or a business?
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In this episode, I discuss profit, doing good, business and direction from the perspective of running a business vs a hobby. The Graham Cochrane Show - 3 Marks of a Life-giving business: https://www.grahamcochrane.com/podcasts/the-graham-cochrane-show/episodes/2148748996 The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft i…
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Episode 88 - Unpacking Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
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In this episode, I take a look at how to practically apply Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to time out in the woods, making sure that children have a firm foundation for achievement. The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. Wi…
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Episode 87 - Developing Rules and Boundaries in Forest School
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In this episode, I discuss balancing freedom and safety when it comes to rules and boundaries in Forest School sessions. The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freel…
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In this episode, I talk about what to do when you really aren't feeling up to being your best self for your sessions. The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freelanc…
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Episode 85 - How to risk assess and use tools safely for Forest School
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In this video, I go over my adapted model for risk-assessing tool use to give you a framework that you can use to manage risk effectively as a woodland leader. Resources Hierarchy of Controls for Forest School Leaders The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you…
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Episode 84 - Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development - Forest Learning Theories
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In this episode, I take a look at the models and theories espoused by Vygotsky and how to apply them to sessions in the woods. The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a…
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Episode 83 - Can you afford to take a sick day
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In this episode, I discuss how to deal with sick days as a self-employed Woodland Leader The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freelance Woodland Leader, from busin…
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Episode 82 - Should you run Forest School sessions through the summer holidays?
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In this episode, I discuss the pros, cons and options for running sessions through the summer as a Woodland Leader The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freelance W…
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Episode 81 - How to be a Highly Effective Forest School Leader Part 7 - Sharpen the Saw
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Stephen Covey's book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is one of the most life-changing books I own. In this mini-series, I apply his principles to the world of Forest School. In this episode, I cover the final habit, Habit 7- Sharpen the Saw and how to look after yourself to be able to in turn help others Get your copy of 7 Habits of Highly Effe…
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Episode 80 - How to be a Highly Effective Forest School Leader Part 6 - Synergise
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Stephen Covey's book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is one of the most life-changing books I own. In this mini-series, I apply his principles to the world of Forest School. In this epsiode, I cover Habit 6 - Synergise and how to empower your learners. Get your copy of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People at https://amzn.to/3UIT6AN (This is an A…
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Episode 79 - Mark Fox on Curriculum Linked Learning
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In this episode, I interview Mark Fox of Peak District Survival School. Mark has worked in the outdoor industry full-time for over 25 years delivering AALs activities, a range of in-school linked curriculum activities, as well as external school trips. He also delivers a range of accredited courses for instructional staff and educational establishm…
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Episode 78 - How to be a Highly Effective Forest School Leader Part 5 - Seek First to Understand and Then be Understood
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Stephen Covey's book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is one of the most life-changing books I own. In this mini-series, I apply his principles to the world of Forest School. In this episode, I cover Habit 5 - seek first to understand and then be understood and how to listen and act empathetically. Get your copy of 7 Habits of Highly Effective P…
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Episode 77 - How to be a Highly Effective Forest School Leader Part 4 - Think Win-Win
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Stephen Covey's book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is one of the most life-changing books I own. In this mini-series, I apply his principles to the world of Forest School. In this episode, I cover Habit 4 - Think Win-Win and how to build mutually beneficial relationships. Get your copy of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People at https://amzn.to…
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Episode 76 - How to be a Highly Effective Forest School Leader Part 3 - Put First things First
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Stephen Covey's book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is one of the most life-changing books I own. In this mini-series, I apply his principles to the world of Forest School. In this episode, I cover Habit 3 - put first things first and discuss how to prioritise and organise your tasks. Get your copy of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People at htt…
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Episode 75 - How to be a Highly Effective Forest School Leader Part 2 - Begin with the End in Mind
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Stephen Covey's book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is one of the most life-changing books I own. In this mini-series, I apply his principles to the world of Forest School. In this episode, I cover Habit 2 - Begin with the end in mind and discuss how developing a vision and mission can help us make easier decisions Get your copy of 7 Habits of…
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Episode 74 - Karen Price on Overcoming Barriers in Youth Work
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In this episode, I interview Karen Price. Karen is a nationally qualified Youth & Community worker with over 30 years of experience in delivering youth work in a variety of settings for both voluntary and statutory sector organisations, focussing primarily on working with under-represented audiences facing barriers to accessing the outdoors and gre…
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Episode 73 - How to be a Highly Effective Forest School Leader Part 1 - Be Proactive
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Stephen Covey's book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is one of the most life-changing books I own. In this mini-series, I apply his principles to the world of Forest School starting with Habit 1 - Be Proactive. Get your copy of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People at https://amzn.to/3UIT6AN (This is an Amazon affiliate link, a cost-free way to s…
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Episode 72 - Giving credit where credit is due
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In this episode, I discuss when to give credit for the skills, recipes and inspiration you receive from other Forest School Leaders, authors and bushcraft instructors. Learn how to build quick and effective tarp shelters with my online course Essential Tarps and Knots for Forest School Leaders https://www.brackenoutdoors.online/courses/essentialtar…
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Episode 71 - What to do if your Forest School sessions aren't earning enough
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In this episode, I talk about the three things you can do if your Forest School sessions aren't working out financially. To get help with setting your rates, check out my complete guide to setting your rates as an outdoor leader https://brackenoutdoors.com/forestschoolrates/ The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcra…
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Episode 70 - Three business lessons I have learned from Wilderness Tribe
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As Tony Robbins says, success leaves clues. In this video, I take stock of the three things I have learned from the amazing people at Wilderness Tribe Listen to my full interview with Chris from https://wildernesstribe.org/ at https://thebrackenoutdoorspodcast.buzzsprout.com/1659643/13230444-the-bracken-outdoors-podcast-episode-21-chris-grice-wilde…
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Episode 69 - Tom Gerrard on the learning mindset
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In this longer episode, I interview Tom Gerrard. Tom is a long-time scout leader and has turned his passion for the outdoors from a hobby into a business and trained both as an outdoor instructor and forest school practitioner. Alongside his day job as an engineer, he also runs a workshop creating outdoor objects and restoring old tools and equipme…
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Episode 68 - Defining the purpose of your sessions
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Forest School is a valuable tool for learning but do our sessions actually have deeper value or are we just doing Forest School for the purpose of Forest School? The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short e…
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Episode 67 - The Forest School skills framework
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Are you consciously competent, unconsciously incompetent or just confused by it all? In this episode we take a look at the Forest School framework for skill development. The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly…
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Episode 66 - Are you ready for the next step in your Forest School journey?
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Planning your career progression is an important part of any job, but it is especially vital as a Woodland Leader. The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freelance W…
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Episode 65 - The very real time costs of running Forest School sessions
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As Forest School leaders, we often underestimate the time we spend preparing for and clearing up after sessions. In between planning activities, learning new skills, preparing resources, answering emails and all of the cleaning and maintenance tasks after a session, there is often very little time left for ourselves. The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is…
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Episode 64 - Managing your cashflow as a Forest School leader
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Managing money as it comes in and goes out of your business is one of the trickiest things to manage as a freelance Woodland Leader. In this epsiode, I share my best tip for smooth cash flow and stress-free account management. The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, he…
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Episode 63 - Building a legacy with Gary Marlow
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In this episode, I interview Gary Marlow of Marlow Sports on equipping children for freedom, building a legacy, developing businesses, Big School Camp, using technology outdoors and more. Resources mentioned: Woods for Learning - Website + Facebook Marlow Sports - Website + Facebook Big School Camp - Website + Facebook Woodland Escape Rooms - Websi…
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Episode 62 - Finding your Forest School community
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Being a Forest School leader can feel pretty isolating but you don't have to face things alone, in this video I talk about how to find your woodland community. The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short epi…
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Episode 61 - Marketing your sessions to the right audience
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As a Forest School leader, the way you describe your sessions (e.g. outdoor play, bushcraft, wellbeing in the woods) informs your audience. Are you using the right packaging when marketing your sessions? The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life …
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Episode 60 - Bridging the gap between Forest School and Bushcraft
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I don't think you need to be a master bushcrafter to lead Forest School sessions or have 30 years of experience in education to teach bushcraft skills, however, there are still complementary skills that every Woodland Leader should have. The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practi…
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Episode 59 - Managing the tension between Outdoor Learning and Forest School
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The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freelance Woodland Leader, from business tips and advice to philosophy of outdoor education, as well as monthly deep dives int…
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Episode 58 - Emma Wiid on building a Forest School community
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In this episode, I interview Emma Wiid of The Outdoor Club CIC. We talk about the Mental Health First Aider qualification, how to build a community around a CIC, creating supportive sessions, obtaining funding for your organisation and more. Resources: The Outdoor Club CIC Muddy Toes on Facebook Muddy Toes on Instagram The Bracken Outdoors Podcast …
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Episode 57 - Should I offer a sibling discount for my Forest School sessions
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In this episode, I talk about pricing structures for Home-ed Forest School sessions. The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freelance Woodland Leader, from business …
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Episode 56 - When was the last time you were a beginner?
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Join me as we talk over dealing with learning frustrations as both a leader and a learner. The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freelance Woodland Leader, from bus…
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Episode 55 - Pace yourself before you burn out
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The reality of working as a freelance woodland leader. The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freelance Woodland Leader, from business tips and advice to philosophy …
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Episode 54 - Why you should have a personal brand as a woodland leader
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In this Wednesday episode, I talk about the value of creating a personal brand. The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freelance Woodland Leader, from business tips …
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Episode 53 - Managing your impact on nature as a Forest School leader.
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In this episode of the Bracken Outdoors podcast I discuss leave no trace, whether harvesting resources from nature should be part of Forest School and how to manage your impact on the land. The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great o…
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Episode 52 - Hourly vs Daily Rates as a freelance Woodland Leader
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In this episode, I discuss whether you should charge an hourly or daily rate for your sessions. The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freelance Woodland Leader, fro…
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Episode 51 - How YouTube made me a better Bushcraft Instructor
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1 year and over 70 videos later, I reflect on the results of my 2023 resolution to post at least one video a week for 12 months. The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as…
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Episode 50 - Should you raise your rates in 2024?
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In this episode, I talk through my thoughts on raising your rates as a self-employed Woodland Leader. The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freelance Woodland Leade…
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Episode 49 - Lessons I have learned from my breakthrough year
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In this Saturday episode, I share the lessons I have learned from my breakthrough year as a self-employed woodland leader. Essentialism - Greg McKeown The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on …
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Episode 48 - Should your run your Forest School sessions through the winter?
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In this Wednesday vlog, I discuss the different points of view and factors that affect whether you run your sessions through the winter months. The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all asp…
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Episode 47 - Are you teaching tactics or principles?
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The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freelance Woodland Leader, from business tips and advice to philosophy of outdoor education, as well as monthly deep dives int…
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Episode 46 - Adding buffers for a low-stress life
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In this episode, I talk about how creating buffers in both your business and personal life can help smooth the hills and valleys of life as a Woodland Leader. The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short epis…
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Episode 45 - Managing revenue streams as a self-employed Woodland Leader
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In this episode, I talk about important things to think about when managing your revenue streams and funnels as a self-employed outdoor instructor. The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all…
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Episode 44 - Why you should have a mailing list as a Woodland Leader
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In this longer Saturday episode I talk about marketing, why mailing lists are a great way to go and how to set up a mailing list. The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life a…
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Episode 43 - Is there space for adult-led learning in Forest School?
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In this video, I talk about the balance between child-led and adult-led learning and our role as a Forest School leader. The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freel…
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Episode 42 - The value of teaching knots in Forest School
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In this episode, I discuss one of the necessary building blocks to move bushcraft skills forward - knots and how to tie them. The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a …
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