If you’re looking to step away from traditional classroom settings and immerse your students in nature, then a forest school trip is the answer. As educators and parents alike recognise the advantages of outdoor learning, forest or bushcraft schools and trips have seen a surge in popularity, giving pupils the chance to foster a deep connection with the environment while developing essential life skills.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to plan an unforgettable forest school overnight trip with PGL!
What is forest school?
Forest school is a child-centred, long-term educational approach that takes place in natural environments, whether that’s a woodland, park, or school grounds. It focuses on encouraging curiosity, independence, and confidence through hands-on outdoor experiences that are led by the interests of the students themselves.
Unlike traditional classroom learning, forest school emphasises process over outcome. That means there’s no pressure to achieve a specific result, instead, students are free to explore, experiment, and take supported risks in a safe and nurturing environment.
Forest school activities might include things like shelter building, nature crafts, wildlife observation, or team games. These tasks help children develop not just practical outdoor skills but also important life skills such as problem-solving, communication, resilience, and self-regulation.
The approach has roots in Scandinavian educational philosophies and has been embraced in the UK for its ability to support holistic development, helping students grow emotionally, socially, physically, and intellectually.
At its core, forest school is about building a meaningful connection with nature and creating a space where every child can thrive, regardless of background, ability, or learning style.
The benefits of forest school camps
Spending a night or two in the great outdoors is more than just a break from the norm – it’s a chance for children to grow, explore and learn in ways that the classroom can’t always offer. Forest school overnight camps are rich with opportunities for personal development, meaningful learning and unforgettable memories. Here’s how they help shape confident, capable and curious young people.
Forest school camps offer numerous benefits to students, including:
Boosts learning through real-world experiences
Learning outside makes education feel more relevant and exciting. Subjects like science and geography come alive when students are identifying bugs, tracking animal footprints or using a compass to navigate the woods.
Even literacy and numeracy get a boost – writing about their adventure or measuring materials for shelter-building ties directly back to the classroom. Studies from the Institute for Outdoor Learning show that these kinds of hands-on experiences can improve knowledge retention and ignite a lifelong enthusiasm for learning.
Encourages physical health and movement
Unlike the structured routine of a school day, a forest school camp keeps children active from morning to night. They’re constantly on the move – hiking woodland paths, lifting logs, balancing across beams or climbing through natural obstacles.
These activities help build strength, coordination and stamina, while supporting the 60 minutes a day movement goal recommended by Public Health England. It’s exercise that doesn’t feel like exercise – it just feels like fun.
Supports mental wellbeing and emotional resilience
Time in nature has a calming effect, helping to reduce stress and boost overall emotional wellbeing. Forest school activities often involve mindfulness in disguise – sitting quietly around a campfire, listening to birdsong, or simply focusing on the rhythm of walking.
Research published in Frontiers in Psychology found that just 20 minutes in a natural setting can lower cortisol levels, showing the power of the outdoors to support mental health. Being away from screens, school pressures, and routines gives children a chance to reset and reconnect with themselves and their surroundings.
Builds communication and teamwork skills
Whether they’re solving a group challenge, planning a meal, or setting up tents together, forest school campers quickly learn the value of teamwork. These shared experiences encourage listening, empathy and collaboration, helping students become more confident communicators.
Working together to overcome real-world problems – like how to build a waterproof shelter or cook a group meal over a fire – naturally brings people together and teaches them to value one another’s strengths.
Improves confidence, independence and resilience
Outdoor learning creates space for children to try new things, take on responsibilities and push their boundaries in a safe, supported environment. Whether it’s leading a trail walk or simply sleeping away from home, every achievement helps build confidence.
Facing these small challenges teaches children how capable they really are – and that sense of resilience and self-belief can stay with them long after the camp is over.
Tips for planning the perfect forest school trip
If you’re unsure how to plan the perfect overnight forest school trip for your students, our PGL experts in learning and adventure can help!
With over 65 years of experience organising residential school trips in the UK and abroad, we know a thing or two about creating fun-filled itineraries that spark breakthroughs and leave students amazed. One of our standout offerings is the REACH: MASTER! Bushcraft programme is designed to immerse students in the natural world and equip them with essential survival skills.
So, here are some key considerations for planning your forest school overnight trip:
1. Set learning objectives
Before anything else, define the learning objectives for the forest school trip. What skills or knowledge do you want your students to gain? Objectives might include developing survival skills, enhancing teamwork and leadership or simply understanding local flora and fauna – the lessons to be learned outdoors are endless!
2. Pick a destination
Our next tip is to choose a destination that aligns with your learning objectives and offers the necessary facilities. For example, consider the proximity to your school to minimise travel time, the availability of natural features like forests, rivers, or beaches, and the types of accommodation and amenities for a safe overnight stay.
3. Explore travel options
When organising overnight forest school trips, it’s important to plan your travel logistics well in advance. At PGL, we offer the option to arrange coach travel for you, or you can opt to use your own provider. Simply inform us of your preference when making your booking, and we’ll handle the rest, ensuring a smooth journey for your group.
4. Share details with parents
Keep parents informed of all trip details so they know what to expect. Provide a complete itinerary with dates, times, and activities, a packing list with essentials like clothing, sleeping bags, and personal items, emergency contact information and safety protocols, and any required consent forms and medical information for each student.
5. Prioritise safety
Safety is paramount on any school trip. Conduct a risk assessment for all activities, ensure a high adult-to-child ratio for supervision, have first aid kits and trained personnel on hand, and establish clear rules and emergency procedures. Following these steps will help create a secure and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
6. Create an action-packed itinerary
Finally, having a clear and engaging itinerary keeps students excited and involved during their time at PGL. Our MASTER! trip is 80% bushcraft-focused and 20% adventure activities. With our expertise, we will organise the entire itinerary for your group, tailoring each activity to match the age and ability of your students. This ensures everyone gets the most out of their forest school overnight stay.
For more helpful tips, check out our blog on how to make your overnight school trip a success!
Our forest school activities
At PGL, our forest school activities are designed to spark curiosity, encourage personal growth, and build a deeper connection with the natural world. Whether you’re planning a trip for primary pupils or secondary school students, we offer a wide range of experiences tailored to different ages, abilities and learning goals. Every activity is led by our experienced team, with a focus on fun, safety and skill-building.
Bushcraft
From building shelters with branches and leaves to safely lighting a campfire or whittling tools from wood, bushcraft introduces students to essential survival skills. These hands-on challenges help develop independence, creative thinking and practical problem-solving.
Survivor
Our immersive survival scenarios put students’ teamwork and resilience to the test. Working together to complete navigation tasks and wilderness challenges, they’ll practise quick decision-making and build trust in themselves and each other.
Archery
With a bow in hand and eyes on the target, students develop coordination, focus and patience. Archery is a firm favourite that offers a calm yet engaging challenge in a safe, supportive setting.
Nature hikes and walks
There’s no better classroom than the outdoors. On guided walks through woodlands, along coastal paths or across countryside trails, students discover local ecosystems, wildlife and geography – all while building a love of nature that lasts.
Canoeing
Whether gliding along a peaceful lake or paddling downriver, canoeing teaches water safety, paddling techniques and – most importantly – the value of working as a team.
Zip wire
Nothing beats the thrill of soaring through the trees. Our zip wire experience helps students face fears head-on, boosting self-esteem and giving them a true sense of achievement.
Orienteering
Armed with maps and compasses, students explore the outdoors while learning to navigate, read terrain and work together. It’s a fun and active way to sharpen spatial awareness and direction-following.
Outdoor learning programmes to suit every stage
We also offer three specially tailored R.E.A.C.H. programmes, each designed to support different school years’ stages of development:
R.E.A.C.H – PIONEER! (Year 3 & 4)
Perfect for younger students taking their first steps into outdoor learning, with gentle challenges that build curiosity, confidence and early exploration skills.
R.E.A.C.H – MASTER! (Year 5)
Focused on bushcraft, this programme pushes students to grow their survival and leadership abilities through more advanced outdoor tasks and teamwork.
R.E.A.C.H – GROW! (Years 7-9)
Designed to support personal development through reflective learning, hands-on nature experiences and confidence-building challenges in the wild.
Book a PGL forest school trip today!
Planning a forest school overnight trip involves careful preparation and a focus on creating a safe, educational, and fun experience. By following these tips, you can ensure a memorable adventure for all participants.
If you have any questions about booking overnight forest school trips, get in touch with our friendly and experienced team today. They’ll be more than happy to help!
