BUSHCRAFT WEEKEND OR IOL BUSHCRAFT COMPETENCY CERTIFICATE? Which Bushcraft Course Should You Choose?

One of the most common questions we receive at Polaris Bushcraft is:

"I have little or no bushcraft experience. Should I book the Bushcraft & Survival Weekend or the IOL Bushcraft Competency Certificate?"

The good news is that both courses are suitable for beginners and are delivered in our private ancient woodland camp in Hertfordshire, where students learn practical bushcraft and survival skills through hands-on experience.

The right choice depends entirely on your goals. Are you looking to learn bushcraft for personal enjoyment, or do you want to gain a recognised qualification that demonstrates professional competence so you can work with children for example?

Starting Your Bushcraft Journey

Many people assume they need prior experience before attending a bushcraft course, but the opposite is true.

Most students simply have a passion for the outdoors and a desire to learn. Our courses are designed to develop skills progressively, building confidence through practical activities such as:

• Fire lighting and fire management

• Shelter building

• Water sourcing and purification

• Tree and plant identification and uses

• Safe knife and saw use

• Campcraft and woodland living skills

• Natural cordage and traditional techniques

  
  

These are the foundations of self-reliance outdoors and form the basis of both our Bushcraft & Survival Weekend and the IOL Bushcraft Competency Certificate.

The Bushcraft & Survival Weekend

Our Bushcraft & Survival Weekend is the ideal introduction to bushcraft for complete beginners.

Over two nights and three days, you'll immerse yourself in woodland life and learn the core skills needed to live comfortably and safely outdoors. The emphasis is on learning, plenty of practice and enjoying the experience without any formal assessment.

This course is perfect for:

• Outdoor enthusiasts

• Campers and hikers

• Duke of Edinburgh volunteers

• Scouts and Scout Leaders

• Anyone wanting to learn practical survival skills

• People considering bushcraft as a future career

  
  

At £240, it represents an excellent introduction to bushcraft and provides a solid grounding in all the essential skills.

Many students choose this weekend as their first step into the world of bushcraft before progressing to more advanced training or honing certain skills later such as fire by friction.

The IOL Level 3 Bushcraft Competency Certificate

If your goal is to teach bushcraft to others or gain a recognised qualification, then the Institute of Outdoor Learning (IOL) Level 3 Bushcraft Competency Certificate is usually the better option.

The qualification is specifically designed for outdoor educators, teachers, youth leaders and bushcraft instructors delivering bushcraft activities professionally.

The course covers eight competency units and provides everything required to safely deliver bushcraft sessions and speak confidently and authoritatively on the subjects you are teaching.

Training includes:

• Fire lighting and fire management

• Water procurement and purification

• Debris shelters and beds

• Tree identification and uses

• Safe use of bushcraft tools

• Leaving no trace

• Natural cordage making

• Friction fire lighting using the bow drill

• Natural Navigation

• Environmental awareness and outdoor safety

  
  

The training course lasts three full days, after which candidates complete a period of consolidation and practice (120 hours documented in a Logbook) before attending a one-day assessment.

If you are interested in developing your skills to a recognised standard and potentially working with groups in the future, the IOL Level 3 Bushcraft Competency Certificate (£325 for IOL members / £350 for non-members) offers a comprehensive learning pathway and is suitable even for those starting with limited experience.

What About the 120-Hour Logbook?

For many people, the logbook requirement sounds intimidating at first.

In practise, most candidates accumulate the required hours much more quickly than they expect.

Any relevant bushcraft practice can be recorded, including:

• Practicing fire lighting in your garden

• Tree identification walks

• Shelter-building sessions

• Day camps

• Cooking over an open fire

• Woodland navigation practice

• Weekend camping trips

• Tool maintenance and skills practice

  
  

Simply photograph your activities and make a brief written record of what skills you practiced and what you learned.

A two-hour tree identification walk can be logged. An afternoon spent practicing bow drill techniques can be logged. A weekend camp can contribute a significant number of hours in a single trip.

The logbook is not designed to catch people out; it is designed to encourage meaningful practice and ensure that skills become embedded through real-world experience.

Once completed, you will need to send your log book pages (PDF, Word, PNG or JPG) to the IOL ready for your final assessment with an IOL Bushcraft Competency Assessor. 

Which Course Should Teachers, Youth Leaders and Outdoor Professionals Choose?

If you work with groups of children or young people, the IOL Level 3 Bushcraft Competency Certificate is strongly recommended.

Many organisations and insurers require evidence that instructors are competent and operating within recognised standards. The qualification provides exactly that reassurance.

The course was specifically created for:

• Secondary school teachers

• Forest School practitioners seeking additional bushcraft skills

• Scout and Guide leaders

• Duke of Edinburgh supervisors

• Youth workers

• Outdoor instructors

• Bushcraft professionals

  
  

For anyone intending to deliver bushcraft activities as part of their role, the Level 3 qualification provides a recognised benchmark of competence.

Which Course Should Complete Beginners Choose?

If your goal is simply to learn bushcraft and enjoy a memorable woodland experience, the Bushcraft & Survival Weekend is often the best place to start.

If you already know that you want to teach bushcraft, work with groups, or gain a recognised qualification, there is no reason you cannot begin directly with the IOL Level 3 Bushcraft Competency Certificate. The course is designed to develop competence from the ground up and does not require years of prior experience.

A Learning Pathway That Grows With You

Many of our students begin with an interest in camping, foraging or wildlife and discover a passion for bushcraft that develops into much more.

Whether you choose the Bushcraft & Survival Weekend or the IOL Bushcraft Competency Certificate, you'll learn practical, transferable skills that increase your confidence outdoors and deepen your understanding of the natural environment.

If you're still unsure which course is right for you, please get in touch and we'd be happy to discuss your experience, goals and future plans.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Bushcraft & Survival Weekend

Perfect for beginners looking to learn essential bushcraft and survival skills in a relaxed and enjoyable environment.

IOL Level 3 Bushcraft Competency Certificate

Ideal for teachers, youth leaders, outdoor professionals and anyone seeking a recognised bushcraft qualification.

Whichever route you choose, you'll be learning in a professional teaching environment within our private ancient woodland camp in Hertfordshire, developing practical skills that can last a lifetime.