Rekindle Youth Summer '25

Rekindle Youth Programme – Forest of Dean

The Rekindle Youth Programme for tweens /teenagers and young adults to  be ,  was a powerful opportunity for participants to engage in lived, embodied learning through the elements — earth, wood, fire, water and wind. Rooted in place and feeling, the programme supported young people to develop real-life skills, trust in themselves and trust in life, inspired by Steiner pedagogy and locally grounded, land-based learning traditions relevant to life in the Forest of Dean and the wider bioregion.

Thanks to the generous support of our funders and partners
— including HAF  Holiday And Food Club, FVAF Forest of Dean Forest Volunteer Action Forum,
and the Department for Education Funding 
— we were able to deliver a 16‑session programme over two weeks, running Monday to Thursday.

Each day was themed around an element, blending practical land‑based skills, outdoor learning, creativity, free play and shared meals cooked on the fire.

Programme Overview

Monday – Earth & Wood

We began by learning how to read the woodland landscape, identify suitable trees, and responsibly select wood for fire-making. Participants developed skills in safe tool use, sawing, splitting kindling and preparing firewood. Introduction and refresh on safe knife skills and whittling.

The day also included free play as part of a rhythm and ended with lighting an open fire and cooking together.

Tuesday – Fire

Fire day focused on safe fire practices, woodland responsibility, and traditional fire‑lighting techniques. Each participant learned to light their own fire using flint and steel, cooked their lunch outdoors, and spent the entire day immersed in the woods — learning through real, embodied experience.

Wednesday – Water

We explored water within the survival order, learning how to read the landscape for potential water sources, understand water use, and make water safe for drinking. Participants experimented with making simple water filters, alongside free play and shared cooking on the fire.

Thursday – Earth & Wood (Responsibility & Care)

The final day focused on responsibility, stewardship and care for place through the elements of earth and wood. We linked in creating a new pond on the plot with digging and working with clay-rich soil to make cob, repairing and building sections of the Roundhouse walls, and reflected on what it means to look after shared spaces and shared resources. Participants also crafted torchs and, explored nearby small caves, and grounded their learning in respect for land, materials and each other — bringing the programme to a thoughtful and rooted close.

Community, Creativity & Connection

Across the programme we were joined by musicians and community creatives Drew and Chi chi, who helped create a vibrant, collaborative atmosphere of music‑making, expression and shared creativity. These moments supported a new paradigm of learning — relational, joyful and rooted in place.

The two weeks were filled with laughter, learning, real‑life skills and meaningful connection — offering young people time away from screens and pressure, and into embodied, outdoor experience.

We are deeply grateful to all our supporters and funders who made this programme possible, and we look forward to running further Rekindle sessions
— and to re-welcoming future Wildlings 5 to 12 years of  age programmes soon.