The Wild Ones...

While the rest of the county turn in for the night, groups of nocturnal outdoor thrill seekers aged from eight to 12 go exploring the natural world accompanied by WildWise.
This Devon based organisation was founded by Chris Salisbury in 1999, after 7 years working with the Devon Wildlife Trust, devising programmes aimed at developing the relationship between children and the natural world around them.
The ‘Wild Ones’ syllabus is a blend of bushcraft, learning the traditional way of making fire, building shelters and making woodland crafts etc. and fieldcraft, learning the skills to observe wildlife at close quarters. Everybody can take part in night walks, dawn walks and wild food gathering, and traditional storytelling around the campfire provides the perfect replacement for the beloved television set.
“The children learn how to slow down and become aware of themselves, each other and their surroundings. Bushcraft demands that we pay close attention to the world around us, but despite the challenge nature’s classroom is so much more enjoyable than school. Under our skilled supervision children are motivated to play and learn like we used to as kids. Most of all it gives them a real sense of confidence and a whole new set of skills and meaningful experiences,” Chris explained.
WildWise provide all the field equipment for the 4 day trips, supplying everything from the tents to the food. The private groups usually consist of eight children to one instructor who are all fully qualified outdoor naturalists with years of experience behind them, and a trained First Aider is always present.
Teenagers from 15 18 years are also invited on an experience of the outdoors called ‘Living Wild’ held in the summer holidays. Using the four survival elements as a base: fire, water, food and shelter, older children will better appreciate the basic skills of learning to take care of themselves and others.
“We follow where the children’s interests lie obviously the younger ones will not be able to manage hard-core survival skills, but certain things appeal to everyone such as mastering the simple, traditional skill of how to start a fire for purifying, cooking or warmth.”
WildWise concentrates on resourcing youngsters so they’re more comfortable with being outside, aiming to help cultivate an interest in any aspect of outoor life. On the night walks the groups watch bats and badgers, which proves thrilling for young children and indeed anyone not used to being outside at night.
During the day, whilst supervised, children are encouraged to be creative and can learn how to make things that would help them survive outdoors, such as utensils for eating and drinking. They are also set tasks and team challenges, which are both educational and fun.
Chris travels around the country and abroad on a freelance basis and leads tours for organised parties. Later this year he will be leading holistic holidays in Greece, and also is director of the Westcountry Storytelling Festival.
The WildWise ‘Wild Ones’ programme is now taking bookings for August.
For a full programme of WildWise events, to include overnight wildlife camps, canoe-safaris and bushcraft courses for adults, contact :
WildWise Events Ltd, Foxhole Business Centre, Dartington, Totnes TQ9 6EB. Tel: 01803 868269. Email: enquiries@wildwise.co.uk