The Bracken Outdoors Podcast

Episode 156 - Empathy isn't Enough: Supporting Growth Outdoors

Empathy and inclusion are central to working with people outdoors. They build trust and create the conditions for learning. However, taken too far, they can also limit progress. In this episode, I reflect on the balance between empathy and challenge, and why our role as leaders is not just to accept where someone is, but to help them move forward from that point. 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 into larger topics or interviews with inspirational professionals and leaders in the outdoor education space. Take the struggle out of setting up tarps with the Essential Tarps and Knots Course for Forest School Leaders, find out more at: https://brackenoutdoors.com/essentialtarps [https://brackenoutdoors.com/essentialtarps] Free Resources: + How to choose a tarp guide [https://brackenoutdoors.com/tarpguide/] + Forest School Activity Ideas PDF [https://brackenoutdoors.com/forestschoolactivities/] + The complete guide to setting your rates as an outdoor leader [https://brackenoutdoors.com/forestschoolrates/] To find out more about my mission to help people Belong Outside, head to https://brackenoutdoors.com/ [https://brackenoutdoors.com/]

Episode 155 - Is the Forest School market really saturated

A lot of Forest School leaders feel like the market is saturated. Too many providers, too much competition, and pressure on price. However, I’m not convinced that’s the real issue. In this episode, I reflect on how much provision can look the same from the outside, and how that leads to people competing on price rather than value. Looking back, the more sustainable work tends to come from leaning into what makes you different and communicating that clearly. This is a short reflection on finding your place, defining your value, and building something that attracts the right people. 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 into larger topics or interviews with inspirational professionals and leaders in the outdoor education space. Take the struggle out of setting up tarps with the Essential Tarps and Knots Course for Forest School Leaders, find out more at: https://brackenoutdoors.com/essentialtarps [https://brackenoutdoors.com/essentialtarps] Free Resources: + How to choose a tarp guide [https://brackenoutdoors.com/tarpguide/] + Forest School Activity Ideas PDF [https://brackenoutdoors.com/forestschoolactivities/] + The complete guide to setting your rates as an outdoor leader [https://brackenoutdoors.com/forestschoolrates/] To find out more about my mission to help people Belong Outside, head to https://brackenoutdoors.com/ [https://brackenoutdoors.com/]

Episode 154 - Pricing with Purpose - Building Sustainable Forest School Offers

Pricing is something that many Forest School leaders and outdoor practitioners find themselves working out as they go. It is not just a question of what to charge, but how to structure sessions and programmes in a way that is both accessible and financially sustainable. When that balance is off, it tends to show up elsewhere, whether that is in energy levels, consistency, or the long-term viability of the work. In this live conversation, I sit down with Asa Hardy-Brownlie from Forest School Support to explore how woodland leaders can think more clearly about pricing and building sustainable offers. Rather than keeping it theoretical, we also build out a real example live on the call — working through the structure, pricing and positioning of a home-education Forest School offer, and explaining the thinking behind each decision. This is not about finding a single “right” answer, but about developing a clearer framework for making decisions that work in practice. In this session, we cover: - Why pricing is more than just covering costs - The link between pricing, workload and energy - Common challenges woodland leaders face when setting prices - How to structure offers in a way that is sustainable - A live breakdown of a home-ed Forest School offer If you are running sessions, building programmes, or trying to make your work more sustainable, this should give you a useful way to think about it. About Asa Hardy-Brownlie: Asa is the founder of Forest School Support, working with leaders and organisations to develop high-quality Forest School provision. His work focuses on helping practitioners build confidence, structure and sustainability in their programmes. Find out more at: https://www.forestschoolsupport.com/ 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 into larger topics or interviews with inspirational professionals and leaders in the outdoor education space. Take the struggle out of setting up tarps with the Essential Tarps and Knots Course for Forest School Leaders, find out more at: https://brackenoutdoors.com/essentialtarps [https://brackenoutdoors.com/essentialtarps] Free Resources: + How to choose a tarp guide [https://brackenoutdoors.com/tarpguide/] + Forest School Activity Ideas PDF [https://brackenoutdoors.com/forestschoolactivities/] + The complete guide to setting your rates as an outdoor leader [https://brackenoutdoors.com/forestschoolrates/] To find out more about my mission to help people Belong Outside, head to https://brackenoutdoors.com/ [https://brackenoutdoors.com/]

Episode 153 - Roz Kennedy on Journeying to Forest School

In this episode of the Bracken Outdoors Podcast, I sit down with Roz Kennedy from Wavy Woods Forest School to talk about the path into outdoor work, and what it actually looks like to build something from the ground up. Roz shares her journey from a global career in corporate learning and development into forest school, and some of the key moments that shaped that shift. We get into the realities of starting a new forest school business, working with partners, and finding your feet in those early stages. We also explore how different cultural perspectives shape the way we view outdoor learning, and how that shows up in settings like daycare and early years provision. There’s a useful conversation around societal attitudes to risk, play, and time outside — and how those influence both parents and practitioners. Along the way, we touch on networking, making connections, and the role that relationships play when you’re trying to get something new off the ground. This is a practical, honest conversation for anyone working in forest school, outdoor education, or considering a move in that direction. Find Roz / Wavy Woods: www.wavywoods.co.uk https://www.instagram.com/wavywoodsschool/  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572575055650 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 into larger topics or interviews with inspirational professionals and leaders in the outdoor education space. Take the struggle out of setting up tarps with the Essential Tarps and Knots Course for Forest School Leaders, find out more at: https://brackenoutdoors.com/essentialtarps [https://brackenoutdoors.com/essentialtarps] Free Resources: + How to choose a tarp guide [https://brackenoutdoors.com/tarpguide/] + Forest School Activity Ideas PDF [https://brackenoutdoors.com/forestschoolactivities/] + The complete guide to setting your rates as an outdoor leader [https://brackenoutdoors.com/forestschoolrates/] To find out more about my mission to help people Belong Outside, head to https://brackenoutdoors.com/ [https://brackenoutdoors.com/]

Episode 152 - Building a Soul-based Business with Faye of the Forest

In this episode, I sit down with Faye of the Forest to explore the link between purpose, business, and the work we do outdoors. Faye works as a nature-based practitioner and business mentor, supporting people to build work that is aligned with their values as well as being sustainable in the real world. Her approach brings together personal reflection, practical strategy, and the ongoing process of understanding what success actually means. In our conversation we talk about finding your direction and making use of your own strengths, rather than trying to copy what others are doing. We explore how to develop a clear niche, how to stand out in a crowded space, and how trust and connection can still be built in a world that is increasingly shaped by technology. We also get into some of the less visible parts of running a business, including the inner work involved in setting your rates, and the importance of thinking for yourself if you want your work to remain sustainable over time. Looking back, this felt like a useful conversation for anyone trying to build something meaningful, whether that sits within Forest School, bushcraft, outdoor learning, or beyond. Find out more about Faye here:  https://www.fayeoftheforest.co.uk/ [https://www.fayeoftheforest.co.uk/] Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/fayeoftheforest_businessmentor [https://www.instagram.com/fayeoftheforest_businessmentor] 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 into larger topics or interviews with inspirational professionals and leaders in the outdoor education space. Take the struggle out of setting up tarps with the Essential Tarps and Knots Course for Forest School Leaders, find out more at: https://brackenoutdoors.com/essentialtarps [https://brackenoutdoors.com/essentialtarps] Free Resources: + How to choose a tarp guide [https://brackenoutdoors.com/tarpguide/] + Forest School Activity Ideas PDF [https://brackenoutdoors.com/forestschoolactivities/] + The complete guide to setting your rates as an outdoor leader [https://brackenoutdoors.com/forestschoolrates/] To find out more about my mission to help people Belong Outside, head to https://brackenoutdoors.com/ [https://brackenoutdoors.com/]