top of page
Search

Rediscover the outdoors with Mount Cook’s IOL Bushcraft Courses

  • Elliott Yorke
  • Oct 9
  • 2 min read

In a world filled with screens, schedules, and noise, there’s something deeply refreshing about stepping into the woods and rediscovering the skills that once came naturally to us all. A bushcraft course is more than learning to “survive” in the wild; it’s about rediscovering the self-reliance, creativity, and calm that come from working with the natural world rather than against it.


Over the course of 3 or 5 days, you can gain hands-on skills, outdoor confidence and a new meaning of “feeling at home in nature”. Over the course of a 3- or 5-day trip to Mount Cook, you could explore a range of essential bushcraft skills, taught by a knowledgeable instructor. Read more for a glimpse into Mount Cook Adventure Centres IOL certified bushcraft courses…

 

Man sparking flames on a log using flint and steel

Bushcraft Courses - Bushcraft Award Training (IOL Level 3 Bushcraft Competency Award Training)


Our bushcraft award training is the perfect starting point for anyone who wants to take their first steps in learning outdoor skills. Over the course of 3 days, you will explore the essentials of bushcraft – from hand carved tools to lighting fires with natural materials!

You will learn to construct outdoor shelters, identify tree species, and source and purify water in the wild. Along the way, you will also discover the satisfaction of carving, knot tying and creating cordage from plants – all while gaining a stronger love for nature!

The focus of this course is on understanding and enjoyment, not assessment. You’ll leave with the skills and confidence to start exploring nature independently and responsibly.

 

Bushcraft Courses - Certificate Training (IOL Level 3 Bushcraft Competency certificate Training)


Once your bushcraft foundations have been built, the Bushcraft Certificate Training takes your learning further. This advanced course dives deeper into practical application of skills, leadership, and capabilities. You’ll refine your fire and shelter techniques, enhance which trees and plants are identifiable, and gain a deeper understanding of natural navigation and foraging.

The certificate training is ideal for those with slight experience in bushcraft or who have completed the IOL Level 3 Bushcraft Competency Award Training. The course is well suited to outdoor educators, youth leaders, and instructors seeking to embed bushcraft within their professional practice. While it remains a non-assessed training course, it provides the knowledge, confidence, and practical grounding needed to progress toward formal recognition if you wish.

 

Homemade den in the woods. Triangular and made mainly of branches

After our courses…


After gaining enough bushcraft experience, you can choose to work toward the IOL Bushcraft Competency Assessment. This final assessment requires candidates to complete a logbook evidencing at least 60 hours of bushcraft delivery, followed by a ½ day practical assessment. When you’re ready, you can book this directly with an approved IOL Bushcraft Assessor.

 

Whether you join us for the Bushcraft Award or the Bushcraft Certificate, both courses share the same philosophy - learning through experience, respecting the natural environment, and rediscovering the quiet satisfaction of working with your hands.


Our approach is practical, inclusive, and empowering. You’ll leave not only with a toolkit of new skills, but also with a sense of calm and connection that only time in the wild can bring.





bottom of page