Go Wild at Hudnall offers children and young people the chance to improve their social, emotional, and physical skills. Through a variety of young person led activities and experiences, they will get a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them, supporting their overall learning and development.
Our sessions encourage curiosity, creative exploration, and learning outside the classroom, teaching important life skills, building resilience, and improving self-confidence in a nurturing environment.
Activities may include nature-based mindfulness, art in nature, wood whittling, den building, wildlife tracking and identification, team games, campfire cooking, and fire lighting.
There are also opportunities to become a volunteer, helping us to create and improve wildlife habitats on site throughout the year.
Who is Go Wild for?
Go Wild sessions are for any children and young people aged 5 to 24, but may be especially beneficial for those who:
- are at risk of, or living with, emotional wellbeing issues or mental ill health
- are in care or care leavers
- have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
- are home educated
- are not in education, employment, or training
- are being supported by a social worker
- are at risk of crime, exclusion, or exploitation
Go Wild at Hudnall sessions
We offer a variety of sessions for children and young people.
Organisations, including schools and colleges, charities and support services, can make group bookings for up to 12 children or young people for the Wild Wellbeing, Wild About, Forest School, or Wilderness Days sessions.
If young people are being educated in 'alternative provision' settings, for example, an education support centre, individual or group bookings can be made onto our alternative provision group sessions.
Parents and carers can book children and young people onto our home education group sessions or school holiday events directly.
Please click on a session below to find out more and see the cost.
Wild Wellbeing
These sessions help children and young people improve their mental health and emotional wellbeing by connecting with nature.
They will learn useful mindfulness tools to help manage their emotions, such as anxiety, anger, frustration, and sadness. They can take part in a range of mindfulness activities, including breathing exercises, making natural art, wood whittling, basic survival skills, and creating soundscapes.
Who are the sessions for and how long do they last?
- Children and young people aged 5 to 24
- Group bookings of up to 12 children or young people
- Sessions last 2 or 3 hours and can be booked individually or weekly for up to 12 weeks
How to book
Prices per group:
- £110 for a 2-hour session
- £160 for a 3-hour session
Make a booking for Go Wild Wellbeing sessions
Feedback from a Services for Young People Youth Worker
"The session provided young people with the chance to engage in activities outside their usual routines, using nature to support their mental health and wellbeing. The practical strategies demonstrated can be used in future projects and one-on-one sessions. Young people reported thoroughly enjoying the session, especially the new activities.”
Wild About
Children and young people will explore the wonderful wildlife and range of habitats at Hudnall Park. Activities may include learning how to identify and track wildlife and how to build a home for them, traditional woodland crafts and how to care for wildlife in their local community.
Who are the sessions for and how long do they last?
- Children and young people aged 5 to 24
- Group bookings of up to 12 children or young people
- Sessions last 2 or 3 hours and can be booked individually or weekly for up to 12 weeks.
How to book
Prices per group:
- £110 for a 2-hour session
- £160 for a 3-hour session
Make a booking for Go Wild About sessions
Feedback from a teacher at St Luke's School, Redbourn
"Seeing the students engage and push past barriers that often hold them back at home and school was wonderful, they felt 'free' during the activities."
Forest School
These are holistic, inspiring and fun sessions where children and young people are able to explore and take appropriate risks in the outdoor environment, enabling them to develop their self-confidence, self-esteem and resilience through experiential learning and adventure in a natural setting.
Activities may include shelter building, natural arts and crafts, knot tying, sensory games and problem-solving challenges.
All sessions enable young people to explore the natural world using the five senses of sight, sound, touch, smell and taste in a fun and engaging way. They will also learn some useful mindfulness tools that they can use to help them manage their emotions on a day-to-day basis such as anxiety, anger, frustration and sadness.
Who are the sessions for and how long do they last?
- Children and young people aged 5 to 24
- Group bookings of up to 12 children or young people
- Sessions last 2 or 3 hours and can be booked weekly for up to 12 weeks
How to book
Prices per group
- £110 for a 2-hour session
- £160 for a 3-hour session
Make a booking for Go Wild Forest School sessions
Feedback from a teacher at a local secondary school
"Many of our students thrive most outdoors. In the classroom, they can struggle to concentrate but to take them outside, where they can take charge, set their own boundaries has been fantastic for their focus, confidence, and social skills."
Wilderness Days
These sessions encourage children and young people to explore the woodland and connect with nature. They will develop their confidence and skills by taking part in a variety of bushcraft activities, such as campfire lighting, building a shelter, cooking over an open fire and wood whittling.
Who are the sessions for and how long do they last?
- Children and young people aged 5 to 24
- Group bookings of up to 12 children or young people
- Sessions last 5 hours and can be booked individually or weekly for up to 12 weeks
How to book
Prices per group:
- £250 for a 5-hour session (lunch break included)
Make a booking for Go Wild Wilderness days
Feedback from a teacher at a local primary school
"This was a unique, special opportunity for them to experience nature and the outdoors, which many hadn't done before. It's been wonderful to see the progress the children have made socially and emotionally."
Small group Forest School sessions for young people in alternative provision settings
This series of small group sessions is for young people aged 11 to 16 who are educated in alternative provision settings, such as education support centres, or those on a reduced or alternative timetable and cannot attend school full-time.
Our People and Wildlife Officer will tailor the activities to the personal interests and natural curiosity of those attending, developing their physical, emotional, and social skills, and connect with nature.
Who are the sessions for and how long do they last?
- Secondary school-aged young people (11 to 16)
- Each session lasts 2.5 hours and they can be booked as a series of six or twelve sessions
How to book
Spaces are limited and booking is essential. Session dates will be arranged upon booking.
Prices per young person:
- £90 for six sessions
- £180 for twelve sessions
Make a booking for Go Wild alternative provision sessions
Feedback from a practitioner at Dacorum Education Support Centre, Hemel Hempstead
"Go Wild offers a safe, supportive space for young people to rebuild confidence, and prepare for a successful return to school. The Go Wild Team's kind, caring nature helps young people build positive relationships with other adults."
Small group Forest School sessions for home-educated children and young people
These sessions help home-educated children and young people explore and take appropriate risks in the outdoor environment, building confidence, self-esteem, and resilience through hands-on learning and adventure in nature.
Activities may include building shelters, making crafts from natural materials, tying knots, playing sensory games, and solving problems. Children and young people will use their senses to explore nature and learn mindfulness techniques to manage emotions.
Tailored to the age, development, personal interests, and natural curiosity of those attending, these sessions help develop physical, emotional, and social skills while connecting with nature. There will be opportunities to build dens, cook on a fire, and engage in physical and imaginative play.
Who are the sessions for and how long do they last?
- Primary and secondary school-aged children and young people (5 to 16)
- Adults must accompany primary school-aged children. Parents/carers of older young people can stay if needed, but this is not mandatory.
- Each session lasts 2.5 hours and they can be booked as a series of six or twelve sessions
How to book
Spaces are limited and booking is essential. Session dates will be arranged upon booking.
Prices per child or young person:
- £90 for six sessions
- £180 for twelve sessions
Make a booking for Go Wild home education sessions
Feedback from an SfYP Go Wild People & Wildlife Officer about a young person who attended a Go Wild session
"The young person initially got frustrated when things didn’t go perfectly and avoided messy activities. By the end, they were planning adventures, climbing trees, and confidently interacting with peers of different genders. It was like seeing a completely different person. The experience gave them the freedom to be less rigid and not feel the need to be 'perfect’ all the time.”
School holiday events
Forest School Fridays for families
Children and their families are encouraged to shape their own forest school experience by choosing what they would like to do, exploring their personal interests and natural curiosity.
Activities may include den building, hammocks, bushcraft (including knot tying and whittling), campfire lighting, marshmallow roasting, forest crafts (including making mud monsters and tree spirits), a site walk, scavenger hunt, and much more!
Who are the sessions for?
- Children under 12, accompanied by parents/carers
- Sessions last 3 hours
Drop-off sessions for young people
Session themes will vary and may include forest school activities such as bushcraft and campfire cooking, as well as nature art, journalling, and photography.
Who are the sessions for?
- Young people aged 13 to 17
- Sessions last 3 hours
How to book
Check back for dates of the next school holiday sessions. Spaces are limited and booking is essential.
Prices per child or young person:
Make a booking for Go Wild school holiday sessions
Feedback from a parent of a young person about their experience at Go Wild Easter Family Forest School sessions
"The sessions have been transformative for my son, boosting his confidence and connection to nature. It's one of the few places where he can fully relax, engage, and feel a sense of wellbeing that lasts well beyond the sessions."
Want to take part?
If you would like to know more about future events, make a booking or refer a young person, please contact the Services for Young People Go Wild Team:
Feedback
Read comments from people who have taken part in Go Wild at Hudnall
