TRAX Outdoors was born out of the decision to consolidate the work that has been done over the years by King’s Reach with children and young people in the great outdoors. In the summer of 2011 on a Marden farm we built a roundhouse, based on an Anglo-Saxon design with 21st Century additions to include concepts of recycling modern materials together with traditional methods of working. This enabled our students to develop skills in construction and basic bushcraft while simultaneously building their confidence and imagination. In line with our commitment to the community, the local Scout Group and Primary School were offered use of the roundhouse as a camp and classroom respectively.
Following on from the Marden pilot project the need for a permanent venue was recognised and subsequently King’s Reach purchased Rutland Wood, a 9 acre woodland with a lake.
By 2012 TRAX vision is to launch The Forest School, “an inspirational process that offers children, young people and adults regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence through hands-on learning in a woodland environment” (Forest Research 2007). This will be available to children and young people through the education range of Key Stages 1-4 from local primary and secondary schools and Alternative Curriculum provisions.
A Bushcraft training school will follow in the summer of 2013 to supplement and enhance the variety of experiences on offer, teaching young and old the wonders of living closer to nature and away from the hustle and bustle of modern life.