Outdoor Learning Conference 2026

For more than 100,000 years, people have gathered around the hearth; a glowing centre of warmth, community, and survival. Long before matches or lighters, all of our ancestors relied on skill, patience, and a deep relationship with the land to bring fire to life. In this hands-on workshop, participants will rediscover traditional fire-making methods including bow drill, flint and steel, pump drill, and fire piston. Each person will have the chance to practice these time-honoured techniques, gaining confidence to teach them to learners of all ages. Together, we’ll explore fire not only as a practical tool, but as a symbol of connection, reminding us of our dependence on healthy forests and living ecosystems. In an age of intensifying wildfires and ecological stress, understanding fire’s role in both human and environmental health helps us rekindle respect for this elemental force and for the responsibility that comes with tending it well.