Homepage - Trail Blazers

An inclusive Forest School and Fishing engagement provision specialising in therapeutic outdoor play and learning for neurodivergent and neurotypical young people.

Experience the art of fishing paired with bushcraft skills and the joy of cooking over an open flame.

Explore the wonders of nature and hands-on learning experiences in our therapeutic forest school program. In forest school, you experience immersive nature exploration, hands-on learning in the outdoors, wildlife encounters and valuable bushcraft skills acquisition.

Explore the wonders of our primary forest school program, where children connect with nature and learn valuable skills whilst also enjoying the serene activity of fishing.

About Us

Trail Blazers is an outdoor learning engagement programme for the most hard-to-reach young people. We are dedicated to improving the well-being and mental health of young people across South East England. Our specialist Therapeutic Forest School and Fishing provision is tailored to support the needs of learners who find accessing their current education setting challenging.

Trail Blazers aims to improve the outcomes of young people who are vulnerable, at risk or have well-being and/or social, emotional, and behavioural needs. We aim to support schools and local authorities in ensuring that the young person continues to access an ambitious curriculum and re-engagement in an education setting.

Our Mission

TO RESHAPE
ALTERNATIVE PROVISION

We exist so that young people with unmet needs can feel supported, heard, and empowered to discover the joy in learning and to be able to chart their own educational path with confidence and resilience in our outdoor learning environment.

Our Pathways

We guide young individuals through a comprehensive journey of learning essential skills. Our diverse range of sessions, opportunities and events cater to various ages and user groups, ensuring a tailored experience for all.

Ignite
Pathway

Discovery
Pathway

Therapeutic Forest School

Enrichment
Days

Holiday
Club

Little Embers

(Coming Soon)

Trail Blazers HQ

Off the beaten track and out in the wilderness is where you'll find our base.
Explore the map and find what we have to offer:

Base Camp

Kitchen

Fire Lighting

Nature Trail

Emotion Tree

Creative Area

Zip Line

Woodchopping

Tools Area

Sensory Path

Woodland Gym

Team Building Area

Teepee

Fishing

Games Area

Allotment

Football Pitch

Enquire to join Trail Blazers

Testimonials

Every week, the activities and experience Trailblazers provide make a positive difference to the children we send. They love the food, fun and friendships being established. The team at Trailblazers are so engaging with young people - they are exactly who should be working with the next generation as they make a huge difference and their passion shines through.

I love forest school because it's outside, not stuck in a classroom! See you in 6 days

When we placed our most challenging student with Trail Blazers for two days a week, we thought we had set them too great a challenge! However, their flexible approach and deep understanding of the needs of young people meant that the student made incredible progress. In his own words, “ I'm really happy around other people my own age, now I feel a lot better than I did. I used to be really scared but now I’m not anxious anymore. That's why I like Trail Blazers because I'm succeeding massively from it.

We love forest school because it's like having our own outdoor playground. We always have fun

Trail Blazers offers a unique and creative alternative provision for students who find the demands and expectations of the classroom challenging. The innovative approach to education allowed our student to re engage with learning in a manner that suited him, tapping into his interests and building on skills he didn’t realise he had. The fishing program has been transformative and I am grateful to the Trail Blazers team for the support, care, and teaching they have provided.

At first I was nervous about going but ended up loving it here. I have made some good friends and look forward to it every week

Trail Blazers has provided our students with a unique learning environment that allows children to be children. Being outdoors allows the students to explore freely and learn through hands-on activities such as cooking over the campfire, learning how to use a kelly kettle and playing group games. These experiences have helped our students develop a deeper connection with nature but also helped them regulate their emotions. Our students are now more focused when in school and are learning how to have positive conversations with adults and peers. Trail Blazers has and continues to be an incredibly positive experience for our students. We're so grateful to have access to this program and the positive impact it's had on our students.

We do not have forest schools in the country I am from. I love it here. It is so much fun to learn!

Trail Blazers has made an incredible impact for our pupils who had previously become disillusioned with education. They have enabled them to build their self esteem and really celebrate their interests and sense of curiosity. The staff at Trail Blazers are so flexible and supportive of the pupils, and the referring school. Couldn’t recommend enough!

I have always found education tough, but Trail Blazers have taught me skills which have helped me set smaller, more achievable goals that I have now got confidence in trying to reach

We cannot speak highly enough of Trail Blazers, this is a fabulous provision. The dedicated staff strive for the development of resilience, discipline and wellbeing in all of the students.

Trail Blazers is the best! I love it even when it rains

We have been working with Trail Blazers since September 2023. During that time we have built a really positive working relationship with The Trail Blazers team. The team has a wealth of experience in working with children with barriers to learning, SEMH and behavioural challenges. The team at Trail Blazers are unflappable, they will always look towards a solution and provide a safe space for students to reflect, reset and re-engage. Their efforts make a significant difference to our young people. The team currently work with ten of our most hard to reach students, those that are most at risk of exclusion. We have seen very positive outcomes from their support.

I like forest school food. It's good

Trail blazers are amazing, friendly and has a welcoming atmosphere. Since joining we have felt our child's confidence and communication with others have improved dramatically. They provide a true sense of belonging within their community for everyone. There creativity and exploratory way of learning has helped our child to engage with learning again. He has such a fun, diverse adventure every week full with alternative learning strategies always comes home with a smile. Come rain or shine these guys are always happy.

Fishing is the best. I am patient and helpful on the lake and love catching carp!

We have been attending Trail blazers for 12 weeks now. Our son struggled within a mainstream setting and was always in trouble for not engaging or refusing to do boring work (his words). Since attending he has reconnected with learning in an outdoor environment. His SEMH has improved dramatically, we have less outburst and more laughter. He can learn while regulation his sensory needs, which has a massive positive impact on any child with sensory needs. He has learnt so much in such a short period of time. They provide all the positive learning skills a child needs with out the negative restrictions of a mainstream classroom. Trail blazers have also help our child grow and shine helping him see that no challenge is impossible with the right guidance anyone can succeed big or small. Which they help with every week.

Our young person found school extremely difficult, Trail Blazers was recommended to us through Virtual School Kent. We gave it a go, and Wow what a difference in our young man. I never thought I would say the words that we are now re-integrating him back into a school place thanks to Trail Blazers. Thank you team.

We are very lucky to have found an excellent provision for some of our most vulnerable students. Trail Blazers work hard to support and encourage our most hard to reach young people. They have provided an engaging programme that has supported positive impact. The communication between Trail Blazers and us is fantastic and nothing is too much trouble. We would highly recommend the different programmes for students who just need a different way to learn and find themselves.

I have made new friends here, and like being part of the community. I have learnt lots of new things since attending Trail Blazers, and I want to work here when I am older.