Outdoor Adventure Therapy

Our Outdoor Adventure Therapy programmes combine structured therapeutic models with purposeful outdoor challenge — fully bespoke to your group, outcomes and setting.

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Outdoor Adventure Therapy

Explore. Learn. Live.

Outdoor Adventure Therapy (OAT) at Shepherd Outdoors is a structured, evidence-informed approach that blends therapeutic practice with purposeful outdoor challenge. It is not simply “activities outdoors.” It is intentional, reflective and outcomes-driven.

We use the natural environment as a catalyst for growth — supporting emotional regulation, confidence, resilience and positive identity through carefully facilitated experiences.

Every programme is bespoke. Designed around your cohort, your needs and your safeguarding context.

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What Makes Our Approach Different?

Outdoor Adventure Therapy at Shepherd Outdoors integrates:

• Experiential learning

• Trauma-informed practice

• Cognitive and behavioural reflection

• Solution-focused approaches

• Strengths-based development

• Nature connection and wellbeing research

Sessions are carefully structured around preparation, supported challenge, reflection and transfer — ensuring that learning outdoors translates into improved behaviours, confidence and coping strategies in everyday life.

This is not unstructured outdoor time. It is purposeful intervention with measurable impact.

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Who We Work With

Schools & Alternative Provision

Our programmes support:

• Students experiencing anxiety or low self-esteem

• Learners struggling with emotional regulation

• Young people at risk of exclusion

• Attendance concerns

• Transition support (Year 6–7, Year 11–Post 16)

• SEND and SEMH cohorts

OAT can run as:

• Targeted intervention blocks

• Pastoral support programmes

• Behaviour and engagement strategies

• Leadership and resilience development

• Enrichment pathways

We work alongside senior leaders, SENCOs and pastoral teams to define clear outcomes and track progress.

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Youth & Community Organisations

We support charities, youth services and community groups seeking structured wellbeing interventions. Our sessions create safe challenge, promote peer support and build identity and belonging through shared achievement.

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Mental Health & Early Help Pathways

Outdoor Adventure Therapy is particularly powerful for:

• Anxiety

• Low mood

• Social withdrawal

• Confidence barriers

• Emotional dysregulation

• Trauma-informed recovery

The natural environment reduces pressure, removes labels and creates space for young people to reconnect with themselves and others.

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Adults & Workplace Wellbeing

Outdoor challenge remains transformative beyond school years.

For adults and organisations, we deliver:

• Resilience and stress management programmes

• Leadership and team development

• Confidence building

• Nature-based mental health support

Structured reflection ensures that learning transfers back into professional and personal contexts.

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What a Typical Programme Includes

Each programme is bespoke, but may include:

• Bushcraft and practical outdoor skills

• Navigation and problem-solving challenges

• Climbing or high-challenge activities (where appropriate)

• Woodland-based reflective sessions

• Fire craft and responsibility development

• Guided “walk and talk” sessions

• Team-based scenario challenges

Every activity is framed with clear psychological intent and facilitated reflection.

Participants are supported to:

1. Step into manageable challenge

2. Experience success and mastery

3. Reflect on emotions and behaviours

4. Apply learning to real-world situations

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Our Professional Standards

Shepherd Outdoors combines extensive expedition leadership and risk management expertise with structured therapeutic delivery.

Our approach is underpinned by:

• Robust safeguarding and risk assessment procedures

• Dynamic decision-making informed by real-world emergency response experience

• Trauma-informed and inclusive practice

• Clear boundaries, consent and ethical frameworks

• Reflective evaluation and impact tracking

Safety, dignity and psychological security are foundational to every programme.

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Measurable Outcomes

Outdoor Adventure Therapy supports:

• Improved self-confidence

• Increased emotional regulation

• Enhanced communication and teamwork

• Greater resilience and problem-solving

• Improved attendance and engagement (for school cohorts)

• Stronger peer relationships

• Positive risk-taking and identity development

We work with commissioning partners to identify clear success criteria and provide structured feedback on progress.

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Bespoke Packages Designed Around You

No two groups are the same.

We offer:

• 6–12 week intervention blocks

• Term-long programmes

• Intensive short courses

• Holiday wellbeing programmes

• Leadership pathways

• Integrated Forest School + OAT models

• Commissioned projects aligned to funding outcomes

Delivery can take place in woodland settings, national parks, school grounds or community green spaces.

We design every programme around your safeguarding framework, staffing ratios and desired impact.

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Why Shepherd Outdoors?

Shepherd Outdoors was built on a belief that challenge changes lives.

We combine:

• Extensive Duke of Edinburgh expedition leadership

• Outdoor education expertise across UK national landscapes

• Strong therapeutic understanding

• Clear values of inclusion, empowerment and growth

• A commitment to professionalism and safety

We do not offer generic outdoor days.
We build transformative journeys.

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Let’s Design Your Outdoor Adventure Therapy Programme

If you are a:

• Headteacher or Senior Leader

• SENCO or Pastoral Lead

• Alternative Provision Manager

• Charity or Youth Service Coordinator

• Early Help or Community Practitioner

• HR or Wellbeing Lead

We would welcome a conversation about how Outdoor Adventure Therapy can support your cohort.

Contact Shepherd Outdoors to discuss bespoke packages, commissioning options and partnership models.

Shepherd Outdoors – Explore. Learn. Live.