Fire Lighting Training

Ignite your team’s confidence in using fire safely and effectively as part of outdoor learning. Our Fire Lighting and Outdoor Cooking course is a hands-on, full-day training designed to equip educators with the skills, knowledge, and safety practices needed to introduce fire-based activities in their settings.

What to expect

This full-day, in-person training takes place almost entirely outdoors. Participants will:

• Learn how to prepare and assess a site for fire use
• Build and manage a safe fire circle with exclusion zones
• Practice lighting fires using strikers and natural materials
• Explore the fire triangle and combustion principles
• Use Kelly Kettles and fire pits to boil water and cook simple foods
• Discuss hygiene outdoors, including handwashing and food safety
• Cook and enjoy simple, healthy food
• Reflect on curricular connections and practical applications

Throughout the day, participants will work in small groups, engage in formative assessments, and receive expert guidance from LtL trainers.

We require both an indoor and outdoor space to run this programme. The outdoor space can either be within the school grounds or a local greenspace. Wherever it is, we require details of the outdoor space to check suitability, and landowner permission must be in place.

The course is mostly outdoors and hands on, and will therefore include sitting and kneeling on the ground, and being outdoors in all weathers for extended periods. Please come dressed for the weather and conditions.

Please note the following when booking this training:

• The training is for a maximum of 15 participants. If you would like more people to attend, we can schedule additional dates or bring in additional trainers
• Delivery of the training is subject to the provision of a suitable outdoor area which we may ask to see in advance
• We reserve the right to postpone this training in poor weather conditions

Course benefits

This training course will help you to:

• Build staff confidence in using fire safely with children
• Gain practical experience in fire lighting and outdoor cooking
• Understand key safety principles and risk-benefit assessments
• Explore curriculum links and embed fire-based learning in your setting
• Leave with ideas, resources, and inspiration to take learning outside

Please note that while Forest School training includes fires and cooking within the syllabus, it is a much wider qualification and this is reflected in the time and cost. If you do not require full Forest School training, then this course is likely more appropriate and meets the requirements of most outdoor learning policies and insurers.