Running outdoor sessions or events isn’t always straightforward — sometimes you have to decide whether to go ahead or cancel. In this episode, I share the three key factors every forest school leader and outdoor educator should consider before making that call.

These three lenses will help you make clearer decisions about when to run with fewer bookings, when to adapt, and when cancelling is actually the best choice for your business.

Whether you’re running forest school sessions, bushcraft courses, holiday clubs or outdoor events, this framework can save you stress and help you keep your business sustainable while looking after your customers.

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If you found this helpful, check out my free guide to setting your session rates (link below) — it’s packed with tools to help you price your outdoor sessions sustainably.

The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freelance Woodland Leader, from business tips and advice to philosophy of outdoor education, as well as monthly deep dives into larger topics or interviews with inspirational professionals and leaders in the outdoor education space.

Take the struggle out of setting up tarps with the Essential Tarps and Knots Course for Forest School Leaders, find out more at: https://brackenoutdoors.com/essentialtarps

Free Resources:

+ How to choose a tarp guide
+ Forest School Activity Ideas PDF
+ The complete guide to setting your rates as an outdoor leader

To find out more about my mission to help people Belong Outside, head to https://brackenoutdoors.com/

In this series of podcast episodes, I explore the steps behind starting your own Forest School business. In this final instalment, I talk about what to expect from your first year as a Forest School leader, including tips and advice on making it through the setup phase of a Forest School business. 

The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freelance Woodland Leader, from business tips and advice to philosophy of outdoor education, as well as monthly deep dives into larger topics or interviews with inspirational professionals and leaders in the outdoor education space.

Take the struggle out of setting up tarps with the Essential Tarps and Knots Course for Forest School Leaders, find out more at: https://brackenoutdoors.com/essentialtarps

Free Resources:

+ How to choose a tarp guide
+ Forest School Activity Ideas PDF
+ The complete guide to setting your rates as an outdoor leader

To find out more about my mission to help people Belong Outside, head to https://brackenoutdoors.com/

In this series of episodes, I explore the steps behind starting your own Forest School business. In this penultimate episode, I take a deep dive into getting your financial systems set up, including tips and advice on bank accounts, invoicing, cash flow and more. 

The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freelance Woodland Leader, from business tips and advice to philosophy of outdoor education, as well as monthly deep dives into larger topics or interviews with inspirational professionals and leaders in the outdoor education space.

Take the struggle out of setting up tarps with the Essential Tarps and Knots Course for Forest School Leaders, find out more at: https://brackenoutdoors.com/essentialtarps

Free Resources:

+ How to choose a tarp guide
+ Forest School Activity Ideas PDF
+ The complete guide to setting your rates as an outdoor leader

To find out more about my mission to help people Belong Outside, head to https://brackenoutdoors.com/

In this series, I explore the steps behind starting your own Forest School business. In part 7, I look at the ten items of equipment you need to get started with your Forest School sessions.

The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freelance Woodland Leader, from business tips and advice to philosophy of outdoor education, as well as monthly deep dives into larger topics or interviews with inspirational professionals and leaders in the outdoor education space.

Take the struggle out of setting up tarps with the Essential Tarps and Knots Course for Forest School Leaders, find out more at: https://brackenoutdoors.com/essentialtarps

Free Resources:

+ How to choose a tarp guide
+ Forest School Activity Ideas PDF
+ The complete guide to setting your rates as an outdoor leader

To find out more about my mission to help people Belong Outside, head to https://brackenoutdoors.com/

In this series of episodes, I explore the steps behind starting your own Forest School business. In part 6 of this series, I look at how to create a customer base for your sessions. 

The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freelance Woodland Leader, from business tips and advice to philosophy of outdoor education, as well as monthly deep dives into larger topics or interviews with inspirational professionals and leaders in the outdoor education space.

Take the struggle out of setting up tarps with the Essential Tarps and Knots Course for Forest School Leaders, find out more at: https://brackenoutdoors.com/essentialtarps

Free Resources:

+ How to choose a tarp guide
+ Forest School Activity Ideas PDF
+ The complete guide to setting your rates as an outdoor leader

To find out more about my mission to help people Belong Outside, head to https://brackenoutdoors.com/

In this series of episodes, I explore the steps behind starting your own Forest School business. In part 5 of this series I look at the biggest question that Forest School leaders have, which is "What do I charge for my sessions?".

Get help with finding your rate at: https://brackenoutdoors.com/forestschoolrates/

The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freelance Woodland Leader, from business tips and advice to philosophy of outdoor education, as well as monthly deep dives into larger topics or interviews with inspirational professionals and leaders in the outdoor education space.

Take the struggle out of setting up tarps with the Essential Tarps and Knots Course for Forest School Leaders, find out more at: https://brackenoutdoors.com/essentialtarps

Free Resources:

+ How to choose a tarp guide
+ Forest School Activity Ideas PDF
+ The complete guide to setting your rates as an outdoor leader

To find out more about my mission to help people Belong Outside, head to https://brackenoutdoors.com/

In this episode, I interview Ellie Lloyd-Jones. Ellie, the founder of @elevatenetwalking , brings 20 years of experience working with diverse teams in corporate settings and small businesses. Known for her passion for fostering genuine connections, Ellie blends her expertise in leadership and nature-based coaching to create a supportive space for local entrepreneurs. Her approach encourages business professionals owners to step away from daily routines, spark creativity, and find fresh perspectives through outdoor networking. Ellie is committed to building a thriving community of like-minded professionals who value well-being, sustainable growth, and the power of authentic connections

Connect with Ellie

Website: www.elevatewithellie.co.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellie-lloyd-jones-wild-coaching/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevatewithellie/
Netwalking Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevatenetwalking/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elevate_with_ellie?_t=ZN-8vKheja7Ryw&_r=1

The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freelance Woodland Leader, from business tips and advice to philosophy of outdoor education, as well as monthly deep dives into larger topics or interviews with inspirational professionals and leaders in the outdoor education space.

Take the struggle out of setting up tarps with the Essential Tarps and Knots Course for Forest School Leaders, find out more at: https://brackenoutdoors.com/essentialtarps

Free Resources:

+ How to choose a tarp guide
+ Forest School Activity Ideas PDF
+ The complete guide to setting your rates as an outdoor leader

To find out more about my mission to help people Belong Outside, head to https://brackenoutdoors.com/

In this series, I explore the steps behind starting your own Forest School business. In part 4, I tackle the boring but vital policies, procedures and training you need to run safe and effective sessions.

The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freelance Woodland Leader, from business tips and advice to philosophy of outdoor education, as well as monthly deep dives into larger topics or interviews with inspirational professionals and leaders in the outdoor education space.

Take the struggle out of setting up tarps with the Essential Tarps and Knots Course for Forest School Leaders, find out more at: https://brackenoutdoors.com/essentialtarps

Free Resources:

+ How to choose a tarp guide
+ Forest School Activity Ideas PDF
+ The complete guide to setting your rates as an outdoor leader

To find out more about my mission to help people Belong Outside, head to https://brackenoutdoors.com/

In this series, I explore the steps behind starting your own Forest School business. In part 3 of this series, I take a look at one of the most challenging aspects of setting up a Forest School: finding a venue. 

The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freelance Woodland Leader, from business tips and advice to philosophy of outdoor education, as well as monthly deep dives into larger topics or interviews with inspirational professionals and leaders in the outdoor education space.

Take the struggle out of setting up tarps with the Essential Tarps and Knots Course for Forest School Leaders, find out more at: https://brackenoutdoors.com/essentialtarps

Free Resources:

+ How to choose a tarp guide
+ Forest School Activity Ideas PDF
+ The complete guide to setting your rates as an outdoor leader

To find out more about my mission to help people Belong Outside, head to https://brackenoutdoors.com/

In this series of episodes, I explore the steps behind starting your own Forest School business. In part 2 of this series, I discuss the importance of finding your unique audience and the benefits of having a customer avatar. 

The Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freelance Woodland Leader, from business tips and advice to philosophy of outdoor education, as well as monthly deep dives into larger topics or interviews with inspirational professionals and leaders in the outdoor education space.

Take the struggle out of setting up tarps with the Essential Tarps and Knots Course for Forest School Leaders, find out more at: https://brackenoutdoors.com/essentialtarps

Free Resources:

+ How to choose a tarp guide
+ Forest School Activity Ideas PDF
+ The complete guide to setting your rates as an outdoor leader

To find out more about my mission to help people Belong Outside, head to https://brackenoutdoors.com/