Family Survival Bushcraft Adventure – Spring Experience!

Spend a weekend in the forest with your children learning real outdoor skills — fire, shelters, cooking and crafts — with all equipment provided — 11 & 12 April 2026

  • Location: Sesimbra Natura Park (20 min from Lisbon)
  • Duration: Saturday 10:00 – Sunday 16:00
  • Price: €360 per family (parent + child)
  • Language: English
  • Equipment: fully provided
Escola do Mato – 15 years teaching bushcraft in Portugal.

Limited to 10 families

No previous outdoor experience required — we start from the basics.


Looking for a unique way to make this spring welcoming unforgettable?
Spend a weekend in the forest with your children learning practical outdoor skills together. This family bushcraft weekend is designed for international families living in Portugal who want to spend meaningful time outdoors while learning useful techniques.
Parents and children learn how to make fire, build simple shelters, cook over the fire and explore the forest. All activities are practical and guided by experienced instructors, allowing everyone to participate safely and at their own pace.
Children quickly gain confidence by doing things themselves, while parents rediscover the satisfaction of solving simple challenges together.
No outdoor experience is required and all equipment is provided.
Children usually make friends within the first hour around the fire.


Secure your spot today and give your family the gift of the most amazing adventure this Spring.
👉 Sign up now (€360 per family of parent and child, VAT included)
Enrolment ends one week before the course date, when all participants will get an e-mail with more detailed information about the course.


Content

Who usually participates?


Families from international schools around Lisbon often join this weekend. Children usually between 7 and 14 years old, with parents from different countries living in Portugal. In previous editions we had families from the UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands and the United States.
The group is limited to 10 families, which creates a relaxed atmosphere where children quickly make friends. Children usually make friends within the first hour.


filler image
filler image

What people say


Thank you so much for such a fun and memorable weekend!!Learnt so much and enjoyed it enormously. Thank you for your guidance (and patience!) and for letting the kids (and us all) try out such cool things with you all.
Thanks so much for organizing awesome camping weekend! It was a good investment in our kids childhood memories and weather challenges made it even more memorable :)
Thanks for an amazing weekend. It'll be remembered for a long time.

filler image

filler image

throughout this course you will learn


  • Master the art of safely starting a fire, a fundamental survival skill;
  • Build sturdy shelters to protect you from the elements;
  • Learn to handle cutting tools with confidence and care;
  • Discover the secrets of useful plants and trees, and their many practical applications;
  • Decode the mysteries of the wild by identifying animal signs, from footprints to feathers and burrows;
  • Create natural cordage with your own hands, just like our ancestors did;
  • Make a vegan leather pouch to store all your treasures;
  • Explore essential water purification techniques to ensure safe hydration.
  • Engage in nature-inspired games and activities, sparking curiosity and adventure.
  • End each day with stories, songs, and laughter around the campfire, deepening your connection to nature—and each other.

This experience is more than just skills — it’s about creating memories, building resilience, and rediscovering the joy of the great outdoors - toguether.


Course runs over the weekend, from saturday 10AM to sunday 4PM on our base camp in Sesimbra Natura Park (see it here on google maps).

filler image

By attending this course you will get the 5C's essentials for survival:

  • Cutting tool - one of our fixed blade knifes perfect for bushcraft and razor sharp;
  • Cordage - a roll of 550 paracord;
  • Combustion device - a king size firesteel.
  • Container - A inox heavy duty cooking pot with handles
  • Cover - An emergency mylar tarp and a bandana

Optional items:

  • Camera;
  • For the ladies: intimate hygiene products (it is not uncommon for changes in environment to cause menstrual changes);
  • Comfort objects for the kids.

That you will get to take home with you, along with everything you make together!


To make the most of this course you must bring with you:


  • Backpack containing:
  • Sleeping bag;
  • Matress;
  • Flashlight or headlamp;
  • Usual medication;
  • Bug repellent;
  • Warm coat, wool socks and beanie.
  • Toiletteries and small towel;
  • Fork, spoon;
  • Cup, dish and bowl;
  • Water bottle;
  • Notebook and pencil;
  • Tent (just in case sleeping in a shelter is too scary for the parents and yet they are brave enough to admit it before their children).
filler image
If you are missing any gear contact us and we will help you get it. We always have gear to sell or lease in camp.

Food:


We take care of all the food—you bring the appetite and the spirit of adventure! Together, you’ll cook every meal by the fire, sometimes even without pots and pans, discovering the joy of primitive yet delicious cooking. Our instructors will guide and support you every step of the way, making sure the process is just as enjoyable as the feast itself.
Expect simple, colorful, and flavorful meals that everyone can help prepare and savor. Whether you’re chopping, stirring, or roasting, every family member will feel like part of the team.
We happily cater to dietary needs, whether vegetarian, vegan, kosher, halal, or other preferences. As much as possible, our ingredients come from local, organic producers, ensuring both quality and sustainability.
Each meal is crafted with care, balancing nutrition with flavor, and often rivaling what you'd find in a fine restaurant. Prepare your taste buds for a gourmet experience in the heart of nature!
We also invite you to bring a delicacy from your country, region, or cultural tradition to share with fellow participants—a way to add a touch of home to the shared table.
And for the little ones? There will be delightful surprises to roast over the fire, creating memories as sweet as the treats themselves.

Throughout the Experience:
Coffee, tea, fresh fruit, and cookies are always available to keep you energized.
Every meal is a celebration of the outdoors, blending rustic techniques with premium ingredients for a truly unforgettable experience.

filler image

A Taste of Nature: Your Premium Bushcraft Menu

Immerse yourself in the flavors of the wild with a gourmet menu crafted for your family’s bushcraft adventure.

  • Starters: Indulge in fine fuet, cured ham, artisan cheeses, rustic bread, and seasoned olives;
  • Lunch: Savor fish and fresh vegetables cooked over coals, complemented by a roasted paprika and leek salad;
  • Dessert: Refresh with a selection of seasonal fruits;
  • Afternoon: Enjoy a camp oven cake, paired with fresh fruit and some chestnuts roasted on fire;
  • Dinner: Delight in a hearty vegetable soup followed by a slow-cooked pork stew in iron cast pot;
  • Dessert: Roast bananas with chocolate for a sweet, campfire indulgence;
  • Supper: Relish seasonal delicacies, marshmallows, s’mores, and fresh fruit;
  • Breakfast: Feast on freshly baked camp oven bread and bannock, served with butter, marmalade, or chocolate, alongside tea, coffee, or milk;
  • Lunch: End your culinary journey with a rich, flavorful seafood rice;
  • Afternoon fare: Enjoy a light mix of cookies and fresh fruit.


A Night to Remember: Sleeping in Nature’s Embrace


Your family’s bushcraft adventure takes place deep in the serene heart of the forest, where you’ll have the chance to sleep in a shelter crafted by your own hands—a true connection to nature and your shared experience. For those who prefer a bit more comfort, you can bring a tent - without judgment, just plenty of encouragement.
Washing zones and eco-friendly outdoor facilities ensure convenience without compromising the authenticity of the experience.

Need extra warmth or reassurance? We’ve got you covered—literally! Extra tarps and cozy blankets are always available to borrow, so you can enjoy a snug, restful night under the stars.

This isn’t just sleeping outdoors—it’s immersing yourself in nature while creating memories your family will treasure forever.

filler image

Dining and sleeping in the wild has never been this rewarding or fun — let’s make every meal and bedtime an adventure!

Price:360€ per family of one parent and one child (2 people)
To allow for a safe and secure activity, we strongly recommend only one child per adult. Contact us if you have a family that requires a solution, we will be happy to help.

Our camp is inclusive, being available for phisically impaired and with adaptive teaching methods. If you or your kid have special needs, please contact us so that we can better prepare to welcome you.

Included: All meals and snacks, fruit, tea, coffee and cookies, personal accidents and civil responsability insurance, park fees and common gear for 2 people. The instructors are always available on the grounds from the begining to the end of the course and ready to help you in every instance. Certified first aid instructors.

Each participant will get, to use and bring home with them:

  • Fixed blade knife;
  • Roll of paracord;
  • Firesteel.
  • Metal cooking pot
  • Tarp

Duration: 2 days, during the weekend, from 10AM of saturday to 4PM on sunday.

When: 11 & 12 April 2026

Adequate age: Kids 7-14. Adults of any age.

Minimum number of participants: 6 families

Local: Sesimbra Natura Park, base camp of Escola do Mato


Pedro


filler image

Pedro is the founder and the owner of the school. He has been teaching bushcraft for the last 14 years and was once a cub scout leader. He teaches all the wonderful secrets of nature and devises all the fun games we will make in camp. Pedro was on the first team to launch the Fjallraven Polar arctic expedition and is an avid bikepacker.
He is also an excelent cartoonist, and a bit of a cartoon himself.

Jaime


filler image

Jaime was a military in the air force and worked mainly with helicopter engines. Apart from that, he was a scout leader many years and has been into bushcraft for a long time. He is an avid fisherman and likes to cook on open fires.
He is now developing his skills into leatherwork.

Sometimes we bring in other instructors that work with us regularly, with their specific skillsets. Their picture might end up here.

Contacts

Office:

R. D. Francisco Xavier de Noronha, n31, 3 dto
2800-092 Almada
Portugal

E-mail: info@escoladomato.com
Phone: (+351) 914 820 585

Base camp

Sesimbra Natura Park
Herdade da Mesquita
Estrada Nacional 378 Km13.9
2970-679 Sesimbra

Official Partner