BUSHCRAFT COURSES
There are a number of bushcraft courses on offer that range from a one or two day introduction into Bushcraft to allow you to see what it is all about, to the longer six and three day courses outlined below. THE MOST RECENT IS THE FAMILY BUSHCRAFT COURSE which allows parents with children over twelve years of age the chance to experience the subject together for a day or over a weekend. The venues for the courses are at variety of sites in Scotland and England: Rowardennan on Loch Lomond, Abriachan near Inverness, Isle of Skye, Blackdown Hills near Taunton Somerset. Or if you have a suitable woodland site and reasonable size group, will we come to you. Prices vary depending on group size and if we incur site or any catering costs, but average out at approximately £300 per day for an average size group of about eight. Numbers are kept low to allow a good instructor - client ratio.
1 DAY WORKSHOP/ FUN DAYor 2 DAY FAMILY BUSHCRAFT WEEKEND.
Covering such aspects as:
- Bushcraft tools: maintenance and safe use
- Fire by friction and other fire lighting methods
- Fire construction, maintenance and safe disposal
- Improvised natural materials shelters
- Tarp shelter systems
- Bushcraft knots and natural cordage
- Introduction to plant and tree identification through activities
- Basic navigation
- Water purification
- Fun activities to introduce tracking and stalking
2 DAY ADULT INTRODUCTORY BUSHCRAFT COURSE:
Covering such aspects as:
- Bushcraft tools: design, selection, safe use and maintenance
- Fire lighting methods, including the fire-by-friction technique
- Fire construction, maintenance and safe disposal
- Water collection, filtering and purification
- Improvised natural shelter building
- Modern shelter systems
- Bushcraft knots and natural cordage
- Basic navigation
- Identification of plants and trees for food, medicine, tinder, cordage and shelter building
- Harvesting natural resources
Fundamental Bushcraft
| Duration: | 5 days |
| Cost: | £499 per person |
| Min - Max No. | 5 - 8 |
Step back about 6 - 10,000 years ago to the time of our Mesolithic hunter-gatherer ancestors and we would see a group of people whose bushcraft skills and knowledge are second to none.
Today this wealth of bushcraft technique and information has a relevance to the modern outdoor enthusiast. The Basic Bushcraft course will give you the necessary skills and knowledge to travel in the outdoors more confidently, with a greater awareness of your surroundings and appreciation of nature and how important it is to conserve and sustain this wonderful resource.For those interested in the Institute for Outdoor Learning (IOL) new Foundational Bushcraft Competency Certificate, this course will also cover the training syllabus.
This five day course is a packed, in depth and gives a thorough grounding in these basic survival skills and knowledge.
Course content:
- Bushcraft tools: design, selection, safe use and maintenance
- Fire by friction, fire making and management, fire for all situation
- water collection and purification
- effects of heat and cold and correct clothing
- improvised shelters, modern shelter systems
- ropes and knots in bushcraft
- natural cordage
- plants for a purpose
- outdoor safety and equipment
- outdoor hygiene
- game preparation
- carving skills
- natural navigation
- outdoor cooking
- food groups in survival situations
- plant and tree identification
- basic tracking
The venue for this course is available at a variety of locations (see above).
Basic Bushcraft
| Duration: | 3 days |
| Cost: | £249 per person |
| Min - Max No. | 5 - 8 |
Bushcraft is a subject which contains a wealth of knowledge and skills which allows you to travel, explore and live in the natural environment, safely and confidently. In part bushcraft encompasses all aspects of survival skills, but goes further to look at how present day and ancient hunter-gatherers so successfully use bushcraft knowledge and skills to live in harmony with nature. It truly is a vast subject, which is fascinating to learn and become involved in.
The Basic Bushcraft course is an introduction to some of these bushcraft skills and information. The program contains many vital survival skills, which can be applied in a variety of environments. This three day course covers the following aspects which also covers the training syllabus for the Institute for Outdoor Learning (IOL) new Foundational Bushcraft Competency Certificate:
- Bushcraft tools: design, selection, safety and maintainance
- Fire by friction, other fire lighting methods, fire construction and management
- Water collection, filtering and purification
- Improvised shelters
- Modern shelter systems
- Sustainable use of resources
- Ropes and knots in bushcraft
- Natural cordage
- Plants and trees for food, medicine and other bushcraft uses
- Leaving no trace
- General safety & hygiene
- Essential outdoor safety equipment
- Sustainable use of natural resources and minimal impact on environment.
- Simple camp fire cooking
This three day course is a busy and full event, which will prepare you to venture into the outdoors with more confidence.
The venue for this course is available at a variety of locations (see above).
Bushcraft Workshops
These one day workshops are aimed at imparting essential bushcraft or survival skills and knowledge. Any of the topics outlined in the six or three day course can be chosen from and incorporated into the day, but the most popular are:
- Fire by Friction day, which takes a journey back through history to look at how man has created fire for his survival and bushcraft needs. This culminates with all participants using fire by friction to start a fire.
- The Bushcraft Walk, which involves a day’s walk to look at the local plants and trees to see what is currently available for food, medicine, cordage, fire starting and other bushcraft utilities.
The above two can be condensed into a combined one day Bushcraft Day or stand alone as half day activities.
Venue:
Various locations around Scotland and on the Isle of Skye (see above).
