Bushcraft course prices??

[Aaron]

For one thing, you could go to a meet, where people typically give generously of their time and skills. I'm not aware of any commercial courses where you can learn about arrowmaking, natural dyes, suturing, fire by chemicals, canoeing and Viking lore all in one course. But you can at the Scottish meets

See, but therin lies part of the problem. You cannot fault people for wanting to pass on what they know to others for free, but the expectation from some newcomers I have observed attending such meetups is that they will be able to pick up everything they need (or want) to know on such occassions, leading to them sticking their nose up at paying however much for a professionally organised and taught course. Ultimately, you will only be ever to progress with a subject if you practice and learn around it in your spare time, but to me there is no substitute from taking initial instruction from a professional, particularly if you are learning elements of bushcraft and survival such as wild food identification or water purification where getting it wrong has serious hazards. If you rely on being taught by someone who has picked it up from someone who went on a course once with the best will in the world there will always be some 'skills fade' where stuff gets left out or is mis-conveyed. Just my thoughts anyway.

 

[Doc]

I see your point and proper organised tuition is sometimes the best way. I paid for a course when I started canoeing, and it was money well spent. I also paid for archery lessons.

But what about, say, fire by friction? Does this need one-to-one tuition? Many books have detailed instruction. Anybody can do this if they can read, identify the best woods (again from a book) and put in a few hours of trial and eror effort.

We know that people will buy pre-made fire-by-friction sets on ebay. This usual results in some teasing, but it is easier than learning from scratch.

 

[firecrest]

I see your point and proper organised tuition is sometimes the best way. I paid for a course when I started canoeing, and it was money well spent. I also paid for archery lessons.

But what about, say, fire by friction? Does this need one-to-one tuition? Many books have detailed instruction. Anybody can do this if they can read, identify the best woods (again from a book) and put in a few hours of trial and eror effort.

We know that people will buy pre-made fire-by-friction sets on ebay. This usual results in some teasing, but it is easier than learning from scratch.

what I find odd about being taught than learning myself, the few times ive been taught fire by friction, ive been taught to stand in a specific pose thats very uncomfortable to me , I have very short legs! i think Id find it easier to do without taking up a karate stance when i do it.

 

[steve a]

I see your point and proper organised tuition is sometimes the best way. I paid for a course when I started canoeing, and it was money well spent. I also paid for archery lessons.

But what about, say, fire by friction? Does this need one-to-one tuition? Many books have detailed instruction. Anybody can do this if they can read, identify the best woods (again from a book) and put in a few hours of trial and eror effort.

We know that people will buy pre-made fire-by-friction sets on ebay. This usual results in some teasing, but it is easier than learning from scratch.

But then you miss out on tree identification, condition of wood, carving, proportions, and different technique's. Plus when someone is suffering getting an ember there are tricks like reading the dust, advice on changing speed and pressure,stance and posture, plus a few other tricks that they would miss out on.

 

[timboggle]

Steve, you hit the nail on the head there mate

Gunslinger, you've had a very balanced and informed insight into the business by very experienced and professional providers there mate, if you do go into it, I truly do wish you all the best luck in the world mate, its not as easy as it looks.

Cheers

 

[stevec]

i've caught a few mins of gordon ramsey's friday night cookalong. the prices people like raymond blanc, aldo zilli et al charge for a days tuition in a group (looked to be about 12) is getting towards £300 !

now that puts things in perspective for me.

stevec

 

[sargey]

how's about a few thoughts from the other end of the spectrum. I've done several bushcraft courses with a few different schools. sadly, i'm off to lanzarote next week, i'd much prefer to be spending my holiday on a bushcraft course. i did woodsmokes abo for the second time last year. there were guys there who'd done 7 courses with the same school. swmbo has other ideas.

the amount of information you can get from a course is phenomenal compared to what could take you years and years to learn from a book. these days my skill level is.... ok. i probaly don't learn as much as a complete newbie. the other advantage is that you can practise skills safely and legally, as opposed to the stealth camping.

bushcraft courses worth the money? absolutely!

cheers ,and.

 

[Tadpole]

Neil1, Toddy, timboggle, Rhoda, and Jonny Crockett et al have offered instruction/guidance that a bank specialist would charge a couple of hundred quid to share, Just because it is free does not make it less true. Take all free advice with a pinch of salt my Grandfather was wont to tell me, “you get what you pay for” But and it is a big butt, the above mentioned people may be mild mannered forumits, having a laugh and a joke on the forums, but they are as expert in their field as it is possible to get, just because they don’t have their own Television show, doesn’t mean they don’t know of that which they speak.
Jonny even knows where the 'emergency steering tiller' is on War Ships

 

[Wayland]

This does actually raise another interesting point.

Bushcraft courses as holiday / leisure activity.

I haven't done many courses in the past as there wasn't the spare cash to justify it but it's certainly something I'm considering as an interesting pastime in the future.

Like yourself the amount I actually learned on the courses I have done was limited but it still serves to firm up skills or develop slightly different ways of doing things.

For every course or workshop I have done I have always left with something of enduring value, compare that to a weekend on a beach full of tourists.

 

[sam_acw]

The courses are pricey, but what decent training isn't. I work in a private language school and on average they charge quite fair sums to students. Driving lessons, sports coaching, et al are all expensive. Unless it involves volunteers or charitable organisations then you'll be paying for it.
And don't forget the taxman, VAT and NI will all want their cut.

 

[sargey]

indeed, courses also help to consolidate the knoweldge gained from the books.

I have often noticed that the learning doesn't stop for months, even after the course has finished. there will still be little pieces of information that click into place on another little trip to the woods somewhere.

some experiences can never be learnt from a book. those who know, know. those who don't, think i'm just being pretentious. "pine needle tea really is like a taste explosion in your mouth!"

cheers, and.

 

[Big Geordie]

What's wrong with charging what people are prepared to pay? That's what governs almost everything we buy.
Similarly what wages are you prepared to work for? Most of us find that the minimum wage just isn't enough to provide for families & holidays etc..
If someone has really good skills, not just the "doing" but the "show and tell" which can be much more difficult, can't they ask a premium? In the training context, where I work, its normal to hire a self employed trainer at £1,000 a day. They have to take the burden of staying abreast of latest development and sort their own taxes, ins, pensions etc.
This may be an unpopular idea, but I think that some of the skills are so important that they need to be taught by the best people because if they are found to be carp when you need them in the field, you will suffer or worse. ( consider Bear chasing food when he should be sourcing water and shelter etc)
The best instructors must be rewarded well in order to maintain the quality & integrity of our skills base, promoting more good people to want to teach and develop "bushcraft topics."
I have enjoyed reading this thread and admire the restraint shown by many to this potentially divisive topic. I look forward to sharing a brew or a Laphroaig with you gunslinger.
George

 

[robin wood]

This does actually raise another interesting point.

Bushcraft courses as holiday / leisure activity.

I haven't done many courses in the past as there wasn't the spare cash to justify it but it's certainly something I'm considering as an interesting pastime in the future.

Like yourself the amount I actually learned on the courses I have done was limited but it still serves to firm up skills or develop slightly different ways of doing things.

For every course or workshop I have done I have always left with something of enduring value, compare that to a weekend on a beach full of tourists.

We had a spooncarving course this weekend and one point I heard made was that it is difficult to make the time at home to do this stuff. We spent 2 and half days fairly intensive carving when do you get the chance to do that at home? I have a friend Owen Jones an incredibly skilled craftsman and the countries last oak swill basket maker, he tries to go on one craft course every year. Not because he needs the skills just because it broadens his horizons and it's fun. Cheaper than a holiday on the beach too.

 

[Kerne]

I am a teacher who is often called upon to provide courses for teachers from other schools. My school charges £350 plus expenses a day for my services (I don't see any of this!). At this rate, a week at £100 a day is a bargain!

Also, I have done a Woodsmoke course which cost me over £500 and was worth every penny. It is expensive but I enjoyed every minute and learned a huge amount. I think it is a question of accepting the price bracket but looking around for the best offerings at that price.

 

[Garf]

I think the prices are fair but not transparent enough and this forum may go someway to addressing that. May be potential customers and participants should also get on the phone or email and ask the school what they get for their money.

I have attended a weekend Survival School course in June of this year.
What did I get for my money?
Expert tuition for one.
All paticipants were busy from when the course started until it
was time to come home.
Cost £175 and that was with four instructors.
Was it worth it?
Every penny,so much so, I will be attending a weeks course with them.
Cost £500 can't wait.

See you Sunday, Jonny.

Garf.

 

[Wallenstein]

Say a course costs £180 for a weekend - Friday night to Sunday afternoon, for example.

In the summer that gives about 28hrs of daylight where you can be "doing stuff", plus a couple of hours in the evenings around the campfire to chat etc (maybe another 4hrs).

So for 32hrs of non-sleeping time that works out at £5.50/hr. A trip to the cinema to passively watch a film with 100 other people will cost you £10 for two hours, so it's really not that pricey IMO.

Group guitar tuition will cost £10 for an hour session, hiring a tennis court is £25/hr, a windsurfing session might be £25 for 90mins.

So I think that's a pretty good deal, to be honest.

Plus as Mike said, you're paying for the years of accumulated knowledge of the course leaders, and that's not something you can really put a price on.

 

[Treemonk]

I have to say that when I was on a recent woodlander I did wonder how they charged so little.
I've worked as self employed and was always amazed at how the big lump of money up front dissapeared quickly - living, tax, NI, pensions, sick days, accountant, insurance (OMG!), consumables, rent, petrol, living away, the list just goes on...
On the course feedback form they ask do you view the course as value for money? There is obviously a concern to provide a good service at a realistic price.
I had to say yes, absolutely, great value for money. On top of this the woodsmoke guys are kind enough to answer questions out of course time - so my value for money just keeps getting better!
The reason for going on courses? Trial and error by yourself is all well and good, you pay for the tricks, tips and extras that don't come in books.

 

[wicca]

What really shocks and upsets me as a newcomer is that in reply no: 36, Firecrest has published a photo of me after an innocent evenings line dancing, without my permission!!

 

[SMARTY]

Let me pose this question a bit of market research. How much do you think is a fair price for a weekend survival course? The course includes all food, fully insured, and supplies all the materials that a student needs.

 

[firecrest]

What really shocks and upsets me as a newcomer is that in reply no: 36, Firecrest has published a photo of me after an innocent evenings line dancing, without my permission!!

But you gave me permission at the time!! wouldnt be that budweiser would it?