Bushcraft/survival training jobs

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h2o

Settler
Oct 1, 2007
579
0
ribble valley
didnt mean to sound rude hedgepig !!!.and spamel what makes you think im a hooligan ?That is rude calling someone a hooligan in a thread viewed by the public, i dont think ive resorted to petty name calling in any post or any thread.In fact i think youve broken forum rules by that remark as its libel and not very nice telling people to stick to hooliganism.
 

spamel

Banned
Feb 15, 2005
6,833
21
48
Silkstone, Blighty!
didnt mean to sound rude hedgepig !!!.and spamel what makes you think im a hooligan ?That is rude calling someone a hooligan in a thread viewed by the public, i dont think ive resorted to petty name calling in any post or any thread.In fact i think youve broken forum rules by that remark as its libel and not very nice telling people to stick to hooliganism.

I didn't call you a hooligan. get your facts straight and "get a grip".

how pathetic

Your continuing posts about the issue prove a point. Screaming for a fight. Congratulations, you are the first person from this site I have ever put on my ignore list. See you around.
 

Tiley

Life Member
Oct 19, 2006
2,364
374
60
Gloucestershire
the reason i dont want to pay for training is the fact i am broke not working and looking for work that i actually know something about.£6000 is out of the question, the problem with "bushcraft" is everyone thinks throwing money at it is the best option,be it courses equipment or clothing when in actual fact experiance of outdoor living is what u really need
theres no way im gonna pay to do a course where u learn flint and steel fire making and shelter building as i cant justify the finantial outlay of learning skills i already know.

In a frantic endeavour to nudge the thread away from the name-calling and accusations of being 'rude' that are currently flying around, I think some further reflection on this from much earlier might help.

Maybe your situation has changed since you posted this, H2O, but, at this stage, some modest financial outlay is going to be necessary. You obviously have some of the hard skills (lighting a fire with a flint and steel) and have gained these from trial and error and experience but your tone also suggests that you reckon you know enough to get out there and do it - "i actually know something about".

What appears to be in short supply is a little humility, a passionate desire to learn, learn and then learn some more and an ability to shrug off barbed comments readily. You are wrong to assume that "everyone" thinks that throwing money at courses and shiny kit is the way forward; getting into the woods and practising the skills that they have learnt, either on a course or by trial and error, is the thing that bushcrafters of any complexion are passionate about. If they wish to buy a new gadget or piece of clothing, it's because they want to try it out/use it for their next venture into the wildwood. That they choose to spend some of their hard-earned cash on these things shouldn't really be grounds for criticism as it marks you, perhaps unfairly, as jealous.

Teaching anything requires huge amounts of patience and an ability to tolerate folk who brush you up the wrong way or whom you just don't like. If you can overcome that pretty considerable hurdle, then you're on your way to being a teacher. I have no wish to patronise you at all, but there has been some very sound advice offered in this thread and I hope you might take a chance to go back to your original message and have another, more contemplative look.

Perhaps your starting point should be to try and find some employment doing whatever you can, earn some cash and so soothe the injustice you feel about being stopped at the very start of your quest. During this spell, you can keep on practising and clocking useful experience on your own account, strengthening your position and building your knowledge. When I was being trained as a teacher, the leading light at college hoped that we would turn out to be 'reflective practioners'. Over the years, both in schools and in teaching in the outdoors, this has been the most useful thought.

It'll take time but you might well get there with patience, luck and an open mind.
 
May 25, 2006
504
7
35
Canada
www.freewebs.com
*Strolls into thread, prepared to give his two cents on Survival/Bushcraft businesses. Reads thread thus far and slowly backs out of thread, scared of what may be said if he left a comment*

Ain't I a stinker? :D
 

h2o

Settler
Oct 1, 2007
579
0
ribble valley
Personally, I think your attitude as displayed here wouldn't make you fit for instruction. Your last few posts have been rude and bellicose, hardly the sort of attributes a Bushcraft School would look for in one of their instructors.

I'd stick to hooliganism if I was you.

see above sounds like your calling me a hooligan.and why block me i havent sent you any messages are you trying to say ive been pestering you?
 

h2o

Settler
Oct 1, 2007
579
0
ribble valley
my saying the words :actually knowing something about: has been taken out of context er yuo should under stand this im am not on this forum to keep defending myself it was in the context of being tired of doing menial jobs i have no enthusiasm for.
 

Purdy Bear

Member
Jun 5, 2009
46
0
SE London
When I was in my late teens, some years ago, I applied for several places doing activities with children, such as canoeing, bushcraft etc. Pretty much they were all in line with you pay for the privelege. Not very good really for those who are keen on working in the field!
 
Nov 29, 2004
7,808
22
Scotland
I met a guy in the Ardèche who shepherded British school children on canoe trips down the gorge throughout the summer. In the winter he went back to newcastle and was a bricky.

Two descents a week, weekends free, evenings free (other staff dealt with the kids at the campsites), and at the end of summer he still had most of his pay (there was nothing really to spend it on).

It looked like a good life to me :)
 

Trojan

Silver Trader
Mar 20, 2009
688
57
The Countryside
This is an interesting thread!!

Having read all of them and i think everyone has put in some very good points. I am fairly new to the site and i wish i found you before as some much useful info and ideas.

Anyway staying on track....

h20- I think teaching bushcraft is a vocation and not a job- If you are that keen to do it you will not mind paying to get a qualification. You are unlikely to make a reasonable living unless a manager or an owner- I think they may disagree with me in todays economic climate!

Every job now needs a bit of paper or some training. I stacked shelves in a 'leading supermarket' - some years ago and i still had to go through some training.

I also think that if you are going to get a job you must be able to be able to teach/demonstrate and put up with idiots messing around etc

Do you think you can do this?

I know i can teach kids but my bushcraft skills are not good enough....i could go on a course but i know that i would be confusing a hobby with a job.

I feel very fortunate to be surrounded on this site by so many strangers who are willing to offer their help and thoughts for free.

Please may i suggest that you take a step back and reread the threads and take onboard what everyone has said.

Good luck with whatever direction you take!
 

falling rain

Native
Oct 17, 2003
1,737
29
Woodbury Devon
Well if anyone's interested my take is that you can't beat tuition from someone who really knows their stuff.
When I was younger and considerably fitter :eek: I practiced Ju Jitsu. My Sensei was a chap called Derek Fairhurst, and he was an extremely good instructor.
Derek wasn't in it for the money. There was no 'belts' and grading fees. You got your next belt when you deserved it and were ready, and not just because you turned up every week and paid your money.
All these 'belts' are a western invention to make money and because we are impatient for progress. In Japan you could be a white belt for years and then when (and only when) the Sensei thinks you are ready will you try for your black belt. It could take literally 30 years of hard practice. (well that's true in Ju Jitsu anyway. I don't know about the other martial arts) The Ju Jitsu black belt in Japan is reverred.They deserve to be, they've put in years of extremely hard work.
You simply can't learn to be proficient in bushcraft from a book or watching DVD's. Sure you can learn a certain amount from self study and certain media but you can't better learning from someone who knows their onions. You can ask questions and ask opinions and if you're stuck ask for guidance. It's a bit like trying to learn a language from a casette or CD. You need to have lessons to really learn or go to that country and live there for a while.
I've done most of my courses with John Ryder of Woodcraft school, and I keep going back to Woodcraft because John and his Staff Nick Ward especially know their onions. Great respect for those folks.
And if you're short of dosh as I am............go get a bozzo job to pay for tuition and then you're on target for your dream of being a teacher. (You can get it, if you really want it) I've done some really pants jobs in my time. Volunteer for Army cadets or Air Cadets as a Civilian Instructor. You don't get paid but I got a BELA (Basic expeditionary leadership award) for free. First Aid Certificate etc............ for nothing.
Think outside the box too. (yes I know, Cr@p corporate expression) All the schools do courses for folks but how about specialising for certain groups. EG mobility impaired folks, mental health issue people, ex- addicts. You don't have to teach advanced bow making, or flint knapping, or brain tanning. Just the simple stuff is enough for some groups. I spent a day teaching 'tagged' teenagers a couple of years ago..........flipping hard work.......until I showed them a stinging nettle and told them this plant will get you high! then they became interested. Incredible but true. They didn't even know what a stinging nettle looked like.
Anyway my advice is learn all you can from books of all kinds, and get on courses even if you have to flip burgers to pay for it. think of something original for the non mainstream type of folks and you'll be there. Your only hinderance will be lack of ambition or imagination.
As the old Aswad song goes.............you can get it if you really want!
 

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