bushmoot courses

[John Fenna]

Its my first time at Bushmoot too. I'm Bringing my 14 year old and 10 year old daughter as well as my 7 year old Son.

I'm hoping there's a heap to keep them interested no matter the weather. Bored damp littlies will probably be the end of me.

As I understand it you just put your name down on the courses on the day? Elder one wants to do the First Aid, Younger one wants to do the Bow making and the middle one will probably toast umpteen packets of Pink Marshmallows. (You get the idea.) Medicinal plants sounds a very good idea.


Other than the small incidental costs I'm not aware of any other "Course Fee's" Hopefully this generous donation of time encourages others to share their knowledge too.

I'm really looking forward to it.

If you supply the marshmallows I will run a course on how to cook them best!
With my being chief taster of course.....

 

[Ahjno]

The whole idea behind the Moot is to share knowledge and skills for free. Workshops are given by members, for members - and all in a very relaxed and informal way. Sometimes though a workshop will cost a few quid, like the one Falling Rain described above. These costs are merely to cover the expenses made for the used materials.

Sometimes we're lucky and can run a real course like bowmaking or first aid, like Wayne said above these are heavily discounted - and you're very lucky if you got yourself a place on one of these courses, they're very popular. These courses are spread over a couple of intense days of learning the skills, so you have little time for other the regular workshops. You're taught by someone who's doing / teaching this for a living.

So basically all workshops are free of charge. Sometimes it'll cost you a few quid for materials. And sometimes it'll cost more, but less than when you do the same course - but not during the Moot.

Some of the workshops incur a small fee to cover materials, if you are not asked to contribute to the materials you use then please make the kind gesture of offering or just giving something to help cover the costs incurred by those providing workshops.
Just because the person instructing you is not being paid, do not assume that they are not a professional, or that what they are showing you is somehow of less value because they are giving it freely. People who volunteered to run workshops have mentioned about people either openly questioning what qualified them to teach the skill, or to come straight out and tell them they were doing it wrong. There are often more than one way to do things, just because what is being shown does not match what you were expecting does not mean that it is wrong. People will show you how they do things, evolved techniques like this are generally a better/easier way for the individual, this may not be the only way and it may not be the best way for you. It should always be a safe way, but it is up to you to discern what is most applicable to you and adapt as necessary. If you want to be instructed in the textbook method, then you would be best advised to attend a course.
'Please try to exercise some diplomacy and respect. Quite a few of the people who run workshops are full or part time instructors and are very well practised in what they are demonstrating/teaching.

PS
Wayne - I'll be around if you need a Dutch tourist again

 

[Wayne]

At the moot you will be making a bow like this from an Ash Log.

[video=youtube_share;-nrZS6ipd_E]http://youtu.be/-nrZS6ipd_E[/video]

 

[Countryman]

I see! I have sussed out a bit more I think. The courses don't seem to be run in the core days. Workshops do.

That's a bit of a bummer but I guess we will just go with the flow and see what there is to learn.

I will be sure to bring a heap of Marshmallows for the Toasting workshop.

 

[Wayne]

Countryman

I will be about to offer some advice during the core days. I will probably run a kids first aid course if asked really nicely.

It's my holiday too.

 

[Countryman]

What a nice fellow you are Wayne. Thanks very much. Eldest Daughter would be very interested in that.

 

[Lou]

I just booked my flights and tickets for the Moot this afternoon. My two girls age ten and seven are coming too. They would love to do the first aid course, it's a really great idea, so yes please!

 

[Countryman]

Haha! Playmates!!!!

 

[Lou]

Ooh yes.... I would imagine theres gonna be loads of them

 

[Lou]

This maybe a silly question to ask, but how far away is the sea from the camp? I ask this because if I wanted to do the coastal foraging course but my children do not want to do it, I assume that I will not be able to leave them unattended in the camp whilst I am off down at the coast for two days?

 

[Mesquite]

This maybe a silly question to ask, but how far away is the sea from the camp? I ask this because if I wanted to do the coastal foraging course but my children do not want to do it, I assume that I will not be able to leave them unattended in the camp whilst I am off down at the coast for two days?

As the crow flies it's about 2km from the main camp site to the beach.

As for your kids you'd have to make sure they were with another responsible adult whilst you're on the course as there aren't any formal creche facilities that I know of

 

[crosslandkelly]

This maybe a silly question to ask, but how far away is the sea from the camp? I ask this because if I wanted to do the coastal foraging course but my children do not want to do it, I assume that I will not be able to leave them unattended in the camp whilst I am off down at the coast for two days?

About half an hour walk, over the Dunes.

 

[sandbag47]

as there aren't any formal creche facilities that I know of

You forgot the naughty corner. my daughter spent most of her first moot there

I'm bringing both my Daughters this year 14 and 7

 

[vinnyp68]

My son would be well up for the kids first aid course, what a great idea

 

[Wayne]

Looks like I'm doing a kids first aid course.

 

[Lou]

Oh, well that is great about the distance to the beach, I still think that I should stay around the camp area with the girls, even though they are old enough to look out for themselves and I prob. won't see them for most of the day, I am still not sure I would like to be half and hour's walk away for two days solid. Such a shame as I would so love to do the coastal foraging. I will have a think about it. I don't really *know* anyone going to the moot yet, so I don't really want to have to ask anyone to supervise them, I am sure that will have changed by the end of the moot and I will have made good enough friends with other parents to be able to ask them but by then the places will have been booked up I am sure. *dilemma*

 

[David Morningstar]

I intend to put on a free slinging workshop. Tennis balls and plenty of room initially for fairly obvious safety reasons. I will have a look at the sea area and see if there are suitable stones and enough safe space (a lot!) to do an advanced 'live ammo' slinging session for selected graduates of the beginners course.

This is me in action a couple of weeks ago: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou5xwFhQnEw

 

[Eric_Methven]

Oh, well that is great about the distance to the beach, I still think that I should stay around the camp area with the girls, even though they are old enough to look out for themselves and I prob. won't see them for most of the day, I am still not sure I would like to be half and hour's walk away for two days solid. Such a shame as I would so love to do the coastal foraging. I will have a think about it. I don't really *know* anyone going to the moot yet, so I don't really want to have to ask anyone to supervise them, I am sure that will have changed by the end of the moot and I will have made good enough friends with other parents to be able to ask them but by then the places will have been booked up I am sure. *dilemma*

I'll be there with my grandson Cameron from beginning to end (I'm running the 3 day leatherworking workshop). I'll see your kids are OK if you want to commit to the coastal foraging. There's other families too that I know won't mind keeping a safe eye on them. Don't let your lack of knowing anyone stop you. I've offered, no excuses now.

Eric

 

[Lou]

I'll be there with my grandson Cameron from beginning to end (I'm running the 3 day leatherworking workshop). I'll see your kids are OK if you want to commit to the coastal foraging. There's other families too that I know won't mind keeping a safe eye on them. Don't let your lack of knowing anyone stop you. I've offered, no excuses now.

Eric

Thanks Eric, no, I have no excuses now. I am going to book myself on the course *big smile* they are good kids, very responsible and look out for each other constantly. BIG thanks

 

[Lou]

I am running a Bow Making Course at the Moot.

Hi Wayne. I have been looking at the bow making course details on your website. The course at the moot is only two days compared to the three you run on your site. So I just wanted to find out if we will we be able to finish the bow in that time frame? Or is it a case of doing the main work on the bow and then finishing it off at home? I was also wondering if we get any pointers on how to make our own arrows during the two days.
Thanks