What would you teach a newby in their first weekend in the woods?
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you don't have to rough it
and you can take what you want!
yes, even a tent, chair, radio, etc, etc
keep it all friendly and he will decide the level of comfort he wants.
It's all too easy to dive in, axes blazing but when you get cold and wet opinions will change about bushcraft!
you don't have to rough it
and you can take what you want!
yes, even a tent, chair, radio, etc, etc
keep it all friendly and he will decide the level of comfort he wants.
It's all too easy to dive in, axes blazing but when you get cold and wet opinions will change about bushcraft!
G
GearUpEurope.com
Guest
I find that everything's usually fine until it starts raining. Knowing how to stay warm and dry can mean the difference between enjoying the outdoors and suffering.
S
scott mcmillan
Guest
keep it fun and remember that some times people have never even seen a tree up close so everything is new to them.
so start with small steps and make them enjoy it
so start with small steps and make them enjoy it
"turn 360° - those tall brown things? they're called 'Trees'. "
teehee
i would agree with screwball, he's summed this up perfic.
teehee
i would agree with screwball, he's summed this up perfic.
FIRST weekend in the woods I think the most important thing would be getting them to feel comfortable in their surroundings, everything else shelter water etc etc will be alot easier for them to take in once they're comfortable imho.
R
richgg
Guest
I normally teach basic knife skills and basic shelter then fire but not friction to start with just using ferro rods and different tinder's and some simple fire lays as the main bit.
Then after lunch which includes a game prep and cooking demo we do water collection and simple filtering/how to make it safe, if there is time left they can then try bow drill to end the day off and give them something to practice and learn at home.
This always seems to work well and is not too much for beginners to learn, I think like most people say, relax have fun and go with the flow, judge on the day how interested people are in particular things and if they are enjoying it stick with that subject for a while.
Then after lunch which includes a game prep and cooking demo we do water collection and simple filtering/how to make it safe, if there is time left they can then try bow drill to end the day off and give them something to practice and learn at home.
This always seems to work well and is not too much for beginners to learn, I think like most people say, relax have fun and go with the flow, judge on the day how interested people are in particular things and if they are enjoying it stick with that subject for a while.
Get them to draw a sound map. Sit down under a tree with a piece of paper. Listen to the sounds of the wood and identify them if you can. You are at the centre of the piece of paper so you draw what you heard and the direction you heard it from. Works great with kids and teaches them to listen, identify and place the direction of sounds. A very handy skill we should all practice.
Given the variables, of age and gender.....and everyone being an individual....
I wouldn't teach per say.....I'd demonstrate, just doing what ever it is I needed to do and probably ask them to help me in some way.....gather kindling/wood etc and explain as we went along.....That way they learn faster without having to take a lot of extranious info, just what they need...
It would primarily be based around our immediate needs.....then hopefully I'll wake to a hot pot of coffee in the morning..LOL
Smoggy
I wouldn't teach per say.....I'd demonstrate, just doing what ever it is I needed to do and probably ask them to help me in some way.....gather kindling/wood etc and explain as we went along.....That way they learn faster without having to take a lot of extranious info, just what they need...
It would primarily be based around our immediate needs.....then hopefully I'll wake to a hot pot of coffee in the morning..LOL
Smoggy
I took my GF with me on a little trip into the woods this summer and asked her what she wanted to do / learn. She came up with shelter and fire. We didn't had the time to make a big and elaborate shelter, but made a small knee high one (debris), to give her an idea on how things work. Explained the principles of fire and how a ferro rod works, and let her loose to make fire: she succeeded.
As there was some knife handling, I showed her how to handle it and pass it on to someone else. Also tried to learn her basic sharpening, but she couldn't be bothered - she doesn't like knives
We kipped on the forest floor, under a Tatonka 3x3 tarp, which she helped to put up, so another shelter aspect covered.
Next time she wants to do bowdrill
After we returned, we watched some bushy series and she started to comment:
- I've done that, that's not so hard
- You don't do it like that
- He didn't purify his water!!!
- I want to learn that
- Cool!
So, I'd say: ask what the newby wants to learn (and how: hands on, observe, simultaneous, etc)
As there was some knife handling, I showed her how to handle it and pass it on to someone else. Also tried to learn her basic sharpening, but she couldn't be bothered - she doesn't like knives
We kipped on the forest floor, under a Tatonka 3x3 tarp, which she helped to put up, so another shelter aspect covered.
Next time she wants to do bowdrill
After we returned, we watched some bushy series and she started to comment:
- I've done that, that's not so hard
- You don't do it like that
- He didn't purify his water!!!
- I want to learn that
- Cool!
So, I'd say: ask what the newby wants to learn (and how: hands on, observe, simultaneous, etc)
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Depends very much on geographical location, ChrisG.
As a Scottish hill-goer my first instinct is to make sure they learn to cope with midges and as you probably know, that is not only a process, but a mind-set. Kit includes a tent with sewn-in groundsheet fitted with Torridon netting. Otherwise you are likely to give them a one-off lifetime experience!
I've seen the romantics, the tough guys and experienced Bushcrafters throwing their gear together and getting out at the first opportunity. The experienced ones are those not milling their arms around and hyperventilating.
It's psychological warfare out there!
As a Scottish hill-goer my first instinct is to make sure they learn to cope with midges and as you probably know, that is not only a process, but a mind-set. Kit includes a tent with sewn-in groundsheet fitted with Torridon netting. Otherwise you are likely to give them a one-off lifetime experience!
I've seen the romantics, the tough guys and experienced Bushcrafters throwing their gear together and getting out at the first opportunity. The experienced ones are those not milling their arms around and hyperventilating.
It's psychological warfare out there!
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