10 skills that should be learned

[Tony]

I know that there's a huge amount of skills that people should learn and it's easy for us to focus on just one or two or say there's loads that needs to be covered, so we're going to limit it to 10

What do you think should be the first 10 things people start to learn? For instance...

collect and clean water
Firecraft
Shelters
Edge tool use
Foraging
Fishing
Cooking
Knots
Navigation
Swimming

 

[RangerJoe]

I think you got it just about covered!...I do like swimming.

 

[mountainm]

I'd add:
First aid

 

[Laurentius]

I have to say that whenever anyone introduces a list of ten this or that, I have to wonder, what they might have left out to make it ten, or what they might have included but need not to make it ten. I just don't go with these conveniently round numbers because that is the number of fingers I have.

 

[mountainm]

I have to say that whenever anyone introduces a list of ten this or that, I have to wonder, what they might have left out to make it ten, or what they might have included but need not to make it ten. I just don't go with these conveniently round numbers because that is the number of fingers I have.

You may be taking things a little bit too seriously.

Write down 5 reasons why you find lists stressful....

 

[Dark Horse Dave]

I'd also add learning to dress and manage your clothing appropriately for the conditions.

 

[Tengu]

Yes, list making is so Sei Shonagon.

(Who was a woman who liked lists, did you guess?)

 

[forrestdweller]

i would add first aid and walking(moving through cities i notice an increasing number of sheeple who seem too stupid to do that...)

 

[Toddy]

Well, I don't need to learn to fish; I don't eat it.

My ten that I would recommend would be

Learn…..

To be observant
To be rational
To understand what your mind and body actually 'needs' to survive healthily.
To be adaptable
To understand seasonality
To be aware of the weather
To understand the landscape
To position yourself and navigate
To learn as many handcraft skills as possible, and how to make the tools if necessary
To know how and where to access resources

Might not be the list you're after though Boss

Mary

 

[mountainm]

Well continuing Mary's line... To ask questions... Of others and of yourself.

 

[Toddy]

……..and to listen to the answers

Good point there Mike

M

 

[Joe tahkahikew]

From a Cree perspective:-

To understand who you are, where you live and how you fit in
To know your culture
To accept other peoples culture
To know and understand your own abilities and weaknesses
To accept that others don't have the same skills as you
To accept that others may be more skilled than you - so learn from them.
To accept that others may be less skilled than you - so help them learn
To understand and know about the environment you live in. The animals, the plants, trees, insects, their uses
To understand and be able to live with the environment you live in without seeing it as something to having to survive in.
To tread carefully upon the land and respect what the land gives you.

 

[Toddy]

Ten's not enough, is it ?

I like the thinking behind those, Joe

M

 

[vestlenning]

Well, I don't need to learn to fish; I don't eat it.

Fish are both easier to catch and healthier to eat than "our friends with feet or wings", so maybe you should think about it?

 

[vestlenning]

What do you think should be the first 10 things people start to learn? For instance...

...
Edge tool use
...

Imo, a person can newer get enough edge tool practice.

 

[Hammock_man]

I would add make a cup of tea but that maybe is so many rolled into to one. ( I was very taken by the sticky thread on tea making when in trouble)

 

[Tiley]

Plant - including tree - identification? The thinking behind that is that if you know the materials that surround you, you will stand a better chance of using them appropriately; but then, I suppose you've covered that with 'foraging' and 'firecraft'.

I think I might replace 'swimming' with 'traveling' simply because the latter embraces all aspects of moving through an area, not just the one where you get wet and where your feet can't touch the bottom.

 

[Tony]

Well, I think I need to have two lists, one for hands on skills and one for common sense and decency skills

With the OP I'm aiming more towards if someone wants to get into the practical aspects of bushcraft what in your opinion should be the first hands on skills they look at learning.

I'm happy for this to deviate off (when i first wrote them out i did) but I'd like some input based on what I'm after I may use it as the a basis for an article.

 

[Toddy]

Fish are both easier to catch and healthier to eat than "our friends with feet or wings", so maybe you should think about it?

I'm allergic to fish, so there is absolutely no benefit to me in learning to fish. I'm also pretty much vegan these days, so again, it just does not factor into my life skills.
I can make good fishing line and nets though and I can can source and prepare the fibres and make the cordage necessary too.

M

 

[SGL70]

That is a very nice starting point, imo. It is more or less what I will teach my kids...