Basic Challenge version 0.0.1 (v0.0.1) - 16/05/2025
Fire
Challenges pertaining to the construction, maintenance and ignition of fires.Basic
- Light a sustainable teepee fire using only a lighter and natural materials (No modified natural materials such as firelighters)
- Light a sustainable lean-to fire using a ferro rod and natural materials
- Use a piece of burning tinder to light a featherstick
- Start a sustainable fire using a single match
- Collect and use a piece of natural tinder to start a sustainable fire (King Alfred's Cake, birch bark, fat wood etc.)
- Make some charcloth and use it to light a tinder bundle
- Create a small fire starting kit which will allow you to create flame in adverse conditions
- Bring a glowing ember bed back up to full flame using only wood and air
Water collection
Challenges pertaining to the collection of water both for utility and drinking.Basic
- Create a water filter which removes visible debris from a dirty water source
- Identify a source from which you can gather water to purify and discuss the risk assessment you've carried out on the water source to ensure it's safe to gather
- Purify suitable drinking water from a natural water source by boiling it
- Create a way of collecting rainwater using only equipment you'd take with you whilst camping
Knots, lashing and cordage
Basic
- Demonstrate the tying of a bowline knot
- Demonstrate the tying of a prusik knot
- Demonstrate the tying of a taught tarp hitch
- Demonstrate square lashing to hold two perpendicular poles together
- Lash together a basic tripod which can support the weight of a cooking pot
Shelter
Challenges pertaining to the construction of shelter from the elements using both man-made and natural materials.Basic
- Identify a suitable location to pitch a shelter and describe what considerations and observations you've made of the area to ensure it's suitable to stay in for at least 24 hours
- Pitch a tarp shelter using only a tarp and unmodified cordage (standard paracord for example), using knots you've tied yourself to hold it in place
- Using only a tarp, cordage and pegs, pitch a communal shelter which can be used to keep a group of people dry.
- Pitch an adirondack tarp shelter
- Sleep overnight in a tarp shelter that you've pitched
Cooking
Challenges pertaining to the cooking of both purchased and foraged foodstuffs on a campfire or stove.Basic
- Build a small, controlled fire which is suitable for cooking on
- Boil water in a metal container on the fire, bringing it to a rolling boil
- Cook and eat any kind of food on the fire either on a stick or a stone
- Demonstrate using a tripod to suspend a pot over a fire and adjust its height to regulate temperature
- Make bannock on a fire
- Make and cook any kind of stew over a campfire
- Roast a fruit or vegetable in the embers of a campfire (using tinfoil if you prefer)
- Cook any kind of meal (not boil in the bag style) using a utensil that you've made yourself
Knife skills
Challenges based on the safe and skilful use of a knife as a bushcraft tool.Basic
- Put together a small 'cuts' first aid kit for when you're using a knife
- Display the ability to sharpen a knife to a shaving edge
- Use a forehand grip to put a point on a stick
- Use a chest lever grip to put a point on a stick
- Create a featherstick which you can use to start a fire
- Create your own Try Stick, in the style of Mors Kochanski
- Safely baton some wood down into kindling-sized pieces
- Completely peel a stick of its bark whilst maintaining the shape and integrity of the stick
Axe Skills
Challenges based on the safe and skilful use of an axe as a bushcraft tool.Basic
- Demonstrate your ability to sharpen an axe sufficiently that it can peel thin bark from a stick without removing excess wood
- Create and afix a collar to your axe (Paracord, tape and card etc.)
- Use an axe to safely chop a 'round' of wood into quarters
- Use an axe to continue chopping a 'round' of wood into kindling sized pieces
- Use an axe to create a featherstick
Crafting
Challenges pertaining to the crafting of material, tools and items which can be used in a bushcraft setting.Basic
- Create an adjustable pot hanger
- Create a wooden tent peg with chamfered edges
- Create a length of cordage (at least 20cm long) using only natural fibres
- Carve a simple spoon or spatula out of a piece of foraged wood
- Create a simple fish hook out of natural materials
- Create a simple brush out of natural materials
- Make a functioning slingshot/catapult out of a piece of foraged wood and some elastic
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