bushcraft instructor

[wattsy]

if you've had to ask what you need to do to be able to do bushcraft as a business on here then do you eally think you should be doing it? i'd have done the research myself first then asked if there was anything else, and a first aid at work or st johns ambulance first aid certificate will not cover it

 

[SMARTY]

Fellas there is a lot of "bushcraft" going on out there. Find a niche in the market, become the leaders in that niche, market it correctly, follow the law, have fun. There will be ups and downs, laughter and sorrow, poverty and poverty!!. Set yourselve some realistic goals, inside a realistic timeframe. Enjoy it. All part of lifes rich tapestry.

 

[SouthernCross]

To the OP

Whilst all 10 points in CG's post are on the money, IMO this one in particular is worth repeating.

3. Practice what you preach, don't read about how to do something in a book and then think you can teach it.

I know I'm cynical, but before I accept any "bushcraft experts" advice, I want to see verification that it's based on real 1st hand experience and not just reclycled opinions.

IMO, there is no substitute for time in the bush to give you the first hand knowledge & experience necessary to be in a position to advise others on Bushcraft. Do you both have the accumulated "dirt time" to be able to instruct a more knowledgeable customer?

Can I make a suggestion?

Since your looking to instruct Bushcraft, I assume you have access to bush that can be used for Bushcraft.

An alternative business model would get you started & put you in a position to pick up the extra dirt time.

How about act as hosts to others who don't have access to the bush and hire out the location for them to be able to camp out & practice Bushcraft?

You could even charge for catering for the campfire meals

I hope things work out for both of you.



Kind regards
Mick

 

[Wayland]

I still have not seen any vids from the pair concerned (maybe someone can post some appropriate links), and know very little of anyone on this forum.
I have seen Waylands site, and found it very professional and inspiring. (the hero worship is about to get worse...look away wayland if easily embarrassed).

I love the pics on waylands site, and that is looking from the perspective of someone who spends a lot of time outdoors. I can almost imagine myself sat around the camp fire with him. His grammar and spelling are top notch, but more importantly, his name is fitting (I don't know why, but it just is IMHO), and the words he uses are emotive and compelling, but still factual.

While it is true that vikings liked to do the odd bit of killing in real life, his site does not reflect that, but does show how he demonstrates techniques, and his honest and down to earth explanation of his equipment lets you get a feel for his methods and the company ethos. Just imagine looking at a shot of him using his 'blow poker' and then think just how naff it would be if you had no idea what is was (he explains its use)!

OMG that turned into a real 'love in' for a moment there (I think there should be money coming my way fro that lol), but it shows me how much difference a well laid out site and a good name can make to a site, and inspire confidence in visitors to the site...Which leads to work and students.

Your confidence is heartening but I would have to think long and hard before setting out to do what these lads are planning.

It is something I've considered and perhaps already have some of the skills for, but I do not consider myself sufficiently ready for the task yet.

The level of personal responsibility that is required these days for something like this goes far beyond the work I do in schools and even the hoops I have to jump through for that are daunting.

I wish these lads good luck. we all need that if we are to follow our dreams, but even a thousand years ago the Norse knew a thing or two.

Cattle die, kindred die,
Every man is mortal:
But the good name never dies
Of one who has done well

Reputation is everything.

 

[Robbi]

just thinking about COSHH in a bushcraft enviroment.........it would be required in any RA or MS for such things as fire / cooking fuels, be they solid, gel or liquid, it may even extend to the purification of drinking water ( not sure on that one though ) and what about fungi etc...must definatly a SHH and will have to be controled ( not sure on that one either but the list could go on and on )

Doing a RAMS for a bushcraft weekend / course would be a right pain but MUST be done ( the activities and possible scenarios are staggering ! )

An accident book and riddor documentation would have to be kept in the "office" at least.

Then of course there is the DDA to worry about ( this is law ) and would pose a real problem if expert advice wasn't sought.

When you start thinking about this, it's a buracratic nightmare if you get it wrong.

 

[EdS]

not to mention:

Food Handling Certificates - upto level 3 at least and your HACCP.
Then there is your tax etc to consider.

Take time, aquire the skills AND the paper qualifiactions as well as some business know how. Then go for it.

 

[Bush Matt]

As an addition to scouts/forces I would suggest Teaching English as a Foreign Language, tefl.com. Particularly if you can get a placement to somewhere remote – this would give you great teaching and communication skills and a year away is fantastic experience.

I think you are being unrealistic in your timescales for your objectives but I think 18 is a great time to start! Couple of thoughts for qualifications on this thread: http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17914

If I was setting up a company in the bushcraft field – not with me as an instructor as I know very little - I would be finding out the below just for starters.

Qualifications: What is - required, best practice, commercially advantageous
Experience: quantity, diversity, teaching, bushcraft, other
Specialism: can I – demonstrate, compete, be knowledgeable in one subject above others.
Legal & Regulatory: HSE, CRB, Business
Cost: start up, ongoing
Competition: what works, gets good reviews, adds value.
Branding: name, website, style

What you can do is answer all the above and decide whether you want to commit the next couple of years to it. You can work instantly on the branding – lots of posts are telling you that you have got it wrong at the moment - create a professional image. Got to say just looked at Jon’s website and it’s an excellent example of demonstrating skills. I suspect that the best and cheapest way to cover much of the experience and qualifications area is working with someone who already does it.

Good luck, Matt

 

[bilmo-p5]

From what I've read so far, it seems to me that you and Mr Fury have found something you enjoy doing and decided that it would be a grand thing to do it for other people's money, but without giving more than passing consideration to the requirements for the dream to become reality
Speaking with the 20/20 vision of hindsight (which is much akin to experience in that there's only one way to get it), I'd say that at nineteen years of age you should forget about 'Bushcraft Instruction' for the time being. Go all out for the King's Shilling, VSO perhaps, or hitchike to Kamchatka; broaden your horizons and experience base. After half-a-dozen years seeing a bit more of the world and life in general, you'll still have age on your side and be in a much better position to determine the direction your future should take.

 

[_mark_]

Your confidence is heartening but I would have to think long and hard before setting out to do what these lads are planning.

It is something I've considered and perhaps already have some of the skills for, but I do not consider myself sufficiently ready for the task yet.

Given your obvious skills and breadth of knowledge your modesty humbling. To the op's, take heed of the wise Viking!

 

[FGYT]

I take your point that NO COPPER would write an exception letter for carriage of knives.........So will go and tear up THE ONE I HAVE from my local police force.....Just on your say so lol!

oks i know its of topic but what is the form you have to get (number etc) and what does it allow you to do that you cannot already do legally with in the relm of bushcraft instructor

does it for example allow you to carry your blades (non S139 exmpt) in public with out good reason

or does it allow you to carry hold and use stuff on the Offencive weapons register which i think is a home office license

or is it to take knives into school which i think has ot be approveal from that school indicvidually for a specific visit (wayland would know better on the at he does alot with schools n sharps )


or is every body else commiting an offence by carrying knives (with in S139 rules ) by not haveing a bit of paper signed ny the local Plod ????

so yout talking about a Knife carry licence ??? which i havent seen as a requirement in any of the laws relatign to knives (outside the prohibited stuff )

ATB

Duncan

 

[FerlasDave]

I can see no reason to join the TA, as this will not teach you any bushcraft, and the advice to join the scouts will be much more fruitful.

I see a very good reason to join the TA, There may not be any 'bushcraft' involved, (apart from doing various survival courses and E&E) however knowing josh personally it would be a very good idea for him to join since he will learn other skills like campcraft, structure, discipline, fitness, navigation, first aid, actually living in the fieild and going on empty. I think it would be better for him than the scouts as the scouts are mainly children and therefore less maturity in general would be involved with the scouts. Also there are numerous adventure taining courses and instructor courses you get to go on all for free. Far better than any scout unit could even dream about doing.

 

[FerlasDave]

Reputation is everything.

I totally agree, Does anyone know the reason for the saying ''his name is mudd''?

 

[JonathanD]

I totally agree, Does anyone know the reason for the saying ''his name is mudd''?

People think it has something to do with some bloke called Mudd taking pity on Pres Lincolns assassin Booth. But mud used to mean stupid in olde English and used as an alternative to scab. That is the true origin.

 

[teknohippy]

"Samuel Mudd is sometimes given as the origin of the phrase 'your name is mud', as in, for example, the 2007 film National Treasure: Book of Secrets. However, according to an online etymology dictionary, this phrase has its earliest known recorded instance in 1823, ten years before Mudd's birth, and is based on an obsolete sense of the word 'mud' meaning 'a stupid twaddling fellow'."

It could be argued though that the circumstances surrounding the Samuel Mudd story have popularised the usage of the phrase in the United States.

 

[FerlasDave]

I think the Samuel Mudd story is a good one, and I like to think its true.

 

[Graham_S]

There is an expression that comes to mind with regards to reputations.
(It's a military one, so I've cleaned it up, but you'll get the gist)
One "Oops" wipes out one hundred "well dones"

 

[Nonsuch]

From what I've read so far, it seems to me that you and Mr Fury have found something you enjoy doing and decided that it would be a grand thing to do it for other people's money, but without giving more than passing consideration to the requirements for the dream to become reality
Speaking with the 20/20 vision of hindsight (which is much akin to experience in that there's only one way to get it), I'd say that at nineteen years of age you should forget about 'Bushcraft Instruction' for the time being. Go all out for the King's Shilling, VSO perhaps, or hitchike to Kamchatka; broaden your horizons and experience base. After half-a-dozen years seeing a bit more of the world and life in general, you'll still have age on your side and be in a much better position to determine the direction your future should take.

I think this is spot on. If they're still the way they are at 39 instead of 19 then I would agree with all the criticism.
By the way, all the people moaning about their spelling in this thread - check your own !

NS

 

[_mark_]

I can see no reason to join the TA, as this will not teach you any bushcraft, and the advice to join the scouts will be much more fruitful.

CMS and CIC, courage, discipline, respect, integrity, loyalty, battle first aid, navigation, survival/field-craft skills, kit maintenance, weapon handling and the inherent safety structures, etc. etc.

 

[Tengu]

Well, if they are anything like my friend who had 20 years in the millitary, they cannot be trusted with sharps and fire...

(to be fair, she is just too impatient for that)

 

[dean4442]

Wanting to learn bushcraft skills is not be a good reason to join the TA, wanting to push yourself beyond what you think possible and develop a way of looking at things in a different way is. Also as I imagine they would want to join an infantry unit to get the best chance of doing all the courses above then knowing that you WILL most probably end up being warned for operations on a two way range should be considered. As with most things you get out of the TA what you put in.
Colin
PS Before you could get on any instructor courses you'd probably need to be in for a couple of years so not within the 6 months the OP wanted.