On the 2nd of April I had a day away from the Care Farm and my normal haunts and headed a bit further South in Pembrokeshire for a bit of Bushcraft.
The "twist" was that I was going to be instructing for a demographic that rarely gets to play in the bush, the members of the group coming on a "jolly" from Pembrokeshire's Children's Respite house.
I did not meet the participants before the outing but knew that the group could include youngsters of 12 - 17 years old with any kind of "issues" on the Learning Disability side of things and that at least one would be a wheelchair user. All the "Care" needs would be met by the House staff and I was just there to deliver a Bushcraft experience. The basic plan was to get a fire going, cook the food they brought and perhaps have a play with making cordage...
The Team arrived at Scolton Manor at just after 11am and we loaded up like pack horses to trek into the woods. The only strict rule the Warden of Scolton Park insisted on was "Cut no Green Wood" - the rest she left to common sense (and the knowledge that I had run bushcraft tasters in the Park before - with school groups) a refreshing attitude!
Soon the team were finding and preparing firewood. Luckily there was some superb dead Ash - the top of a dead tree - almost right on site and with all hands to the pumps there was soon masses of firewood ready.
Hunting firewood is not without issues with this kind of group and there was one casualty that involved torn trousers, a graze and loss of dignity... luckily it happened to a staff member!
The Team members fared much better with no injuries!
Once the wood was prepared the fire lighting commenced. All the team who had a go achieved fire by both flint and steel and by "spark stick" the wheelchair user , who had severely restricted use of his hands as well as his legs, persevering manfully to create "Man's Red Flower" with a helper only assisting by holding either the flint or the spark stick steady: the one-handed use, spring loaded spark stick was of no use as the thumb pressure needed on the striker was not achievable... he did much better with a real flint and steel! Lots of Charcloth, cotton-wool, Vas and drier fluff was used up!
I then asked the question "What separates Man from the Apes?" expecting the answer "The ability to make fire" and inducting the group as full members of the Human Race.
The answer I got was" Humans do not throw their poo at other people!" which (from experience) the staff were willing to debate but I let the point rest with the chap who gave the answer
All the trial fire remains were dropped into the base of the Kelly Kettle and a brew was soon produced and at the same time the main fire was ignited.
A couple of the lads turned out to be real pyromaniacs - which helped
Once the fire was fettled the Staff and Team members set to cooking the mountain of sausages, burgers and beans they had brought with them and soon a long - if rather late, lunch ensued.
After lunch I found out that I did not have as long with the group as I had been told and there was not really enough time to get the cordage/rope-making going, so, instead, we had a "plant walk" through the woods and across the grass back to the car-park.
The whole team seemed to enjoy this with some wanting to know all the signs of someone in the throws of the toxins from the poisonous ones I pointed out and discussing the finer points of severe upset stomachs!
Luckily the rain held off, none of the team managed to maim themselves and everyone seemed to have a good time - including me!
Sometimes it almost feels immoral to take money for running a day like this....
After the team was loaded up and away I found the Warden and said "thank-you" before heading home.
When I say that I have not worked since I was 22, just getting paid to have fun - this is the kind of thing I am talking about!
The "twist" was that I was going to be instructing for a demographic that rarely gets to play in the bush, the members of the group coming on a "jolly" from Pembrokeshire's Children's Respite house.
I did not meet the participants before the outing but knew that the group could include youngsters of 12 - 17 years old with any kind of "issues" on the Learning Disability side of things and that at least one would be a wheelchair user. All the "Care" needs would be met by the House staff and I was just there to deliver a Bushcraft experience. The basic plan was to get a fire going, cook the food they brought and perhaps have a play with making cordage...
The Team arrived at Scolton Manor at just after 11am and we loaded up like pack horses to trek into the woods. The only strict rule the Warden of Scolton Park insisted on was "Cut no Green Wood" - the rest she left to common sense (and the knowledge that I had run bushcraft tasters in the Park before - with school groups) a refreshing attitude!
Soon the team were finding and preparing firewood. Luckily there was some superb dead Ash - the top of a dead tree - almost right on site and with all hands to the pumps there was soon masses of firewood ready.
Hunting firewood is not without issues with this kind of group and there was one casualty that involved torn trousers, a graze and loss of dignity... luckily it happened to a staff member!
The Team members fared much better with no injuries!
Once the wood was prepared the fire lighting commenced. All the team who had a go achieved fire by both flint and steel and by "spark stick" the wheelchair user , who had severely restricted use of his hands as well as his legs, persevering manfully to create "Man's Red Flower" with a helper only assisting by holding either the flint or the spark stick steady: the one-handed use, spring loaded spark stick was of no use as the thumb pressure needed on the striker was not achievable... he did much better with a real flint and steel! Lots of Charcloth, cotton-wool, Vas and drier fluff was used up!
I then asked the question "What separates Man from the Apes?" expecting the answer "The ability to make fire" and inducting the group as full members of the Human Race.
The answer I got was" Humans do not throw their poo at other people!" which (from experience) the staff were willing to debate but I let the point rest with the chap who gave the answer
All the trial fire remains were dropped into the base of the Kelly Kettle and a brew was soon produced and at the same time the main fire was ignited.
A couple of the lads turned out to be real pyromaniacs - which helped
Once the fire was fettled the Staff and Team members set to cooking the mountain of sausages, burgers and beans they had brought with them and soon a long - if rather late, lunch ensued.
After lunch I found out that I did not have as long with the group as I had been told and there was not really enough time to get the cordage/rope-making going, so, instead, we had a "plant walk" through the woods and across the grass back to the car-park.
The whole team seemed to enjoy this with some wanting to know all the signs of someone in the throws of the toxins from the poisonous ones I pointed out and discussing the finer points of severe upset stomachs!
Luckily the rain held off, none of the team managed to maim themselves and everyone seemed to have a good time - including me!
Sometimes it almost feels immoral to take money for running a day like this....
After the team was loaded up and away I found the Warden and said "thank-you" before heading home.
When I say that I have not worked since I was 22, just getting paid to have fun - this is the kind of thing I am talking about!
