careers in bushcraft

[galorin]

I'm new here, to the forum and the UK. I have limited bushcraft experience in the US, but have a lot to re-learn. Anyhow, I've been "advised" to follow my heart/spirit/dreams/whathaveyou, to get out of a situation I've found myself in, and I was wondering what kind of careers are available where the bushcraft skillset would be central or necessary, any subset would do, I think.... I won't be able to do it for a few years yet, but if I don't start now, it'll be that much later that I can start on a bushcraft-y career, if I can find one.

Thanks in advance

-Galorin

 

[Eric_Methven]

Apart from working for, or starting a bushcraft training school, in which you'll need experience, there's always working as a forest or wilderness ranger, or getting into the conservation arena.
Part time voluntary work in any of the outdoor education fields may help you re-learn skills long forgotten. Also, depending on where you live, re-enactment groups such as mountainman groups can help you pick up practical bushcraft skills in a fairly short time. It can be great fun too. Can't help more without knowing more about your circumstances. Good luck with it though. Oh, and welcome to BCUK.

Eric

 

[galorin]

I live in Scotland, about halfway in between Aberdeen and Inverness. My wife would like to put together a "Brat camp" style school, specialising in adolescent pregnancy, and providing suopport and education to the young mothers. We'd need a heck of a lot of land, or very isolated land, to add in a kind of survival school for the partners, but that's the gist of what my wife wants to do.

As for me, my family have been cattle ranchers in the US since the early 1800's. One of my aunts still owns a ranch in Montana. My mother, who has yet to retire, says she wants a ranch when she eventually retires. My grandmother was forced off her ranch by ill health and well-meaning sons. Her land has now been bought by developers to put $500-$1mil houses on. I'd like to get back to my traditional family career, but it will also require a large chunk of land.

-Galorin

 

[Eric_Methven]

You need to be approaching your local authorities and social services departments for getting into that kind of work (brat camp). They'll be heavily involved anyway and they might be a good gateway to getting access to land usage. I mean, it doesn't have to be your own land to run a venture like this, you just need to have legal useage.

Sounds like you're going to be busy. Keep your eyes open in the out and about section of this forum for scottish meets. You and your good lady will be most welcome at any of them and you'll pick up loads of information and new skills.

Eric

 

[galorin]

just learning my way around the forums. There's a few families we know who have teamed up, and are running a school for the kind of kids that the local authority can't or won't teach. I suspect they'd be of use, for contacts etc. I wonder if I could do a small ranch and get access to enough land to get kids lost in for at least 3 days.

Thanks for the input I wonder what else we can come up with..

-Galorin

 

[Ed]

There's a few families we know who have teamed up, and are running a school for the kind of kids that the local authority can't or won't teach.

It may be something to consider, but have you got a teaching qualification or willing to get one.... then the local authority could employ you to teach those kids ..... thats basicly what I did. Having the local council / education authority / education charity on board can be a great help when it comes to organising land, insurance, advertising etc.


Ed

 

[galorin]

No teaching qualification, but I'd be willing to get one.

 

[Limaed]

Hi Galorin
Have you looked at the Forest Schools? Its an idea thats come out of the Nordic countries about getting kids outdoors from an early age - especially those with difficult backgrounds. Basically the forest is used as a medium for education everything from making things to lighting fires.
Archimedes Training provide a Level Three Forest Schools Provider course which is a nationally recognised qualification that means you can run your own Forest School. Its a lot more set-up down south then up here but its sure to grow as thier is considerable government backing.
This is the link www.forestschools.com It suggests that most of the people use the qualification as an add on to say being a teacher, but I spoke to the Scottish co-ordinator last year and he mention they hope to set up some centres in the future? Perhaps you can get your centre up and running with thier support.
Hope this helps, good luck Ed

 

[w00dsmoke]

I live in Scotland, about halfway in between Aberdeen and Inverness. My wife would like to put together a "Brat camp" style school, specialising in adolescent pregnancy, and providing suopport and education to the young mothers. We'd need a heck of a lot of land, or very isolated land, to add in a kind of survival school for the partners, but that's the gist of what my wife wants to do.

As for me, my family have been cattle ranchers in the US since the early 1800's. One of my aunts still owns a ranch in Montana. My mother, who has yet to retire, says she wants a ranch when she eventually retires. My grandmother was forced off her ranch by ill health and well-meaning sons. Her land has now been bought by developers to put $500-$1mil houses on. I'd like to get back to my traditional family career, but it will also require a large chunk of land.

-Galorin

I'm s.o.r.r.y to say that in my opinion you sound very naive. I work with excluded and disadvantaged young people and children and have done for a number of years and to be honest my alarm bells started ringing as soon as I read the thread, there are a lot of things that you said that indicate this- "Brat Camp", "Adoclescent pregnancy," and "survival school", I'm afraid if you talk with any local authority using that kind of language and indicating little or no understanding of the issues surrounding young people and their issues, then you will set yourself up to fail.

Get yourself a social work degree or qualification or something similar and achieve a real understanding of your prospective client group and then take it forward with the experience gained on the course and a first hand knowledge of how funding is made available.

I'm s.o.r.r.y if I sound very negative but if I was asked to fund this I would'nt unless you could prove to me that your proposal was based on sound principles and that you had the qualifications and registrations to do so. Why don't you consult the Scottish social Services council for advice?

 

[Fallow Way]

Echoing Limead, Forest Schools are fascinating. Sarah and the team at Archimedes are great. There is a cost associated naturally, but looking at the qualification you get rather than just attending a course, I know its been worth every penny (albeit my employer`s )

With FS you spend time studying self esteeme, challanging behaviour and child development to name a few. I could whitter on for a while, best you look up the web site Limead gave and make your own judgement.

 

[galorin]

re: w00dsmoke, yes there is a lot I don't know, and I would cater my presentation to who I was speaking to. I wouldn't be stupid enough to call what I'm doing a chav camp or Neb prison. I have contacts in the social work department, and it is my wife that is already doing counselling. I may not go this route, but if I do, I won't do it without preparation and research. Re-read my first post, and see if you can give a few more ideas. If I decide that I want to do my chav camp, may I call on your experience?

re: Limaed, the Forest School idea is very impressive, and something I will definately keep in mind. Much appreciated

-Galorin

 

[bazil]

he wants to make camp for getting adolescents pregnant?