Children's Bushcraft
- Thread starter Tony
- Start date
hi young adults love to learn as all the other threads shout thats why we devloped www.sherwoodsurvialschool.co.uk for scouts and explorers weve had many young adults on the courses since we started from the age of 10.5 upwards. aslong as you can read body language and keep it fun and they will suprise you at every move esp when we do skinning and gutting Fish, mammal and bird the girls always volanteer to go first over the lads...
D
damh_bard
Guest
Hi Peeps!
I have two boys, 9 and 12, and luckily they're both into wilderness stuff.
We went to the woods the other day, I tied a length of rope around on of my boy's waist, and a good lump of wood to the other. Then he ran into the woods, dragging the wood behind him, leaving a scuffed trail. Me and my other son waited, then tracked him through the woods. We had great fun.
We're always tracking deer, finding trails, making camp, and we're going to sleep out in the forest in the Summer. There's a local Army surplus warehouse that sells bashas for around £15 each, so I'm going to get them one each.
Another way I've got them interested is by reading them 'My side of the mountain' by Jean George. A wonderful children's book about a 12 year old who runs away from home to live in the wilderness.
Peace
Damh
x
I have two boys, 9 and 12, and luckily they're both into wilderness stuff.
We went to the woods the other day, I tied a length of rope around on of my boy's waist, and a good lump of wood to the other. Then he ran into the woods, dragging the wood behind him, leaving a scuffed trail. Me and my other son waited, then tracked him through the woods. We had great fun.
We're always tracking deer, finding trails, making camp, and we're going to sleep out in the forest in the Summer. There's a local Army surplus warehouse that sells bashas for around £15 each, so I'm going to get them one each.
Another way I've got them interested is by reading them 'My side of the mountain' by Jean George. A wonderful children's book about a 12 year old who runs away from home to live in the wilderness.
Peace
Damh
x
Another way I've got them interested is by reading them 'My side of the mountain' by Jean George. A wonderful children's book about a 12 year old who runs away from home to live in the wilderness.
Try them with the Hatchet by Gary Paulsen similar theme but he is stranded after a plane crash.
Try them with the Hatchet by Gary Paulsen similar theme but he is stranded after a plane crash.
Neil1 said:There is the "Forest-Schools" Programme): this is aimed at very young kids (pre-school I think) and has things like knife & saw skills, fires & shelter building. Awareness & confidence is taught through games. This would seem a good starting point.
Neil
blooming eck ! :yikes: 3 year olds running amuck with knives and saws... sounds like when I lived in a certain part of Liverpool :sword:
H
Hugo Van Schandevijl
Guest
I am a Belgian scoutsleader, although 50 years old, and I got interested in this site primarily because it contains so much info directly of use for our scoutsactivities: fire making, cooking over woodfires, knife use and maintenance, shelter building, knots, ropemaking, tracking, and so on...
Therefore I suppose the other way round it works as well: if offered the skills, I suspect UK scout groups will be just as thrilled as mine to incorporate them in their routines. And they KNOW how to translate skills into games adjusted to the respective age-groups, they do little else!
Just a thought!
Therefore I suppose the other way round it works as well: if offered the skills, I suspect UK scout groups will be just as thrilled as mine to incorporate them in their routines. And they KNOW how to translate skills into games adjusted to the respective age-groups, they do little else!
Just a thought!
A
Aelfred
Guest
Tony,
Tom Brown's Field Guide to Nature and Survival for Children is an excellent place to start for all round bushcraft skills to share with children.
Also Joseph Cornell's Sharing Nature with Children and Sharing Nature with Children II are excellent colections of games, activities and meditations to awaken an interest and develop awareness in the natural world.
Alongside the organisations like the Scout Movement and Woodcraft Folk, mentioned above, there are plenty of activities run by local and national conservation bodies especially for children.
More directly with bushcraft I know that Trackways, Natural Pathways, Woodland Survival Crafts, Wholeland and Frontiers all run courses for children, young adults and whole families.
Ollie
Tom Brown's Field Guide to Nature and Survival for Children is an excellent place to start for all round bushcraft skills to share with children.
Also Joseph Cornell's Sharing Nature with Children and Sharing Nature with Children II are excellent colections of games, activities and meditations to awaken an interest and develop awareness in the natural world.
Alongside the organisations like the Scout Movement and Woodcraft Folk, mentioned above, there are plenty of activities run by local and national conservation bodies especially for children.
More directly with bushcraft I know that Trackways, Natural Pathways, Woodland Survival Crafts, Wholeland and Frontiers all run courses for children, young adults and whole families.
Ollie
Hi,
I am doing a lot of bushcraft togheter with my son Willem, just two weeks ago i made him a bowdrill set with wich he managed to make an ember. The drill was made of willow and the board was made of clematis. Willem is just 9 years old and a very proud bushcrafter.
He likes most Bushcraft activities but his favorites are making fires / fishing and eating fish and building shelters. Next week we are going to Sweden togheter for a two weeks bushcraft holiday . I think its very inportant to spent time with your children and the best time is time spend in the bush togheter .
Cheers Rob
I am doing a lot of bushcraft togheter with my son Willem, just two weeks ago i made him a bowdrill set with wich he managed to make an ember. The drill was made of willow and the board was made of clematis. Willem is just 9 years old and a very proud bushcrafter.
He likes most Bushcraft activities but his favorites are making fires / fishing and eating fish and building shelters. Next week we are going to Sweden togheter for a two weeks bushcraft holiday . I think its very inportant to spent time with your children and the best time is time spend in the bush togheter .
Cheers Rob
Nice one Rob,
I couldn't agree more about the best time spent with my kids is in the woods.
My daughter is 6.5 and my son is 3.5 and they both love going out for a day of bushcraft - shelter building and fishing followed by a nice brew up on the fire. My daughter has tried the bowdrill but does not yet have enough coordination to get an ember, we will continue to improve our technique until she is successful. My son justs wants to rest in the shelter and cut things with a knife, just like daddy. I whittled him a wooden knife shape just so he can be like his dad - the best type of admiration. He will get his own knife in a few years, my daughter will probably get an No. 6 Opinel this summer.
Cheers
JFW
I couldn't agree more about the best time spent with my kids is in the woods.
My daughter is 6.5 and my son is 3.5 and they both love going out for a day of bushcraft - shelter building and fishing followed by a nice brew up on the fire. My daughter has tried the bowdrill but does not yet have enough coordination to get an ember, we will continue to improve our technique until she is successful. My son justs wants to rest in the shelter and cut things with a knife, just like daddy. I whittled him a wooden knife shape just so he can be like his dad - the best type of admiration. He will get his own knife in a few years, my daughter will probably get an No. 6 Opinel this summer.
Cheers
JFW
Michael, my 13 year old, is now coming along nicely. I got him a GB pocket/mini axe for christmas (Woodlore were doing them cheap) which he adores, and I've passed him down a frosts training knife, which he has learnt to sharpen very well indeed.
So far he's had the odd nick when using the knife, the axe he is very careful with and so far has only dinged his knickles on the chopping block!
He now wants to do some training, but being a big 13 year old he is in a sort of limbo where he is mentally and physically able to do a lot of the things he wants to, but a lot of the schools have a minimum age of 18 for doing anything involving cutting (insurance I imagine). So its now down to me to pass on what I can, as soon as I feel competent to teach him.
At least it gives us some quality outdoors time together.
Dave
So far he's had the odd nick when using the knife, the axe he is very careful with and so far has only dinged his knickles on the chopping block!
He now wants to do some training, but being a big 13 year old he is in a sort of limbo where he is mentally and physically able to do a lot of the things he wants to, but a lot of the schools have a minimum age of 18 for doing anything involving cutting (insurance I imagine). So its now down to me to pass on what I can, as soon as I feel competent to teach him.
At least it gives us some quality outdoors time together.
Dave
I think that that is great as most kids turn thirteen and turn into Kevins!! A mutual interest with your children is the way ahead, which is why I try to hide my daughters barbie dolls and get them interested in bushcraft!!
Jo'anne, our eldest at 4.5, had her friends around yesterday. They're twin girls of the same age, and one of them asked what was in my small ammo box. Well, this is where I store my spare amadou and charcloth, so I showed them. I showed them how to make an ember with the processed flint and amadou, and as it was a very sunny day, I got the magnifying glass out and amazed them with that aswell!! Now I'm just waiting on my traditional fire steel from Jason to show them real magic!!
Spamel
Jo'anne, our eldest at 4.5, had her friends around yesterday. They're twin girls of the same age, and one of them asked what was in my small ammo box. Well, this is where I store my spare amadou and charcloth, so I showed them. I showed them how to make an ember with the processed flint and amadou, and as it was a very sunny day, I got the magnifying glass out and amazed them with that aswell!! Now I'm just waiting on my traditional fire steel from Jason to show them real magic!!
Spamel
My mother-in-law, having found a new Swiss boyfriend, allowed me to find an interesting Swiss Army knife when we were visiting. It is a childs specific version with a blunt tip, but sharpish blade, can/bottle opener, sawblade, and screwdriver. I gave it to my 7 year old with a short ceremony about being careful with emphasis on being reponsible and trustworthy. He is allowed to carry it when we go out otherwise it lives in the 'kit' chest. I don't think I saw a prouder boy. Don't tell his mum though...
I haven't seen them in the UK.
I haven't seen them in the UK.
Some of us explorer leaders try!lost said:Hi,
I am myself an explorer scout at 17.5 and can honestly say that more 'bushcrafty' activities should be on offer in scouting. As I think everyone in similar scout groups would give it a good run. That said the chances are still there!
Welcome to BushcraftUK.
Is anyone thinking of putting a "Little kids" meet together ?
I have 5yr old twins , and would like to get them out there doing the bushcraft thing , but am not sure how to keep them interested , although they enjoyed brewing up on a walk we did recently .
Any children involved would benifit greatly , and it would enable us "big kids" to provide better information for the younger ones .
Twas just a thought .
Pumbaa
I have 5yr old twins , and would like to get them out there doing the bushcraft thing , but am not sure how to keep them interested , although they enjoyed brewing up on a walk we did recently .
Any children involved would benifit greatly , and it would enable us "big kids" to provide better information for the younger ones .
Twas just a thought .
Pumbaa
Although I havn't got any Kids one reason I'd want them is to pass on what I know.
Unfortunately with the compensation culture that's developing the options for kids to learn bushcraft in a formal setting is probably decreasing, the thought of children, fire and knives would give some tabloid jounalists a field day. Not like when I and many of the members of this site were young, first thing on the christmas list was a penknife, ask santa for that now and alarm bells would be ringing. Kids love building dens (shelters), finding things (foraging) and making something so they are in some ways natural bushcrafters after all they havn't been contaminated by a reliance on bought technology for as long as most adults.
I would disagree with the comment that children are the future bushcrafters, they should be part of the present,
Unfortunately with the compensation culture that's developing the options for kids to learn bushcraft in a formal setting is probably decreasing, the thought of children, fire and knives would give some tabloid jounalists a field day. Not like when I and many of the members of this site were young, first thing on the christmas list was a penknife, ask santa for that now and alarm bells would be ringing. Kids love building dens (shelters), finding things (foraging) and making something so they are in some ways natural bushcrafters after all they havn't been contaminated by a reliance on bought technology for as long as most adults.
I would disagree with the comment that children are the future bushcrafters, they should be part of the present,
When my kids were very young we took them to a place called 'wilderness wood' in sussex where they do quite alot of activities for kids (shelter building, foraging, plant/animal identification, moth nights and easter egg hunts for the adults - just don't let the little buggers find it first!)
The oldest is 11 now and has just been on a falconry course and helps out the local falconer and the youngest helps test and break some of my short indian bows.
Over the years I wondered if they enjoyed or wanted to do some of the things I showed them. Its got to be better then computers - I cannot believe that 'they are the future' as they say.
The oldest is 11 now and has just been on a falconry course and helps out the local falconer and the youngest helps test and break some of my short indian bows.
Over the years I wondered if they enjoyed or wanted to do some of the things I showed them. Its got to be better then computers - I cannot believe that 'they are the future' as they say.
Building confidence and installing a sense of achievement and self worth into a child at a young age are key factors in any childs development. I see bushcraft as one way that I can help to achieve this with my own children.
It is refreshing to see that there are like-minded woodsman out there with the same views. I say this because friends and visitors of ours are always a little shocked when my 7 and 4 year old light the evening fire in our house. I have taught them how to prepare and sort the wood, set the tinder and once lite, build and maintain the fire. They are encouraged to work as a team, take turns and manage the process properly. Of course I am there to oversee and make sure they are safe. The result of this is they respect fire and know that it is
not to be messed with. They use long matches which are kept within easy reach yet they never touch them unless they are invited to light the fire.
My two axes are also kept by the fire place and they know they are not allowed to touch them unless I am there.
Given the oppotunity, children appreciate the confidence placed in them. They can be trustworthy and take on responsibility if only they are given the chance.
Bushcraft is a means to acheive this, one of the few tools left to parents raising children in an ever increasing chav like culture.
It is refreshing to see that there are like-minded woodsman out there with the same views. I say this because friends and visitors of ours are always a little shocked when my 7 and 4 year old light the evening fire in our house. I have taught them how to prepare and sort the wood, set the tinder and once lite, build and maintain the fire. They are encouraged to work as a team, take turns and manage the process properly. Of course I am there to oversee and make sure they are safe. The result of this is they respect fire and know that it is
not to be messed with. They use long matches which are kept within easy reach yet they never touch them unless they are invited to light the fire.
My two axes are also kept by the fire place and they know they are not allowed to touch them unless I am there.
Given the oppotunity, children appreciate the confidence placed in them. They can be trustworthy and take on responsibility if only they are given the chance.
Bushcraft is a means to acheive this, one of the few tools left to parents raising children in an ever increasing chav like culture.
