Vote on the most important bushcraft skill

[scott mcmillan]

I need your help. I am trying to build a log book system for students for next year and am trying to list skills in 3 levels 1, 2 and 3. So students can work though it building their skills over time.

What skills would people suggest I include in the log book and what would the 3 levels look like?

Example Fire

Build a fire and boil a pint of water

1= light a fire with matches
2= light a fire with a spark
3= light a fire with friction

I will share the list with every one when it’s finished.

 

[Rumcajs]

I would suggest lighting a fire with just one match. This is how we were taught as scouts.

 

[mace242]

I'd say that there are 4 other subjects that are key. Water, Food, Shelter and Navigation.

Perhaps for Water something like: 1. Importance of and understanting the need for water, 2. Water Procurement and Purification using modern methods, 3. Advanced purification using natural methods (gypsy wells, etc).

And similar for shelter and the others. Starting with understanding the need then modern and then natural methods.

Other subjects I'd consider are Cutting tools (safe use, then knife use and then saws and care - I'd do axes and other cutting tools as a separate subject),

 

[scott mcmillan]

i like that idear
making the first level about using modern stuff. level 2 mixed and level 3 only natural methods.
shelter could be
1. tent
2 tarp
3. debris shelter

what do people think?

 

[tobes01]

The test day at the end of the Woodlore Fundamental week (that has to be passed to go on the other courses) requires:
- 1-match fire to a pint of boiling water (including making a pot hanger)
- spark to a fire (to make a flaming bundle of tinder)
- fire by friction (to make a flaming bundle of tinder)
- set of 6 feathersticks
- spoon
- 4 tent pegs and a candle holder
- snare, tealer stick correctly set
- 1 metre of nettle cordage
- fish hook from cedar/yew
- sharpen your knife
- leave no trace (they inspect the site at the end of the tests)

If you're setting up tests, I'd also suggest:
- erect and repack a tarp with correct knots
- identification of key woods
- water purification and sterilisation
- sharpen and use an axe, saw
- basic first aid (principally minor cuts and major trauma (i.e. axe) injuries)

Tobes

 

[Kerne]

The test day at the end of the Woodlore Fundamental week (that has to be passed to go on the other courses) requires:
- 1-match fire to a pint of boiling water (including making a pot hanger)
- spark to a fire (to make a flaming bundle of tinder)
- fire by friction (to make a flaming bundle of tinder)
- set of 6 feathersticks
- spoon
- 4 tent pegs and a candle holder
- snare, tealer stick correctly set
- 1 metre of nettle cordage
- fish hook from cedar/yew
- sharpen your knife
- leave no trace (they inspect the site at the end of the tests)

If you're setting up tests, I'd also suggest:
- erect and repack a tarp with correct knots
- identification of key woods
- water purification and sterilisation
- sharpen and use an axe, saw
- basic first aid (principally minor cuts and major trauma (i.e. axe) injuries)

Tobes

I did that course and the trauma of test morning has just been brought back! Don't forget the plant recognition test and the figure 4 trap.

Loved the course, but didn't quite make a metre of nettle cord - more like 10cms. Oh well...

 

[scott mcmillan]

sorry showing my ignorant whats a figure 4 trap?

 

[tobes01]

We didn't even cover traps on the syllabus, other than the snare - I guess they have a degree of flexibility. Mind you, I presented them with a raw billet of sweet chestnut instead of a spoon, treated that as a 'tactical fail' in much the same way as I didn't bother turning up for Advanced Electromagnetics in my degree finals

I did that course and the trauma of test morning has just been brought back! Don't forget the plant recognition test and the figure 4 trap.

Loved the course, but didn't quite make a metre of nettle cord - more like 10cms. Oh well...

 

[armie]

sorry showing my ignorant whats a figure 4 trap?

It's a trap!!!! to catch small animals
This is the best tutorial I've found:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oB2Qwvmf7Xs&feature=channel

HTH

 

[Chopper]

Being able to use a PC.

 

[scott mcmillan]

thanks for explaining . nice vidio
i no it as a "drop trap"
but i can see why people call it a figure 4 trap. i just hadnt put the 2 together
thanks for explaining