I came back yesterday from the week-long fundamental bushcraft course and here are a few words about it...
(First, my background... No real bushcraft experience, plenty of mountain travel and wild-camping experience but nothing without a big pack full of nice modern kit).
We all met up at a tearoom at the edge of a forest just outside Tunbridge Wells. Those of us there for the course were easy to spot, wearing green clothes and carrying backpacks. At the agreed time two landrovers pulled into the car park, we loaded up and were off. A short drive later we were in the woods, at a very similar setup as described in the Woodlore intro to bushcraft thread.
There were 16 of us in the group with 4 staff members. -3 of whom can be found in the biog section of the woodlore website; Willow, Phil and Dan (the fourth member, Scott is not listed yet).
The course covered the following topics:
Plant and tree identification and use
Use and care of knives (all students are issued with a Frosts Mora to keep) and a tool roll containing Laplander saw, crook knife, flint and steel, firestick and DC4 sharpener to borrow for the week.
Tarp pitching
Packing
Hypothermia symptoms and treatment
Carving (we made a billy holder, tent pegs, bow drill set, spoon and innuit fish hook as well as a hobo fishing kit and rabbit snare)
Fishing and trapping
Nettle cordage
Fire-making (by bow-drill, flint and steel, firestick, 'one-match lighting' feathersticks)
Tinder preparation including amadou, birch bark, bracken
A small amount of natural navigation
Water purification
Rabbit gutting and preparation to eat.
Salmon cooked by panassing
Shelter building (leaf shelters)
No-trace camping
There were lots of other bits and pieces too. The week ended in a four-hour test of our skills beginning with plant/tree identification and use, fire-making, display of the things we'd made, snare setting, knife care
The course was pretty intensive, most days began at 7.30, at this time we needed to be ready to leave camp, breakfast eaten etc. It was made clear to us that as we'd all paid a lot of money for the course there'd be no hanging around. Days ended around 10.30pm.
We never had time to get bored, there was always something to be done, either a talk, a task or bow-drill practice!
Meals were supplied and a lot of them cooked for us. The standard of the food was excellent and plentiful. A brew-box and fruit box were available to us whenever we wanted it.
Throughout the week the groups of us really bonded and by the end the camaraderie and banter was fantastic.
Overall, I though the course was brilliant. It cost £600 and was worth every single penny. I came home on the train looking longingly at all the woodland I passed, just wishing I was back there for more.
Jay
(First, my background... No real bushcraft experience, plenty of mountain travel and wild-camping experience but nothing without a big pack full of nice modern kit).
We all met up at a tearoom at the edge of a forest just outside Tunbridge Wells. Those of us there for the course were easy to spot, wearing green clothes and carrying backpacks. At the agreed time two landrovers pulled into the car park, we loaded up and were off. A short drive later we were in the woods, at a very similar setup as described in the Woodlore intro to bushcraft thread.
There were 16 of us in the group with 4 staff members. -3 of whom can be found in the biog section of the woodlore website; Willow, Phil and Dan (the fourth member, Scott is not listed yet).
The course covered the following topics:
Plant and tree identification and use
Use and care of knives (all students are issued with a Frosts Mora to keep) and a tool roll containing Laplander saw, crook knife, flint and steel, firestick and DC4 sharpener to borrow for the week.
Tarp pitching
Packing
Hypothermia symptoms and treatment
Carving (we made a billy holder, tent pegs, bow drill set, spoon and innuit fish hook as well as a hobo fishing kit and rabbit snare)
Fishing and trapping
Nettle cordage
Fire-making (by bow-drill, flint and steel, firestick, 'one-match lighting' feathersticks)
Tinder preparation including amadou, birch bark, bracken
A small amount of natural navigation
Water purification
Rabbit gutting and preparation to eat.
Salmon cooked by panassing
Shelter building (leaf shelters)
No-trace camping
There were lots of other bits and pieces too. The week ended in a four-hour test of our skills beginning with plant/tree identification and use, fire-making, display of the things we'd made, snare setting, knife care
The course was pretty intensive, most days began at 7.30, at this time we needed to be ready to leave camp, breakfast eaten etc. It was made clear to us that as we'd all paid a lot of money for the course there'd be no hanging around. Days ended around 10.30pm.
We never had time to get bored, there was always something to be done, either a talk, a task or bow-drill practice!
Meals were supplied and a lot of them cooked for us. The standard of the food was excellent and plentiful. A brew-box and fruit box were available to us whenever we wanted it.
Throughout the week the groups of us really bonded and by the end the camaraderie and banter was fantastic.
Overall, I though the course was brilliant. It cost £600 and was worth every single penny. I came home on the train looking longingly at all the woodland I passed, just wishing I was back there for more.
Jay
do you plan to take the 'Journeyman' course?
