Combination Course - Bushcraft Fundamentals & Woodland Survival Weekend

2 days

Saturdays & Sundays 2 Locations

Worcestershire or Monmouthshire

DAY 1

Saturday Morning:

Food

Foraging 

• Identifying edible plants in the environment. 

• Understanding seasonal availability and safety considerations (safe sourcing, contamination, positive identification).

• Optional tasting of foraged goods such as elderberry glaze and wild garlic salt.

Traps 

• Introduction to traditional and improvised traps.

• Demonstration of multiple trap designs (provided by instructor).

• Hands-on practice in setting and testing traps.

• Contextual discussion: Trapping and its role in survival.

Water

• Safe water sources in the wild and how to identify them.

• Understanding waterborne diseases and risks.

• Practical exercise: constructing a natural survival filter, solar still or transpiration bag.

• Methods of purification: boiling, filtration, and considerations at altitude.

Saturday Afternoon:

Fire

• Purpose of fire: warmth, cooking, morale, signalling etc. 

• Demonstration and practice of fire-lighting methods:

• Primitive techniques: hand drill, bow drill, flint & steel.

• Modern techniques: ferro rods, windproof matches.

• Exploration of natural and synthetic tinder.

• Exploring the life cycle of a fire; close attention to the initial flame through to ember production. 

• Oxygen circulation through fire structure 

• Demonstrating fire platform, V-shaped fire platform to optimise or adjust oxygen circulation.

• Different characteristics in wood fuel e.g., ash, oak, willow, spruce. 

• Understanding thermal columns, efficient fire building, and “Leave No Trace” principles.

Shelter

• The philosophy of shelter building: energy vs. outcome.

• Contextual shelter design: when to priorities it, how much effort is needed, considering length of stay and purpose of shelter.

• Environmental considerations: materials, terrain, and climate.

• Practical discussion and demonstration of survival shelter types.

• Demonstration of mini lean-to and A-frame shelter. 

Saturday Night:

Spend your evening cooking and sharing stories around the campfire before spending the night under the stars.

DAY 2:

Work as a team to tackle the objectives of Woodland Survival. Your instructor will guide you through each challenge whilst helping you develop crucial bushcraft skills in depth.

This day has a strong focus on practical activities.

Sunday Morning:

Your challenges will range from constructing an all natural pot hanger to creating a fire using only primitive techniques. Get familiar with essential bushcraft tools and put them into action!

Sunday Lunch:

We will gather around the fire and learn how to fillet a sea bass.

After cooking it on the open fire and enjoying our lunch we are ready for the next challenge.

Sunday Afternoon:

Your group has three options.

Do you want to create a shelter and protect yourself from the elements?

Create a smoker so you can preserve food and regain your energy?

Or create a signal fire and get rescued from the woods?

We will learn how to create natural cordage, master camp craft and discover new woodland resources.