Introduction to Bushcraft Course
2 Locations - Worcestershire or Monmouthshire
Explore 4 core pillars of bushcraft.
Food, Water, Fire, and Shelter.
Explore all these elements whilst getting hands on bushcraft experience. These subjects aren't arranged in any specific order, instead, you decide how the day is structured.
Suitable for all ages and levels of experience.
Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult parent or guardian.
Arrival Time: Saturday 9am Course Begins: Saturday 10am
Course Ends: Saturday 5pm
Leave location: Saturday 6pm 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.
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.