Course Outline
Do you ever want to immerse yourself in nature and really live in it? Bushcraft immersion is all about learning what the natural world can provide for you and how to live within it. Bushcraft Immersion takes nature bathing to another level and really connects you to the natural world and yourself. You won’t want to leave!
- Safe and correct knife, axe and saw use
- Taking care of your knife and axe
- Making a bucksaw
- Shelter construction
- Tarp set ups and knots
- In depth fire lighting including friction fire and flint and steel
- Cooking on open fires including making bread and bannock
- Natural cordage
- Snares and traps
- Wild foods and plant identification
- Wood carving to make tools and implements
(15-19 years old require parent or guardian permission, youth 12-15 must be accompanied by an adult)
Please enquire for next available course dates
$850.00
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Bushcraft Camp
Bushcraft immersion is about making the woods your home. You cant beat time under the stars and learning in depth about wood, shelters, plants, animals and the list forever goes on. We learn how to use the natural world for cordage, shelter, friction fire, weaving, pack frames, buckskin, food and just about everything.
This course is purely a Bushcraft course where there is minimal use of modern equipment except for the basics. Self reliance and problem solving are the backbone of living in the woods. This is a great way to becoming a backwoodsman and honing your knife, axe and saw skills beside your weaving, cord making and knots.
You will get to build and live in your shelter and light your fires with flint and steel. We will show you different techniques on how to make pot hangers and cook foraged, caught or trapped food over fires.
Have you ever wanted to unlock the secrets of the bow drill? We can show you and get you on your way to success. Breathing life into a fire from some pieces of wood knife is a moment everyone remembers. It is a primal connection to the land and our ancestors.
Bushcraft is a lifelong subject of continual learning encompassing every part of human life in conjunction with the natural world. You can take it as far as you want to go. Bushcraft is a highly rewarding and challenging endeavor. You are the sole beneficiary of your efforts and skill. As you complete each craft or challenge the sense of accomplishment and confidence builds. As a result, you become more comfortable in the woods and your knowledge deepens and changes, you will no longer see the woods in the same way. You will see; food, animal sign, good firewood, coal extenders, medicine, bows, arrows, traps, bedding and on it will go.
This course is designed to give all participants the fundamental skills and knowledge base to get started in the woods. The journey starts here to become a backwoodsmen or mountain man/woman of old. It is a more in depth knowledge and skills based course than the weekend taster or the survival courses.
Who is it for:
This course is for anyone wanting to spend time in the woods and learn what we can do with natural materials. A basic level of camping experience really helps as this is an advanced woods camping course.
It gives a good grounding in all the areas; Axe and knife craft, Fire, Shelter, Water and Food, Trapping. If you are looking for an immersion and real woods life experience this is the one to go with.
If you want to get a greater understanding or connection with our human roots or nature this is the one for you. Sign up and I will see you in the woods.
Meeting
You will receive detailed instructions on where to meet prior to the course. We have several areas we use for courses and are always moving our base camps. This is so we never over harvest or have a negative impact on any one area.
Day 1
After meeting and transferring to the basecamp the first day is acclimatization and familiarization. We introduce you to the basecamp area and all the housekeeping that goes into living in the woods. We move on to cover all the safety protocols for knifes, axes and saws in the backcountry. After a few basic tasks to ensure you have the skills. Then we start getting you set up for the first night in the woods. We will cover tarp set ups and knots and show you some improvised beds to keep you comfortable.
After that the first project is to set up your pot hanger or cook set up. To get you started with cooking on the fire we show you how to light your fire without any paper or cardboard and even in the pouring rain! You will later prepare and cook a hearty dinner on an open fire.
Day 2
This is when we turn the woods into your home for the remainder of the week. Guiding you through some 2-4 person group shelters including some raised beds and comfy mattresses. This can be an intensive day to get everything ready for a comfortable night. Preparations continue for the for the week with gathering and processing firewood ready for warmth and cooking.
Not wanting to let your hands go idle a carving project is also added to the mix to keep you busy whilst cooking and at rest.
Day 3
This is a deep dive into fires and we will spend the day covering all the major fire lighting methods and tricks. We start off with some simple fires and move onto ferrous rods, flint and steel and weather permitting we will be getting involved in some friction fires using a bow drill.
Not stopping there we will introduce you to some serious wet weather fire lighting for when you really need to get that fire going and everything is soaked!!
Day 4
On day 4 the crafts start taking a more dominant place as you get more comfortable in your home. Starting off with making your own bucksaw with just a saw blade.
Then we go on to gathering, selecting and making natural cordage materials for the final pack frame project will start here. We will make a Roycroft pack frame and bind it with your cordage. With this pack frame you can pack all your essentials for a solo weekend of bushcraft.
Later in the day we will take a nature walk and cover a few things from wild edibles to natural sunscreen depending what is in season and what we discover. Some of the wild edible maybe prepared for the evening meal.
Day 5
We will be rounding off the course with the completion of your pack frame, spoon, burn bowl and bucksaw. With the simple tools you will have made all that you need in the woods from the natural resource that are found all around us.
Shelter, fire, bowl, spoon, pack and food all came from the woods. Your kit back may start to look a little different for your next trip in to the woods.
What’s Included
This is an overnight course so you will be sleeping in the backcountry
All meals for the duration of the course. Please arrive having had breakfast on the first day.
Saws, axes, pots, pans and other specialized equipment is provided.
What’s Included
- This is an overnight course so you will be sleeping in the backcountry
- All meals for the duration of the course are provided. As part of the course you will preparing meals for cooking over the fire with instruction. Please arrive having had a good breakfast on the first day. Please complete the registration forms well in advance if you have dietary restrictions.
- Tea, coffee and water are available at all times
- Saws, axes, pots, pans and other specialized equipment is provided.
- Travel from the meeting point to the base camp is provided. It is possible to drive to the basecamp and you may be asked if your willing to take a fellow participant if you choose to drive to the camp. Everyone will meet at the meeting point.
Please bring the following items to this course. Ideally they should be packed in a backpack, large day pack or multiday pack. Please line the inside of your bag with a bag liner or large contractor garbage bag. It will keep all your belongings dry without the need for expensive bag liners.
Tools / Equipment
Optional (this is all provided but we recognize people sometimes have personal preferences and gear)
Fixed blade knife (for more information see Article about Knifes)
Folding pruning saw (optional, these are provided)
Essential
Sleeping bag (Rated for the seasonal temperature, Synthetic is best but down is fine too)
Back pack (that will fit a sleeping bag, water bottle and some extra layers)
Headlamp and spare batteries
Watch ( or phone in a waterproof case/bag)
Lighter
Water bottle (wide mouth and preferably stainless steel, Nalgenes are just fine)
Plate or large bowl, spoon, mug (plastic or tin, non breakable)
Sunglasses
Toque, wool hat, sun hat, cap or Stetson
Clothing and Personal Items
All clothing should be wool, fast drying synthetics, bamboo or similar. No cotton please! Please use a level of judgement if the course is running in august you might not need your thick base layers. Take a look at night time temperatures or the daily low and bring clothing suitable for that temperature. If your not sure please contact us or just bring the extra layer. Always bring waterproofs! More details in the Article on Clothing.
Waterproof pants and jacket
Insulating layers (fleece, wool tops, synthetic puffy/insulating jackets)
Work gloves or garden gloves
Warm gloves
Neck Gaiter or scarf
Toque, wool hat, sun hat, cap or Stetson
Base layers top and bottom
Wool socks
A full change of clothes (t shirt, pants, underwear, warm layer)
A wool jacket or old shirt for sitting around the fire. (It will protect your nice synthetics from melting, this can be cotton!)
Hiking boots (break them in prior to the course please, you will be a lot more comfortable)
Personal medications, glasses contact lences etc
Toothbrush and toothpaste
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