Learn The Most Essential Bushcraft Skills In A Weekend
In designing this weekend bushcraft course we asked ourselves the following:
- Which of the bushcraft skills are most important?
- Which skills, in reality, do we use the most?
- Which bushcraft techniques are essential for travel in wild and remote areas?
- Which outdoor living skills do we want you to go away with and be able to apply?
In this way, we came up with a wish-list of wilderness skills that are practical and very relevant to contemporary outdoor life.
The challenge we faced was to fit all of this into a 2 days course! But we did it and the result is a weekend course jam-packed with practical bushcraft skills, knowledge and advice that can be applied immediately.
This course is for those wish to learn as much as possible in the shortest possible time.
The emphasis is very much on practical application rather than theory. We will demonstrate all techniques but, for you to make these techniques your own, the course requires your full participation. This will probably be tiring and possibly frustrating but always rewarding.
In return for applying yourself you will gain a set of skills which is extremely enabling, whether you are camping in the woods for a weekend or undertaking an expedition.
It’s also a LOT of FUN!
What Our Customers Say About the Bushcraft Essentials Weekend Course:
“Thanks Paul, James, Ian and Matt for a brilliant couple of days! Really enjoyed it…” Tim Edwards.
“Fantastic Bushcraft Essentials course last weekend, thanks very much.” Colin Perkins.
“I thought I would email just to thank you and the team again for a really excellent weekend. It really shows that you all love what you are doing – infectious! Can’t wait to do more. Thanks again and very best wishes” Russ Kennedy.
“Paul, I’d just like to thank you and your team for the best Good Friday ever. Best Wishes and Kind Regards” Alan Reade.
“Thanks so much Paul and team for a brilliant experience. I learnt so much, and laughed a good deal too. I shall be buzzing for a good while, and be looking to put into practice all you’ve taught me. Thanks again,” Celli Hart.
“Just wanted to say a BIG thank you to you all for your friendliness and expert teaching skills, I had a fantastic weekend. I learnt so much on the 2 day course that when I went camping in Wales last weekend I was able to apply the fire making techniques and even carved my own tent pegs. I am totally hooked and hope to do more courses in the future.” Sara Bunn.
“Thank you and all the team for a wonderful two days on the Bushcraft Essentials Course. Your combination of knowledge, natural teaching ability and enthusiasm has certainly rubbed off in Iain and I. We can’t stop talking about the weekend and how much we gained from it. I bought the course for Iain thinking it would be a fun couple of days in the woods (which it was) but I also discovered that the ability to understand our natural environment, respect it and utilise it is something very special. I’d love to find out more and I’m sure we’ll do another course in the future.” Lorraine McGregor.
“I just want to say how much I enjoyed last weekend’s Bushcraft Essentials course. I got the chance to have a go at some things I’d only seen demonstrated before, identified and hopefully corrected some specific points of technique, and of course learn some new skills – all of which was exactly what I was looking for. The cold weather made most things a bit more of a challenge, and I’m sure it made me think about things in a more focused way – planning the most efficient way of doing tasks, constantly looking out for firewood etc. I thought the ratio of instructors/assistants to students was excellent – even when we were working in separate groups and spread out within the wood, there always seemed to be someone on hand to answer questions or give advice.” Alex Duncan.
What You Will Learn On The Bushcraft Essentials Course
During this 2-day course we will cover the following syllabus:
- Essential knife skills for bushcraft
- Knife safety
- Knife sharpening – at home and on the trail
- Principles of failsafe fire-lighting with natural materials
- Fire-lighting with matches
- Fire-lighting with sparks
- How to select and prepare the most reliable tinder and kindling
- How to identify the best firewood
- Feather-sticks
- The fundamentals of friction fire-lighting
- Choosing and using a tarp
- Improvised shelters from natural materials
- Essential campfire cookery
- Making useful camp gadgets, including pot-hangers
- Identification of the most useful plants and tree
- Water purification essentials
- Equipment choice
- Organising your camp and kit
- How to leave no trace of your camp and campfire
All the Other Details You Need to Know…
Equipment
You don’t need much equipment to attend this two-day bushcraft course – the main items you will need are: some outdoor clothing, including waterproofs, a head-torch, a whistle, a water bottle, a mug, a plate or bowl and some eating utensils.
During the course you will be given a bushcraft training knife to use and this will be yours to keep afterwards.
Other specialist equipment will be provided for your use during this weekend course. This includes the use of a tarp and a bivvy bag.
A full kit-list is available here and it will also be e-mailed to you with your e-mail receipt after your booking has been accepted.
Accommodation
This weekend bushcraft course will be conducted entirely outdoors, from an expedition-style camp. There will be a covered teaching area which also serves as a communal area for breaks. There is a fire, kettle, tea, coffee, biscuits and cordial available here.
Part of the course is for you to sleep out under either a tarp or an improvised shelter. So you will not need to bring a tent or other shelter with you but you must bring a sleeping mat and a sleeping bag with a temperature rating suitable for the time of year when your course takes place.
Food
All food is provided but much of the preparation and cooking will be done by you and your fellow participants. If you have any allergies, food intolerances or other dietary requirements, please make sure you include this information when you book. There is an opportunity during the online booking process to tell us about this. This information can also be added and edited later once you have created a log-in and password for our booking system.
Experience Required
No previous bushcraft or camping experience is required to attend this course.
FREE Equipment with this Bushcraft Course
During the course you will receive a carbon steel bushcraft knife by Mora of Sweden.
As they old saying goes “your knife is your life”, and this important tool will be yours to keep.
Availability and Booking: Bushcraft Essentials Course
Duration: 2 days.
Price: £249.
Deposit: 25% on booking.
Suitability: 14 years & above. Anyone under the age of 18 years must be accompanied by an adult.
Course size: 16 participants (maximum).
Location: East Sussex.
Course Meeting Time: 09:00 Day 1.
Course Finish Time: 17:00 Day 2.
Course Leader: A good number of our long-standing team members are qualified to run this foundational course. Any course leader will be accompanied by two or three course assistants too, ensuring a high staff-to-student ratio..
Bushcraft Essentials Course Dates:
06/04/24 – 07/04/24
21/09/24 – 22/09/24
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