Move Beyond Basic Bushcraft – Learn To Rely On Nature and Yourself
Frontier Bushcraft’s Intermediate Wilderness Bushcraft course starts where most bushcraft courses finish. Extending and expanding on bushcraft fundamentals, this course will allow you to take your skills and knowledge to the next level and gain an increased understanding of bushcraft.
By introducing more advanced techniques and know-how, we replace a dependence on modern equipment with a significantly increased ability to rely on natural resources. As a result, this course will allow you to move towards living comfortably in the temperate woodland environment with the use of only minimal equipment.
Our aim is for you to become both more self-reliant and more confident in applying your bushcraft skills.
The Intermediate Wilderness Bushcraft course requires direct application of many key bushcraft skills and provides a fantastic experience of living close to nature. Through this experience you will gain a deeper understanding of, and respect for, the natural world and your place in it.
Please note this is not just a skills course. It is a contextual course: you will be relying on bushcraft techniques in context, in a realistic way.
Having the ability to take advantage of the resources nature provides – and the experience of doing so – allows us to understand both the freedoms and limitations of being more directly dependent upon nature.
The Intermediate Wilderness Bushcraft course will provide you with the perspective to not take anything for granted, even when the going is good, and to be philosophical when life becomes more difficult.
Above all, you will see the value of knowledge, skill and a positive mental attitude. These are assets you can carry wherever you go and, ultimately, be entirely liberated by them.
What Our Students Say About The Intermediate Wilderness Bushcraft Course:
“Paul Kirtley’s Intermediate Wilderness Bushcraft course, which was absolutely amazing – the steepest learning curve for me so far… “ Jack McCormack.
“Cements all the knowledge that you learn in the Elementary course. The Intermediate course helps you to be more self reliant on oneself and not reliant on your kit. “Less is more” rule works here. Less kit and more knowledge I took home with me at the end of the course. Thank you Paul and everyone else’s help.” David Atreides.
“Thanks for a great week Paul.” Ed Jones.
“Thanks again for the great course Paul, and to all the lads at Frontier. I couldn’t recommend it highly enough.” Ryan Assal.
“Before this course I was concerned as to whether my skill and fitness level would be sufficient to let me keep pace with an intermediate course but I found I gained confidence in the application of skills, an improved depth of understanding and awareness of those skills (along with new skills gained) all of which is moving me forward in my goal to be less gear reliant. I found the course to be very practical with a hands on approach, which combined well with the small teams we were put into to create a great learning dynamic. Overall this course provided first class tuition from Paul, James and Henry, a great chance to apply skills in a very practical way and an opportunity to meet and learn from like-minded people who are also looking to take their skills further. I’d very much recommend this course, though only to people with enough experience (I can imagine those not familiar with the skills covered on an Elementary or equivalent course struggling). This has the benefit of attracting experienced students enabling both a more relaxed and faster pace for tuition and the opportunity to learn from each other. A great course delivered excellently by passionate professionals – what more could you ask for? “ Simon Thornton.
“Thanks for a fantastic week in the woods Paul (and H and Spoons). Just about got my kit aired, washed, sorted & put away. Intermediate Wilderness Bushcraft was by far the hardest course I’ve done so far, but the most rewarding too I think. Lots to think about and practice now. Trying out things I’ve read about and seen on TV was an education in more than just the tasks in hand. If any one else out there is thinking about this signing up for this course next year, then go for it. You won’t regret it!” Steve Bayley.
“My main concern before this course was the skill level of others, so as not to slow them down. The main thing I gained was the confidence to go out with minimal kit and know I would be OK. Getting an ember with the hand drill was good but staying in the shelter after we got it waterproof was very good. Especially when we made our beds too. To me, the main benefits of attending this course are learning the importance of a making a decent shelter and bed, learning about and using Millbank bags, working in a team is better than being by yourself. I would recommend this course as there is so much to learn. It’s an excellent course for people wanting to take bushcraft further and you are learning from the best. It was a great course and didn’t want to leave. I learned so much and I’m really glad that I took the course with Frontier Bushcraft” Lee Issit.
“I was a bit worried before the course that I could keep up with the walking that was needed because of my bad back. It wasn’t an issue though. The main things I gained from the course were the knowledge and confidence it gave me. The main aspect of the course which I liked the most is the fact that it teaches you to rely on the resources around you and less on what you can carry in your pack. I would highly recommend this course to anyone who wants to take their knowledge of bushcraft seriously. The main benefits I took away from this awesome course was it built my confidence with the knowledge it has gave me, I know now that I could easily find the right location to build a shelter from the resources around me, source water and make it safe for drinking, forage the right plants for medical use and food. Also with the many ways I’ve learnt to make fire I’d keep warm and cook. I’d like to say a massive thanks to Paul and the team for making my experience a great one. I’m now chomping at the bit to get back on another course with Frontier Bushcraft…” Danny Barrett.
“For me, the main benefits of attending this course were developing your “bushcraft” knowledge to the next level, gaining confidence in the knowledge you already have, and meeting like minded people who want to learn. I gained confidence in my existing knowledge, learned quite a bit of new stuff and now feel confident about testing my skills further. Thatching a shelter sufficiently was the main lesson learned! Water preparation was as expected and something I have practiced before. Cooking outside was also as expected. Maintaining the fire and wood collection was as expected too. Foraging was something I hadn’t done much of previously so it was nice to learn some new things and also how much is actually out there you can access without too much trouble and preparation. I really enjoyed being in the group and living in “camp” as a small group. It’s not something I’ve done since my Fundamental course. Working as a team comes easily to me, because of my life and work experiences. I liked the fact that it wasn’t “classroom based” and we were let get on with the basics and treated as adults with some knowledge, but the building on those basics was done by you and the other staff brilliantly well. I never once felt “left behind” or patronised. Knowing I could deal with most of the issues we came across with my existing knowledge was the one thing I like most. It was very liberating, if you get my drift! I have no hesitation in recommending this course, or Frontier Bushcraft. The excellent instructors, who are highly professional, friendly, approachable and knowledgeable in the course content would be my main reasons. The surroundings you live in during the course are first class and well stocked with everything you could need and the knowledge itself is relevant and tailored exactly to the level required. I have to say I loved it! Really enjoyed meeting Paul and James again. The brief time I spent with Henry was also good. I’m as determined as I can be at this stage to sign up for the Forest Hunter Course in 2019, if it’s being run. The whole of this last week has made me more interested in being outdoors and improving my knowledge to allow me to be there safely. I can’t think of a single negative experience I had, from booking it, to getting home. Thanks you to all the Frontier staff.” Ste Tomlinson.
Course Contents
During this course we will cover:
- Developing your friction fire skills, including learning hand-drill technique
- Finding and selecting materials for hand-drills
- Fashioning first-rate, durable hand-drills
- Harvesting bark for containers
- Creating bark containers
- Advanced cordage-making
- Producing net-making equipment
- Net making
- Practical traps and trapping techniques
- Realistic foraging strategies
- Detailed instruction in edible plants
- Understanding how to gain sufficient calories from the land
- Natural teas and cordials
- Aboriginal and other “no cooking pot” techniques for cooking meat, fish and roots
- Protective group shelters
- Comfortable and insulating beds from natural materials
- Fundamentals of matting from rushes, reeds and other suitable plants
- Health and hygiene using natural resources
- Recap and refinement of relevant basic bushcraft skills
Equipment
You don’t need to spend lots of money on specialist clothing or equipment for this course. What you will need is some basic outdoor clothing, a bushcraft knife and a few other basic items.
A full kit-list is available and it will also be e-mailed to you with your e-mail receipt after your booking has been accepted.
Other specialist equipment will be provided for your use during the course.
Accommodation
This course is conducted entirely outdoors. You will construct and live in a shelter for the duration of the course.
Food
All food is provided but all 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 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 online booking system.
Experience Required
You should have attended a week-long entry-level bushcraft course such as our Elementary Wilderness Bushcraft Course or have gained a good level of skill in most of the techniques in our Online Elementary Course through self-study.
Availability and Booking: Intermediate Wilderness Bushcraft Course
Duration: 6 days.
Price: £797.
Deposit: 25% on booking; Balance: 9 weeks prior to course date.
Suitability: 18 years and above.
Course size: 12 participants (maximum).
Location: East Sussex.
Course Meeting Time: 17:30 Day 1.
Course Finish Time: 18:30 Day 7.
Course Leader: Henry Landon.
Frontier Intermediate Wilderness Bushcraft Course Dates:
28/07/24 – 03/08/24
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