Take the first step towards learning wilderness survival skills with this introductory course. Ideal for outdoor enthusiasts or anyone thinking of an overnight hike or long-distance backpacking trip.
Join an immersive weekend bushcraft course and learn how to light friction fires, build primitive shelters, identify wild medicinal and edible plants and more. Gain confidence and understanding under the watchful eye of experienced instructors.
Skills
In this condensed wilderness survival skills training course you will learn a range of bushcraft and survival techniques from some of the UK’s most experienced and respected survival experts. You will discover how to light fire by friction, create and sleep in a natural shelter, forage for wild foods and make water safe to drink as well as navigation methods and campfire cooking.
The weekend bushcraft course also explores tracking and camouflage and provides a fun way to reconnect with primal instincts, rediscover nature and gain lifelong skills. During the course you will also have an opportunity to practice the use of a bow and arrow as well as snares and traps to catch and cook your own food in the wild! You will learn about many other survival strategies and will have plenty of hands on time to perfect your skills. Suitable for all ages and abilities. The course takes place in various beautiful natural environments across the UK.
Equipment
Having the correct equipment is an important element of survival training and bushcraft. It can make you more comfortable and confident in wilderness environments, allowing you to reduce the amount of gear that you need to carry.
Shelter building and fire lighting are key elements of bushcraft – the former provides protection from weather and the latter enables you to cook food, keep warm and purify water. This weekend course offers you the opportunity to master these skills under safe conditions, with experienced tutors present to guide you through each step of the process.
A tarp and bivvy bag will be provided, as well as a cooking pot, a bowl and spoons, and a knife. You will be given a bushcraft training knife to use on the course and this is yours to keep. Additional specialist equipment will be discussed and a full kit list is available on request. This is a relaxed and immersive course, ideal for anyone who enjoys the outdoors.
Food
Foraging for wild food can be an extremely rewarding experience; whether it’s harvesting a fresh, nutrient dense salad of hedgerow greens or cooking up a pot of nourishing nettle soup. But there is more to it than just foraging and collecting wild edibles – proper food handling techniques are also essential.
This weekend bushcraft course will teach you how to cook and prepare meals using natural materials, with a focus on seasonal leafy greens and organic seaweeds as well as sustainably sourced fish and shellfish. You’ll also learn about the medicinal properties and traditional folklore of plants and how to make herbal infusions.
Huntery skills Identify animal tracks and signs and craft effective snares, deadfalls, traps and hunting gear! You’ll also learn how to make pemmican – the original power bar! This wilderness adventure will give you the survival skills to thrive in the Sonoran Desert, Woodlands and Southwest Mountains. A survival course needs specialised equipment, but many of the items you’ll need are easy to source online or at your local outdoor store.
Safety
Bushcraft is about thriving in nature without the modern conveniences we have come to take for granted. Survival is about surviving in an emergency situation and requires careful thought and boldness.
This course is a hands-on skills development weekend and participants will be actively involved in the learning process. The skills taught are complex and not something that can be learned on a short course; the hundreds of nuances that make primitive survival successful are acquired slowly with years of practice.
The aims of this course are to teach the fundamental skills that will allow students to thrive in the wilderness and woodlands. Students will learn how to light fires, identify edible plants and build simple shelters. The training is challenging and pushes participants to their limits, so a positive mental attitude is essential for success.