The weekend bushcraft course is a great way to learn survival skills in a short amount of time. It covers the basics of shelter, water, and food. This class is also a fun and interesting way to build confidence in your abilities.
Wilderness survival courses are available throughout the country. From weekend classes to nine-month training programs, you can learn primitive and modern wilderness survival skills. Check out Bushcraft for Schools for more info now!
Learn the basic skills of bushcraft
Having the ability to survive in the wilderness without modern creature comforts will be critical after SHTF. Having a solid set of bushcraft skills will help you learn how to forage for food, build a shelter, and purify water.
The basic skills of bushcraft include fire-making, foraging and gathering flora and fauna, making tools from natural materials, and trapping. These skills can help you live off the land and thrive after TEOTWAWKI.
Joining a weekend bushcraft course will help you shorten your learning curve and gain confidence. You’ll be able to ask questions, get instruction from an experienced instructor, and meet like-minded people.
Learn how to light a fire
A fire is essential for warmth, cooking and signaling for help. Learn how to build a fire from a variety of materials in a safe and responsible way.
Start by gathering tinder and kindling. Tinder includes fine twigs, dried leaves and lint, while kindling is smaller pieces of wood like bark shavings or fuzz sticks.
Use your matchstick or lighter to light the tinder. Then, place it inside your fire pit along with some kindling and a few larger logs. Make sure the logs are arranged in a way that allows for air flow. This is called “fire architecture.”
Learn how to build a shelter
Building a survival shelter is one of the first skills to learn in a wilderness emergency. It will offer protection from the elements and keep your body heat in until you can be rescued.
Start by selecting a site. Choose a place that is protected from wind (unless that’s the best option in your situation). Avoid hilltops and ridgelines, as they can trap cold air in your shelter.
Look for dead or dying trees with bark slabs, such as cottonwoods, elms and poplars. These will provide a waterproof surface that you can cover with branches and leaves. This outer layer insulates your shelter from the wind and rain.
Learn how to purify water
The ability to purify water is a critical survival skill. Without clean water, you can become dehydrated and suffer from a variety of illnesses such as diarrhea and vomiting.
The fastest and most effective way to clean water is by boiling it. The high temperature kills bacteria, viruses, and parasites in the water.
You can also use chemical treatment, filtration, or ultraviolet light to purify your water. It is important to know how to purify water in the wilderness so you can stay safe and hydrated on your adventures.
Learn how to cook over a fire
Cooking over an open fire requires gauging and controlling the level of heat. For best results, build a good base of embers and add thicker logs for cooking. Also, keep a bucket of water or sand close by to extinguish the fire.
Many aspiring campers have romantic visions of meals cooked over an open fire. The reality often involves bread with a gooey center, burnt rice, charcoal in the cocoa and ash in the eggs. You can avoid these mishaps by learning some basic wilderness survival skills. One of the most important is learning how to cook over an open fire. There are a few different ways to do this, including using a grill grate over the flames and making tin foil dinners.
Learn how to prepare a meal
Learning about the basic skills of bushcraft can help you connect with nature and build confidence in a wild environment. However, it’s important to remember that survival isn’t just about bushcraft.
Cooking for a group at camp can be a challenge, especially when using fire cooking methods. The key is to choose recipes that are scalable.
Many people think of bushcraft as Ray Mears, with his face smeared in camouflage mud and homemade bow, tracking animals for food that he’ll cook over the campfire. While this isn’t the whole picture, it’s a good starting point for those new to outdoor survival skills. It’s also a great way to get kids involved in the outdoors.