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The Backwoodsman course teaches students the core skills of fire, food, shelter and water. You will learn to light fire with different techniques, including the bow drill, and using natural tinders. We will walk through woodland identifying trees and plants that have food, medicinal and other uses. You will build and sleep in your own shelter, discuss wilderness safety and hygiene, apply natural navigational skills and learn how to source and purify water. Other topics covered include woodland crafts, wild foods, backwoods cookery, trapping and snaring, improvised tools, river crossings, distress signals and much more. New dates added for October
Course duration: Fri - Sun Number of students: 5 - 10 Dates: Check Calendar Cost: £130 |
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The Beachcomber course is aimed at students with an interest in extending their wilderness living skills to the shoreline. Learn how to harvest the abundant seaweeds and shellfish available on our coastlines. You will manufacture hooks, line and sinkers from natural materials and fish with them. Other fishing techniques including netting, spearing, and trapping will be demonstrated and there is a group exercise to construct a basha canoe. Alternative methods of sourcing shelter, fire and water (including distillation) will be covered. Due to limited places this course is only available to students who have completed the Backwoodsman.
Course duration: Fri - Sun Number of students: 5 - 10 Dates: Check Calendar Cost: £170 |
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Native Paths is a 5 day advanced course for students who have completed the Backwoodsman course. There is a day's basic skills refresher, followed by a day learning more advanced techniques. Students then leave camp to put their wilderness living skills to the test! Independently from other students and instructors, you will spend the next three days building your shelter, creating fire and procuring food and water. Further classes are held over the three days and instructors are always on hand for advice and assistance. This is a physically and mentally demanding course that will put you to the test - it is not for the armchair enthusiast!
Course duration: Sun - Fri Number of students: 5 - 10 Dates: Check Calendar Cost: £375 |
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There are many skills and crafts that can be applied to make wilderness living a more comfortable and fulfilling experience, Backwoods Crafts will show you how to source from nature a wide variety of materials for the manufacture of tools and implements. We will teach you how to make natural cordage, natural glues, bone and antler tools, fishing hooks, baskets and containers, weapons and many other items of great use in wilderness living, using only natural raw materials. This course is run only once a year and due to limited places is only available to students who have completed the Backwoodsman course. Places available due to late cancellation
Course duration: Fri - Sun Number of students: 5 - 10 Dates: Check Calendar Cost: £180 |
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During this weekend course, students will prepare a hide from start to finish. Working with our native Roe deer, students will learn the ancient skills of brain tanning. You will practice the processes of wet scraping, tanning and smoking a hide and at the end of the course you will be left with a soft, supple buckskin to take home. Please be aware that this is a physically demanding process. We believe in the values of our ancestors, who celebrated their catch and wasted nothing. Starting with the beast, you will observe how to remove the skin and prepare the meat which will be cooked in a hangi. Additionally, over the weekend you will make venison jerky and learn about preparation and uses of the various animal by-products, eg sinew, antler, bone and hooves.
Course duration: Fri - Sun Number of students: 5 Dates: Check Calendar Cost: £195 |
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Veidemann - man of the wilderness. This 7 day advanced course in the remote, wild and beautiful Telemark region of Norway aims to take students back to a simpler time, when man worked in harmony with nature and the environment to meet his needs. As fish is the main source of protein in this locality, the course has an emphasis on primitive fishing techniques, many of which are not possible to practice in the UK. After building our own elk-skin coracle, we will make and use fishing nets, hooks, line and fish traps and employ gill nets, harpoons and weirs to catch the abundant local wild trout. Other subjects taught are natural shelter building, fire-craft, foraging and wild food cooking - including making elk jerky! We also cover craft work with reindeer antler, birch bark and natural cordages among other subjects. This is a physically demanding course that requires a good level of fitness. Costs include all travel, food and materials within Norway. Students arrange their own travel and insurance to Norway (inexpensive flights are available though Ryanair) Dates for 2010 course have changed to Mon 27 Sep to Sun 3 Oct
Course duration: Mon - Sun Number of students: 5 - 10 Dates: Check Calendar Cost: £550 |
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We cater for corporate and team-building events, private groups, family days and offer day classes on specific topics to individuals or groups. We also offer bespoke courses for Forest School leaders. Please contact us to discuss your particular requirements.
Fire
Craft . Fungi Foray . Camp Craft . Plant Lore . Trapping & Snaring . Shelter Building
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Please Call 0141 641 2055 or email at info@backwoodsurvival.co.uk to find out more