Backwoods Survival School - Bushcraft Skills and Courses

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 backwoods cookery, trapping and snaring, improvised weapons, river crossings, distress signals and much more.

Course duration: Fri - Sun Number of students: 5 - 10 Dates: Check Calendar Cost: £130

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

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: £360

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 twice a year and due to limited places is only be available to students who have completed the Backwoodsman course.

Course duration: Fri - Sun Number of students: 5 - 10 Dates: Check Calendar Cost: £170

Nature's harvest - fish and berries

Ant hill in Norway

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)

Course duration: Mon - Sun Number of students: 5 - 10 Dates: Check Calendar Cost: £510

We cater for corporate and team-building events and offer family days and tailored day classes on specific topics.

Firecraft . Fungi Foray . CampCraft . Plantlore . Trapping & Snaring . Shelter Building
Game Preparation . Backwoods Cooking . Natural Cordage . Bark Craft . Navigation

All food will be provided by Backwoods or gathered by participants. This will vary according to season.

Participants for all courses must be over 16 years of age, unless accompanied by a responsible adult.

No alcohol or illegal drugs are allowed on any of the courses, students found to be using them will be asked to leave the course.

Backwoods reserve the right to change location and content of the course at any time.

Safety procedures regarding the use of cutting tools and fire will be discussed and demonstrated before students participate.

All courses involve some degree of exertion, so a reasonable level of fitness is required.

All courses are run from an expedition style camp.

Kit list and RV instructions will be sent out once we have received your booking form and payment.

Backwoods Survival School operate on a full-time basis. We hold full Public Liability Insurance.

Please read our terms and conditions

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