Basics in Bushcraft

Learning not only how to survive in nature, but thrive with nature

Learning how to sustain yourself while being a steward of your natural environment is an empowering and confidence-building skill for youths and adults alike. Whether camping, using wood to create a spear or gathering wild food, the goal is to leave natural spaces in better condition than when you arrived, taking care not to harm any plants or animals around you, and preserving the environment for those who come after. Bushcraft is the practice and development of skills and knowledge systems that allow us to live and learn in a natural environment with only the supplies we can carry on our backs, prioritizing harmony with nature rather than overcoming it.

Start with the Basics

You do not need a lifetime of bushcraft experience, or an array of fancy supplies to be able to love self-sustaining in nature. Start with the basics: use carefully collected birch bark or old man's beard lichen to light a fire, marvelling at how quickly it ignites; learn some basic knots to successfully hang a tarp; practice some key grips while using a fixed blade to sharpen a roasting stick; develop a recognition of some key species in your area so that you can learn some of their marvellous adaptations, that will help you along your journey.

Resources for Learning Basics Bushcraft Skills

Practice Camp Fires

Practice Camp Fires

Fire lighting makes us uniquely human; it has allowed us to cook, keep warm and see in the dark for hundreds of thousands of years. For children and adults alike, having the ability and knowledge to light a fire safely is incredibly empowering. When building a fire, especially when we are just learning, preparation is everything! In the case of fire-making, 'failure to prepare is preparation for failure'.

Before a spark can be made, an understanding of fire responsibility must be shared. Become familiar with local fire safety regulations- do not practice firefighting during a fire ban, and follow the rules for responsible fire-making: before you begin have a plan for extinguishing, make sure that the area you are using to practice firefighting is free from obstructions, flammable material, and make sure you have medical supplies nearby and that everyone in your group knows the 'stop drop and roll' rules.

This activity is an introduction to fire lighting. It does not involve maintaining or sustaining a fire, but knowing how to make a spark with traditional bushcraft resources. Remind students that after the lessons they will be fire-safety officers - with the knowledge to identify hazards and the skills to develop a safety plan. Fire is so exciting; it induces the feeling of being 'grown up' in children, and yet also holds the power of destruction if safety precautions are not taken seriously. When both interest and devotion to safety exist in the mind at once, all that's left is the technical skills to practice, and you have a master fire-lighter.

Full details: Safety Considerations, How to Light a Fire, Fuel and More

Shelter Building

Shelter Building

Children and youth love to make their own space in nature. Making their own space can also help make students feel comfortable, and safe in the forest, making room for discovery and learning.

This activity in shelter building has stood the test of time- children at Macphail Woods have been making shelters this way for years now, and can test to the luxury they provide in the forest. The challenge will be to construct a shelter that is weatherproof and warm and must be built using only materials that are dead. I like to use the phrase, “If it's brown, and it's down - go to town!” Remind the students that in a real survival situation, the use of any material is acceptable but because these shelters are being made for fun it is best to protect the plants and mosses growing in the forest. The simplest shelter to build is the “A-frame” style (triangle shape). It requires no rope and can be made to be nearly bulletproof. At our bushcraft camps, we let our oldest campers construct their shelter to sleep in, and their only complaint is that they are too warm.

See Full Shelter Building Details

Knife Safety

Knife Saftey

How to Use a Fixed Blade

This activity is for children 12 years and up. Knife use is a basic skill that while risky, is incredibly empowering. Most adults have little to no knowledge about how to use a knife safely or efficiently. The goal with students is to make them competent and informed initiates of knife safety who can even correct their parents. This may seem like a reversal of responsibility but that is the point. Allowing children and youth to take part in the world of responsibility is an important step toward their self-discovery. Before we pass out knives we discuss knife safety carefully.

Understanding Your Knife

A sharp knife is a safe knife. A safe knife should also have a short (10cm) fixed blade, with a strong spine and a simple Swedish bevel. Ideally, it should also have a full tang.

Basic Rules

Knives are tools, so they should not be exposed at all times. Knives should be kept in their sheath, on the belt at all times, unless being used to accomplish a task. As soon as the task is completed it is replaced into its sheath. Don’t walk with an unsheathed blade and remember not to swat flies with a knife still in your hand.

See Full Details: Grips, Useful Techniques, and Safety Considerations

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