Why you need to take a Bushcraft Course

Bushcraft is the art of knowing and understanding how to survive outdoors using the natural environment around you and only very basic and minimal equipment to help you do so. Many people enjoy bushcraft as a hobby and it can be a useful set of skills to learn if you ever find yourself out in the wilderness! Read on to learn where to go for, what to expect from and why you should take a bushcraft course.

Essential Bushcraft Skills

The most common skills associated with bushcraft are fire making and shelter building. It is important to know how, where and when to build a fire. You should know the various ways of starting a fire and how to identify the most reliable type of kindling to keep that fire burning. For example, tree bark, pine cones, moss, leaves, feathers and twigs all make excellent kindling for your fire. When it comes to creating a spark you could use flint, match-sticks (if you have them) or even the sunlight by using a cleverly positioned magnifying glass!

Building a shelter is an important survival skill if you are preparing to sleep outdoors. You need to know how to prepare your area for camping, including clearing the ground of rocks and debris as well as using branches and leaves to shelter your sleeping area against the elements and keep you as comfortable as possible.

Other essential skills include knife handling and safety, campfire cooking, knowing the types of food you can forage for, useful plants and trees, how to purify water and how to track. Learning these skills can not only help should you find yourself in a tricky situation but are also practical to know for everyday life, especially if you take part in various outdoor activities that carry certain risks such as fell walking, mountain biking or kayaking.

Learn Bushcraft in the UK

The UK is home to a number of great bushcraft courses to help you learn these worthwhile survival skills. Located in East Sussex, Frontier Bushcraft has been voted the one of the best schools in the UK. They offer 1 to 6 day courses covering the foundations of bushcraft like lighting a fire and basic cooking, as well as full expedition preparation for people who may want to spend several days kayaking, sailing or hiking. The foundation course is £129 for the day, around £300 for the 2 to 3 day courses and around £700 for the 5 to 6 day advanced courses. All the courses are taught in either East Sussex or in the Lake District, which is an ideal place to put your new skills into practise.

Another excellent school of bushcraft is Woodlore in East Sussex. Many of you may have heard of Ray Mears, an expert in all things bushcraft and survival noted for his popular TV shows. Ray found this school in 1983 and it is one of the top places to get superb bushcraft training. Each course has been designed by Ray Mears himself, so you can be sure you’re in safe hands! Woodlore offers 2 day and weeklong courses as well as courses for families and children, so there is plenty here to suit everyone’s needs. This is ideal if you are looking for a family holiday activity that is truly unique!
A 2 day course at Woodlore costs around £300 and covers basics such as making shelters, fire building and cooking. Family courses that last 3 days cost £225 per person (children must be over 8) and teaches animal tracking, how to spot useful plants and trees, making shelters and even campfire games so you will be sure to leave with some fantastic memories. For the more serious bushcraft enthusiast, there are a number of expedition courses that could see you travelling to Canada or Africa, where you can immerse yourself in true wilderness with experienced course leaders by your side every step of the way.

For even more bushcraft courses, check out the British Bushcraft School in Worcestershire. Course prices range from £90 to £390 depending on the length and difficulty of the course.

There is no doubt that bushcraft is an extremely practical and rewarding set of skills to learn for anybody who enjoys being outdoors, even if it is just to go camping every now and again. With excellent campsites near the bushcraft schools, taking a course makes an ideal activity for a family holiday.