Why Bushcraft?
What is the point of it? Especially in an era when, lets face it – learning how to light fires by rubbing sticks together and breaking rocks to make tools are really rather redundant techniques. What’s the point in learning how to survive in the wilderness?...We have evolved to walk, forage, saw, chop, haul, hunker, dig, gather, fish, trap, climb, wade, hide, observe, think, understand and smile. For me personally, bushcraft is about knowing and experiencing, if only for just a little while, what it means to be a human being. It’s something visceral that stirs inside…its real…
For some bushcraft is simply a set of skills that enable them to exceed their limits, to go further and experience more; the serious independent adventure travellers who want to become self-reliant and enjoy the freedom to travel in real wilderness.
For others bushcraft gives them an invisible tool-set that helps them to feel confident, so that they could take control in an emergency and look after their friends and loved ones. The empowerment of self-reliance can help to alleviate the anxiety of potential disaster like extreme weather caused by global warming. I no longer think “it will never happen to me” after witnessing the devastating flooding in Cockermouth one average rainy afternoon. We live in increasingly unpredictable times.
For many it is about passing on the skills to young folks, and this doesn’t only apply to parents, but also to scout leaders, forest schools tutors, expedition leaders, military personnel and instructors, wildlife rangers, etc. Although I think it's partly just an excuse to reignite your own childhood thirst for discovery!
But for the majority, I think it is about taking time out and to re-connect with the wild, to satisfy a compelling thirst for something different, and to spend time with like-minded people who have similar interests. Many of us live hectic lives, suffering from a time-famine and are thwarted by our urbanised lifestyles.
Taking a bushcraft course can offer a chance to enjoy the time honoured traditions of foraging, berry-picking, crafting, wandering and learning - slowing down to de-compress and de-stress. For many it is the courageous first step on a new path to rediscover one's instincts and what it's like to be human again.
For some bushcraft is simply a set of skills that enable them to exceed their limits, to go further and experience more; the serious independent adventure travellers who want to become self-reliant and enjoy the freedom to travel in real wilderness.
For others bushcraft gives them an invisible tool-set that helps them to feel confident, so that they could take control in an emergency and look after their friends and loved ones. The empowerment of self-reliance can help to alleviate the anxiety of potential disaster like extreme weather caused by global warming. I no longer think “it will never happen to me” after witnessing the devastating flooding in Cockermouth one average rainy afternoon. We live in increasingly unpredictable times. For many it is about passing on the skills to young folks, and this doesn’t only apply to parents, but also to scout leaders, forest schools tutors, expedition leaders, military personnel and instructors, wildlife rangers, etc. Although I think it's partly just an excuse to reignite your own childhood thirst for discovery!
But for the majority, I think it is about taking time out and to re-connect with the wild, to satisfy a compelling thirst for something different, and to spend time with like-minded people who have similar interests. Many of us live hectic lives, suffering from a time-famine and are thwarted by our urbanised lifestyles.
Taking a bushcraft course can offer a chance to enjoy the time honoured traditions of foraging, berry-picking, crafting, wandering and learning - slowing down to de-compress and de-stress. For many it is the courageous first step on a new path to rediscover one's instincts and what it's like to be human again.
Really, what are you waiting for....get involved!'