ADULT INTRODUCTION TO BUSHCRAFT COURSES

 

COURSE CONTENT

Over the two days you will be shown and get hands on experience of:

Friction firelighting (make your own bow and drill set)

Shelter Building

Wild Food (preparing meat is optional)

Knife use and tool making

 

You will get the chance to sleep out in our secure woodland in a hammock or a shelter that you have built yourself and cook your meals over a real fire (that you have lit). Both weekends will be delivered by Bushcraft Professional Mark Fox (IOL Bushcraft Practitioner). They always have a relaxed atmosphere and go at the pace of the participants to ensure you get the most out of them. You will get the chance to learn some great new skills, spend the weekend away from your hectic lifestyles and computers and phones.... in the heart of some beautiful woodland.

 

COURSE DETAILS

The courses are based at Stanley Head OEC, start at 11.00 on the Saturday and finish at 16.00 on the Sunday. All food is provided and tea and coffee will be available throughout the weekend. Please note that alcohol is not on the menu and we ask that you don't bring any with you.

 

The cost for the course is £130 per person and includes all food. Also included in the price is a professional Mora bushcraft knife for you to take home with you. You must be 18 or over to attend this course.

 

To book on one of these courses, please call 01782 503208 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

 

 

 BUSHCRAFT

Ever watched Ray Mears and thought how much fun it would be to have a go at some of the things he does? At Stanley Head, we can offer you a range of tailor-made courses to suit your requirements.

If this is completely new to you, you might want to book on our introductory weekend where we will teach you the basics of bushcraft. If you are looking for something more in depth, then a 5 day course is ideal for you. Courses will be running throughout the year so contact the centre for dates and prices.

Our courses are run on site in our own 20 acres of diverse and beautiful woodland providing the additional bonus of spending time right in the thick of nature, on the bank of Stanley Reservoir. What better ways are there to spend a weekend?

So What Exactly is Bushcraft?

The whole ethos of bushcraft is about living amongst nature using only natural resources to eat, drink, stay warm and keep dry. Over many generations, we have lost many of the wonderful skills that our ancestors possessed and through bushcraft you can learn to use what is around you without using the environmentally damaging power sources we have come to rely on.

Bushcraft can be split into several distinct sections:

Fire Lighting
There is nothing like the satisfaction of lighting your own fire without matches or a lighter. We will teach you how to light a fire using friction, then keep it lit and provide warmth and to cook over. Nothing tastes so good as food you have prepared and cooked yourself over a fire you have started and prepared!

Wild Food
You might be amazed at just how much in your garden is not only edible, but is also actually quite tasty. We will show you how to identify edible plants and then how best to prepare them for eating. For example, did you know that nettle leaves can be eaten straight off the plant, as can dandelion leaves?

Catching, preparing and eating wild animals, birds and fish is a perfectly acceptable way of living off the land providing that it is within the laws of the country and only what is needed is killed. It is also absolutely essential that you know what you’re doing before attempting this.  This part of bushcraft will not suit everyone and so is an optional part of any course we deliver. However, if it is something you are interested in you can expect to learn about various hunting and tracking techniques and how to prepare and cook your catch.

Natural Shelters
Staying warm and dry is essential so if you are planning to spend a night out in the wild, a shelter is essential. We will show you how to build something sturdy and waterproof using just what you find in our woodland.

Please note that if you are attending a course of more than one day, you do not have to sleep in your shelter. Alternative accommodation can be provided if you are unsure.

Tools and Gadgets
Just because you’re out in the wild doesn’t mean you have to eat with your fingers or sit on the floor! We can show you ways of turning what is around you into useful tools and items to provide a little comfort.

Navigation
How can you find north without a compass? We will show you a number of ways just by looking at what is around us.

Corporate Bookings

Are you looking for a team building activity with a difference? Why not book us to deliver a course specifically for your team. All you need to do is turn up and we will organise the whole day for you.

Stag and Hen Weekends

Not everyone wants to go to Amsterdam, and you might think that the likes of Prague and Dublin are getting a bit clichéd. Plus the fact that all these weekend breaks are playing havoc with the planet! For something completely different and at the opposite end of the carbon footprint scale, why not book a weekend of bushcraft. Contact the Centre to see just what we can do for you.

School Parties

Not your normal day out, but that is just one of the benefits. For young people, this is an excellent medium for teaching the values of respecting the environment, how our actions directly impact on nature, and teaching the importance of being responsible with fire.