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Some personal ideas, thoughts, ramblings and opinions.
I was chatting to someone enquiring about an introduction to bushcraft course the other day,. When I was asked what the difference between bushcraft and survival was.
It is a question that pops up on most courses and one which I usually answer with a simple "Bushcraft means you chose to be there, survival is when you would rather be somewhere else."
But it got me to thinking about peoples perceptions of bushcraft and survival and what it is that actually separates them both.
I know when I first started spending time in the outdoors I didn't ever stop to think what the correct term for what I was doing is. Until I was given my very own copy of Lofty Wiseman's book, at which point it became survival. As I spent more time in the outdoors and came to become an outdoor pursuits instructor, my interests changed and I became a climber, a surfer a snowboarder and the skills that I had learnt just became the things that I did when I was in the outdoors.
Well I am home and unpacked after a great few days at this years Wilderness gathering.
It had been something of a last minute trip after original plans fell through and new opportunities arose. Mainly the offer of free tickets in return for some work with Lone Scout bushcraft. Ian was organising the activities for the younger bushcrafters (the coyote kids.) and never seemed to be still for longer than 5 minutes so I spent a while manning his stand and pointing a lot of very enthusiastic Kids to the right bushcraft courses that had been laid on as part of the weekend.
As it was I barely got chance to do much more than empty my bank account and catch up with some old friends, but did have some insightful chats and listen to some interesting Bushcraft and tracking discussions. There was certainly plenty to keep me occupied and without being too much of a bore Ill recount some of the highlights.
It seems that each time I have to leave the woods for home it becomes that little bit more difficult.
Having been in the woods for the last 5 days returning home was something of a trial, more so as it was one of the few times I spend with the Shadowhawk team. A bunch of Trackers with whom I have been associated for the past 6 years.
I try and get along to help Max with his courses a few times every year, and am always greeted into camp by old friends. All excited about the upcoming course and arrival of new students who are as yet unaware of the wonders that the next few days will bring.
Tea and the art of survival.
It doesn't take long for anyone who spends time with me in the woods starts to notice I have a mild addiction to tea. In fact some might go so far as to say that my sole purpose in making any fire is in order to get the kettle on ASAP.
But tea to me is one of the most crucial elements in any survival situation.
Had a fairly uneventful dog walk apart from a few swallows flying low along our path and the usual panoramas of Bideford bay.
But as always every walk I find something to study, ponder and identify.
Not my ancient bash proof phone but the hairy little fella' on the path next to it.
It seems that there is more to schools in the forest than just forest schools.
Having been working recently with small groups of students from Bideford College I am starting to find all sorts of new potential for the wilderness as a true outdoor classroom. I have always felt that forest schools was just a scratch on the surface of all the potential that the wilderness has to offer in learning but kept schtum as with no true experience I had no right to comment.
However with the acceptance that it is only as good as the leader I have found that for certain students there is so much to learn in the woods and wilds. skills and subjects that are not often thought of and sometimes purposefully avoided by many schools.
Having worked closely with the SEN department at the college I am finding a great many ways that WildPath can help staff and pupils alike.
Was pootling along the beach doing my usual tracking of the various dogs and grockels. when my other half got a text from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR)
Turns out just up the beach someone had reported seeing a stranded seal pup. So we headed on up to see what we could do.
