Primitive Survival Skills 101 Workshop
You're without daily necessities, caught in an urban/natural disaster; could you survive for a week or more until help arrives?
A scenario....'You're canoeing a wild river in upstate Maine, days from any other people and cell service. You beach the canoe and go for a hike, when you get back your canoe with all of your gear has gone down the river and is not to be found.' Could you survive with nothing but a knife and the supplies that nature gives us until you hike out or someone finds you ? With the knowledge gained in this workshop and some practice on your part, you should be able to make it for weeks until help arrives.
This is an adult workshop that covers the four skill-sets listed below that are required to keep us alive; we will also discuss the mental/emotional aspects of survival. Darwin said: "It isn't the strongest or most intelligent that survive, it is those that are most adaptable to change." No doubt being in good physical shape will help you, but discipline, determination, and practice are a must.
This workshop is my favorite because you do things and make things that will stay with you the rest of your life. It is an especially good workshop for those of you who lead outdoor classes, hikes, floats or any activity where you could be without support for days at a time. This workshop is about primitive survival skills but it will also cover modern equivalents for each skill set, I would rather you be alive than a purist !
The Primitive Survival Skills Workshop covers these four basic skill sets:
SHELTER The class will make a shelter, made with natural materials and with no tools, that will keep you alive down to -10 degrees.
WATER We will discuss where to find water and show ways to collect and purify it. Some natural containers will be shown and I will discuss how to burn out your own container.
FIRE We'll start out showing several fire setups that I feel work best and discuss fire pit specs and location. Friction fire will be made with the bow drill, pump drill, and hand drill. We'll discuss all the native trees and plants that are suitable for fire boards, spindles and tinder bundles. Materials will be supplied for your own bow drill setups that you will make in class and there will be plenty of time for hands on practice. We will also go over the more common, modern methods of starting fires and which ones I feel are best for your outdoor/BOB/EDC bag.
FOOD There will be a discussion of the major food groups that are in the wild. Traps, snares and throwing/digging sticks will be demonstrated and made in class. We'll walk and sample/identify some of the local wild edibles.
CORDAGE Finally, to 'tie' everything together, we will make cordage from natural, native materials.
This will be a busy, hands-on workshop that runs from 9AM to 4PM. All materials will be provided for making your own bow/hand drill setups. Please wear appropriate clothes and bring food, water and a sharp knife. Completed bow drill and pump drill setups will be available for purchase. The next Primitive Survival skills 101 workshop will be December 7, 2019 in Fluvanna county, Va., 22963 Directions will follow as class nears. In the event that we do not have enough attendees to make a class all payments will be refunded. This workshop can also be held at a location/date of your choice with a minimum of 6 attendees.
Class size is limited to 12 students (age 14 and older w/guardian) and the cost is $75 per student.
A scenario....'You're canoeing a wild river in upstate Maine, days from any other people and cell service. You beach the canoe and go for a hike, when you get back your canoe with all of your gear has gone down the river and is not to be found.' Could you survive with nothing but a knife and the supplies that nature gives us until you hike out or someone finds you ? With the knowledge gained in this workshop and some practice on your part, you should be able to make it for weeks until help arrives.
This is an adult workshop that covers the four skill-sets listed below that are required to keep us alive; we will also discuss the mental/emotional aspects of survival. Darwin said: "It isn't the strongest or most intelligent that survive, it is those that are most adaptable to change." No doubt being in good physical shape will help you, but discipline, determination, and practice are a must.
This workshop is my favorite because you do things and make things that will stay with you the rest of your life. It is an especially good workshop for those of you who lead outdoor classes, hikes, floats or any activity where you could be without support for days at a time. This workshop is about primitive survival skills but it will also cover modern equivalents for each skill set, I would rather you be alive than a purist !
The Primitive Survival Skills Workshop covers these four basic skill sets:
SHELTER The class will make a shelter, made with natural materials and with no tools, that will keep you alive down to -10 degrees.
WATER We will discuss where to find water and show ways to collect and purify it. Some natural containers will be shown and I will discuss how to burn out your own container.
FIRE We'll start out showing several fire setups that I feel work best and discuss fire pit specs and location. Friction fire will be made with the bow drill, pump drill, and hand drill. We'll discuss all the native trees and plants that are suitable for fire boards, spindles and tinder bundles. Materials will be supplied for your own bow drill setups that you will make in class and there will be plenty of time for hands on practice. We will also go over the more common, modern methods of starting fires and which ones I feel are best for your outdoor/BOB/EDC bag.
FOOD There will be a discussion of the major food groups that are in the wild. Traps, snares and throwing/digging sticks will be demonstrated and made in class. We'll walk and sample/identify some of the local wild edibles.
CORDAGE Finally, to 'tie' everything together, we will make cordage from natural, native materials.
This will be a busy, hands-on workshop that runs from 9AM to 4PM. All materials will be provided for making your own bow/hand drill setups. Please wear appropriate clothes and bring food, water and a sharp knife. Completed bow drill and pump drill setups will be available for purchase. The next Primitive Survival skills 101 workshop will be December 7, 2019 in Fluvanna county, Va., 22963 Directions will follow as class nears. In the event that we do not have enough attendees to make a class all payments will be refunded. This workshop can also be held at a location/date of your choice with a minimum of 6 attendees.
Class size is limited to 12 students (age 14 and older w/guardian) and the cost is $75 per student.
