Location: Force Knott Wood, Satterthwaite, Cumbria, LA12 8LQ
Back by popular demand, renamed (as there is very little true Wilderness in Cumbria) but the content is the same. Duncan Goulder is a very thorough and skilled trainer who will guide you through the basics of survival in the wild from fire lighting and shelter building to wild food and woodland products like cord and kindling.
Details:
This course covers the basic skills and knowledge required to begin to fully immerse yourself in nature, and interact as a ‘participant’ rather than an ‘observer’ when spending time in the natural environment. Please note that there is an additonal material charge of £30 to be paid to the tutor on the day.
The course will equip you to spend extended periods in the outdoors with reduced reliance on expensive technical equipment that really only serves as a barrier between you and nature in order to keep you comfortable.
With knowledge and experience, the natural world can provide everything we need to live comfortably in the outdoors, allowing you to really absorb and become one with the ‘real’ physical world around you.
We will cover practical skills such as ‘reliable’ fire lighting methods (without matches, & even in a rain-storm), wild camping (without a tent), how to find water and make it safe to drink, natural navigation, wild foods, campfire cooking, how to use a knife safely & effectively, animal tracking, and much more.
From beginning to end we will adhere to good “leave no trace” practices so that you can always leave a site undamaged and looking almost as though no one has been there. Yet, you will take away with you a set of real and transferable life skills, a deepened appreciation for nature, and the confidence to spend more time immersed in the outdoors learning nature’s secrets.
This course differs from other bushcraft courses in that we focus on how to slow down and take lessons from the natural word around us through observation and natural history knowledge. We will learn to adapt and align our selves with the environment so that our actions are in time with the rhythm of nature rather than independent of, and superimposed upon it.
The course will involve the following elements:
•Natural navigation,
•Wild food identification and preparation
•Safe use of a ‘survival’ knife for splitting, cutting and shaping wood;
•Harvesting and preparing tinder
•Reliable, non-weather dependant, fire lighting skills, including friction (rubbing sticks together).
•Outdoor cooking
•Natural shelter building (water-tight, wind proof, insulated shelters from sticks & leaf-mould
What to wear and bring: Participants should bring sturdy footwear, waterproofs & camping gear, we recommend wearing old clothes.
Materials: £30 to be paid to the tutor on the day
Age Limit: Courses are designed for 18years and over. If you are under 18, please contact us on rusland.horizons@lakedistrict.gov.uk to discuss other opportunities.
Meals: All food and camping for Sat & Sun provided, bring something for dinner on Friday eve, BBQ available.
Directions: Meet by Force Mill Barn, Force Mill, Satterthwaite LA12 8LQ
•Take the A590 between Kendal and Barrow
•If coming from Kendal direction, at Haverthwaite crossroads, just past the steam trains on the right, turn right onto Lane Ends.
•If coming from Barrow direction, turn left at Haverthwaite crossroads (the first left after the Rusland Pool Hotel)
•After a third of a mile turn right at the T junction and follow the brown signs for Grizedale and Satterthwaite.
•At the t Junction at Force Mill turn left and the barn is on the left.
Grid reference: SD340910
Weather:
It is your instructor's responsibility to ensure your safety. In the event of exceptionally poor or dangerous weather conditions the course may need to be cancelled.
Please note that we are unable to offer refunds for any part of a course altered at short notice because of the weather.
Please contact Rebecca at rebecca.oaks@btinternet.com or your instructor if you have any questions.
FAQs
Course Fees – Concessions, we are not offering concessions this year but if you would like to attend and the cost is prohibitive please do contact us via email to rusland.horizons@lakedistrict.gov.uk to see if we can help.
Cancellation
In order to receive a full refund, you must notify us 30 days of the course start date that you are unable to attend.