Fieldcraft..
Fieldcraft is not some new game... but, rather it is a combination of both real knowledge and real skill... not the pretend variety picked up in a magazine.
...and it is much more than simply carrying a big knife and wearing an oversized watch.
Working for 25 years as a guide, as well as a wilderness and mountain first responder, and more than 40 years as on outdoor skills instructor, I've seen a tremendous number of folks head off into the mountains as if they were heading off into their local city park.. assured that if something doesn't go as planned, they simply just need to call for assistance and help will arrive... (after all, that's what "help" does isn't it? ...sit around and wait to be needed...hardly.)
I even had one person tell me, after having been confused about his location for about 8 hours, that he had just assumed survival and getting "found" was just like folks thought learning to swim was like.. you fall in water and you magically start to swim.....
It was not the time to tell him that in those situations.. its more often sink... than swim.
The reality is, with a bit of knowledge, forethought and preparation, in other words, "being prepared", the enjoyment of an excursion into the wilderness and the success of an adventure can be increased exponentially... if nothing more than having the confidence that if something doesn't go according to plan, you, not "help", will know exactly what to do.
The old saying, "ignorance is bliss" seems to rule here in the mid Atlantic. The mountains are sometimes forgiving enough and the distance from the urban centers are short enough that most folks just figure that they cannot get into too much trouble... they can always "call for help". The reality could not be further from the truth.
The term fieldcraft is a really broad topic... it can mean anything from what to take for an afternoon hike, to how to find your way with a map and magnetic compass all the way to stealth and concealment from being discovered or seen.
From my work as a wilderness first responder and our collective experiences in a wide variety of outdoor settings and activities, we have developed a core collection of skills classes that we feel represent key skills for an outdoor adventurer, be they a novice outdoors person, a family intent on getting the kids comfortable in nature or an old hand looking to refresh skills.
For us, our fieldcraft courses include:
-outdoor skills for first responders.. with focus on managing the patients climate
-basic outdoor survival, both one-day and two-day* courses
-basic outdoor skills, for hikers, paddlers, anyone who goes into the outdoors
-navigation with map and compass.....never be lost again!
-wilderness first aid.
For all courses, we include the development of amazing superpowers:
-knots, (that really work!);
-fire building, (without matches, when all is wet);
-shelter, from the cold and wet, and hot and dry ;
-signaling, (calling for help without a phone);
-water acquisition;
-direction finding, without a compass;
-useful plants, including wild edibles;
-and, basic wilderness wisdom.
Our location or yours, this is a great way to develop self-confidence and an amazing team building activity.
Working for 25 years as a guide, as well as a wilderness and mountain first responder, and more than 40 years as on outdoor skills instructor, I've seen a tremendous number of folks head off into the mountains as if they were heading off into their local city park.. assured that if something doesn't go as planned, they simply just need to call for assistance and help will arrive... (after all, that's what "help" does isn't it? ...sit around and wait to be needed...hardly.)
It was not the time to tell him that in those situations.. its more often sink... than swim.
The reality is, with a bit of knowledge, forethought and preparation, in other words, "being prepared", the enjoyment of an excursion into the wilderness and the success of an adventure can be increased exponentially... if nothing more than having the confidence that if something doesn't go according to plan, you, not "help", will know exactly what to do.
The old saying, "ignorance is bliss" seems to rule here in the mid Atlantic. The mountains are sometimes forgiving enough and the distance from the urban centers are short enough that most folks just figure that they cannot get into too much trouble... they can always "call for help". The reality could not be further from the truth.
The term fieldcraft is a really broad topic... it can mean anything from what to take for an afternoon hike, to how to find your way with a map and magnetic compass all the way to stealth and concealment from being discovered or seen.
From my work as a wilderness first responder and our collective experiences in a wide variety of outdoor settings and activities, we have developed a core collection of skills classes that we feel represent key skills for an outdoor adventurer, be they a novice outdoors person, a family intent on getting the kids comfortable in nature or an old hand looking to refresh skills.
For us, our fieldcraft courses include:-outdoor skills for first responders.. with focus on managing the patients climate
-basic outdoor survival, both one-day and two-day* courses
-basic outdoor skills, for hikers, paddlers, anyone who goes into the outdoors
-navigation with map and compass.....never be lost again!
-wilderness first aid.
For all courses, we include the development of amazing superpowers:
-knots, (that really work!);
-fire building, (without matches, when all is wet);
-shelter, from the cold and wet, and hot and dry ;
-signaling, (calling for help without a phone);
-water acquisition;
-direction finding, without a compass;
-useful plants, including wild edibles;
-and, basic wilderness wisdom.
Our location or yours, this is a great way to develop self-confidence and an amazing team building activity.
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