Any "family" oriented wilderness schools?

S

Shann

Joined
Sep 2, 2004
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I'd like to try to get my son off of the couch. Neither one of us knows anything about wilderness survival and I"d like to try going to a weekend school or something. I dont want too much "extreme" camping, I'm not in good shape and my son have some "issues"

Is there something like that in Northern New England? Thanks as always.
 
I would say the basics are how to start a camp fire, how to build a shelter, and how to obtain food and clean water. If something ever happened in the UK, you would get both a good and bad scenario IMO. It would be hard to get off the island and hard for any outside threats to get to the island. Other than rural areas in Scotland, are there any areas you can truly call the boonies in UK? I'm sure that if you are close to an army base, some of the guys on base should know where classes of this nature are taking place. I always knew that my father could probably survive on his own if he was thrown into the wilderness with just a knife, and I mean the true wilderness, like that of Montana or the Yukon, or Alaska. I just recently realized how attuned he is, a great trapper, hunter, fisherman, tracker etc. Family friends that he hunted with say that he was a great tracker, and was very quiet and nimble. I love my pop, but now he only appears to be nimble from the amount of methane he produces, it propels him along :D . Seriously, he is very knowledgeable of the outdoors. However, unfortunately, I didn't learn the basics from him, like starting a fire, or building a shelter. He has always worked long hours, and I never dogged him about it. I am currently looking for a tape, or instructions on how to start a fire. I realize that matches are a big part of it, I also have an emergency lighter, one that you use with a knive, shave fuel off, and then on the other side, create some sparks until you get a fire going. I want to know how it was done before the invention of that! How to get a fire going with just some wood and some dried grass, etc. If you don't know how to obtain fire, food and water or shelter, you're pretty much screwed!
 
I agree with Quiet Bear, Coyote Tracks, would be the place to start with.
 
I would go with Coyote Tracks as well. Tom Brown is in NJ & FL that shouldn't be too far for someone on the East coast.
I checked the site you listed, I've never heard of them. Not to say they’re no good, they may be. But you never know. Better to go with someone with a proven track record I would say. Tom Brown would be the closest to you I think. Next would be BOSS (Boulder Outdoor Survival School) in Boulder, CO., Cody Lundin of Aboriginal Living Skills School in Arizona or Earthwalk Northwest in Washington. Those four have the best reputations in the country that I know of. Hope that helps.

Ric
 
Go for it. Thay are geared primarily to adults but have very cool classes kids can take. I took from them 2 years ago a fire class and I did learn new tricks. Call them and tell your needs they will accomidate.

Also check out the moosedung gazette on the site.
 
Yans,
You say you've dealt with these guys before? Can you give us a recount of you experience with them? I am always looking for good new places to learn and hone my skill maybe pick up some new ideas. So if these guys got it I for one would like to hear about it. Thanks.

Ric
 
I plan on taking more from them in the future. The only class to date I took from them was the fire class which is not offered yet this year but most likely will be. Tjhe crew was very knowledgable and the staff did take time to help out people that could not just hang. The handouts were well done and readable and all instructions clear. They had all the materials on hand and all you needed was your lonch. I want to take the packbasket class next and I know I will love it.

Other options are Hunters zed classes run by the state. I teach in Ma. the Map Compass and survival class in Westminster and they are free. To get your kid off the couch and outside also check out www.geocaching.com Kids dig that also and you are garenteed to have them in your town.
 
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