Day 2 was the first full day of our Birch Bark Canoe Building Course and spirits were high; despite the hard work ahead, the anticipation and excitement was clear to see in the students. Seeking shelter from the sun, the team worked together with master canoe builder Pinock Smith on hand and, by the end of the day, they had achieved a great deal of preparation work for this momentous project.
Birch Bark Canoe Building with Ray Mears and Pinock Smith – Day 2
This week sees an incredibly unique course taking place right here in the UK, in celebration of Woodlore’s 30th Anniversary. The Birch Bark Canoe Building Course started yesterday afternoon, and has brought together some highly influential figures from the world of Bushcraft.
Ray Mears begins carving his canoe paddle
Students of our Traditional Living Skills course were treated to a fantastic bit of al fresco dining one evening last week. In between shelter building and hand-drill practice, our Woodloreans were presented with this juicy, slow-cooked leg of lamb, courtesy of our experienced instructors:
Supper time on the Traditional Living Skills course
Supper time on the Traditional Living Skills course
Building and expanding on the skills of the Fundamental Bushcraft course, Traditional Living Skills is designed for those who wish to gain a deeper understanding of Bushcraft, and is ideal for those preparing for our Journeyman course.
The first of the Woodlore UK courses took place over the Easter bank holiday weekend. Here is some feedback from client Stuart Mason after he attended the Woodlore Introduction to Bushcraft course:
I got back today from my Introduction to Bushcraft course, taught by Keith and Mark.
I wanted to say how much I enjoyed the course, how much I learned, and home much stuff I thought I know that I unlearned! The pace and content of the course was ideal, and I have nothing but praise for the skills, patience and friendliness of both Keith and Mark.
Client shelters on the Introduction to Bushcraft course
In terms of expectations, the washing facilities were rather tough – but then I guess you don’t yet have the mastery over the weather!! Ice cold water (with ice crystals!) in a bowl.
The packing list was very useful, and I came more prepared than required, which is far more preferable to the alternative. So, I’ll be looking at the other courses available, and will now be trying to persuade a few friends to try it too.
Stuart Mason
The following post was kindly written by Woodlore Senior Course Assistant Wayne Egerton:
Woodlore Team Member Wayne Egerton
“I’m having a girlie night in tonight with some friends.” Barely had my wife finished uttering these words and my rucksack was being stuffed and hoisted onto my shoulder. I knew just the spot… a seaside location about an hour’s walk away, and usually deserted.
The weather was clear, cold (2-3 degrees) and not a breath of wind. The joy of walking on one’s own is you see and hear more; wildlife not scared away by the idle banter of a pair. A woodpecker, wren, robin and not to mention a surprised fox, and that was only on the way there.
Tarp up and fire going, just big enough to keep warm and have a brew. As light faded, the tide retreated and it was just the oyster catchers, the curlew and the chill. I’m sure a fox visited in the night, but my hat was still on my head when I woke.
Home for the night
Traditional Swedish singer Yana Mangi
As you will no doubt be aware, 2013 is a very special year for us here, as it marks Woodlore’s Thirtieth Anniversary. However, this is not the only anniversary that we will be celebrating this year – 2013 also marks the twentieth year that we have been running our Arctic Experience expeditions in Swedish Lapland. To celebrate our twentieth year in the Arctic wilderness, Woodlore have invited world-renowned Sami singer Yana Mangi to join us in our adventure. Continue reading
On Monday night Ray had the honour of hosting the 2012 St John Ambulance First Aid Awards, a ceremony which looks to celebrate the amazing and brave actions of organisations and individuals who have demonstrated their first aid skills in extraordinary circumstances.
On Monday night Ray had the honour of hosting the 2012 St John Ambulance First Aid Awards, a ceremony which looks to celebrate the amazing and brave actions of organisations and individuals who have demonstrated their first aid skills in extraordinary circumstances.
In case you haven’t already heard, 2013 is set to be a huge year for Woodlore, as it marks our 30th Anniversary! In celebration of this milestone in Woodlore’s journey, we are now proud to unveil an exclusive range of commemorative courses, expeditions, clothing and equipment.
The entire range can be found on our 30th Anniversary page, while highlights from this collection are shown below.
Best wishes,
The Woodlore Team
An exclusive opportunity to learn wood carving skills from the expert woodsman himself, Ray Mears.
Woodlore’s fundamental instructor Dan Hume shares his thoughts of Woodlore’s latest Flint Knapping courses:
Woodlore recently ran two flint knapping courses in the beautiful Sussex countryside. Guided through the skills by expert Will Lord, the weekend was based on the fascinating ‘Amesbury Archer‘, and during the course we replicated some of the tools and other items found surrounding his burial site.
Prehistoric tools of the trade
The following article was written by Aspirant Instructor and regular blogger Sarah Day:
Sarah Day
This season I’ve been working quite a variety of courses and I’ve been struck by how different they are in terms of overall feel. The Fundamental Bushcraft courses are very fast-paced, with lots of skills and lectures being crammed into the week. The Campcraft course meanwhile is slightly slower-paced, to allow for adjustments to using a heavier more powerful tool like the axe. The Tracking Course is much slower, but no less intense; I would say that it has a more academic feel – not that you spend the week studying books, but because you are encouraged to study the minutiae of the woods, to really slow down and try and take it all in.
But whatever the prevailing atmosphere on even the most intense of courses, the aim is rarely to cause stress or fear; to test you certainly, and make you push yourself, but not to actually be stressful. The WEM courses are slightly different.
We put a hell of a lot of time (usually in the evenings, that’s when you might catch us whispering and cackling in a conspiratorial way), effort and material resources (the makeup box is awesome) into turning first aid from an academic exercise to a practical one; because that’s where a lot of first aid training fails – it doesn’t prepare you for actually doing it for real.
A typically realistic first-aid scenario from the WEM3 Course
The Ray Mears & Woodlore Bushcraft Blog 