I offer private or closed-class instruction and off-site courses
Some folks prefer either one on one instruction or familiar faces so all class offerings are upon request, available for individuals or small groups. This will cost a little more depending on the class, number of participants and time of year. I can also travel to your location. Along with most of the course offerings I can offer a myriad of other experiences such as identifying natural materials and resources on your land, designing a workshop space specific to building bows or an area for hide tanning. If you have a specific idea of a custom class here with me or at your location contact me and we’ll explore some ideas.
Give me a holler to discuss your interests:
305-797-0414
bushcraftforbipeds@gmail.com
Welcome to the Wilderness
We’ve compiled a “bucket load” of skills, ideas & topics we feel are necessary to begin a healthy, fulfilling and ethical relationship with the world outdoors. This course is a practical balance of theory, discussion and hands-on skills.
Class will begin by discussing the differences and commonalities between urban survival, primitive skills and bushcraft. Then we’ll spend the next two days using and sharpening various cutting tools, learning different methods, materials and techniques to make fire, constructing natural and synthetic shelters, making cordage, finding and identifying a plethora of edible, medicinal and useful plants and wilderness navigation.
We will also discuss the importance of topics like thermoregulation, wilderness medicine, water purification and rescue signaling. This is our entry-level class, and is designed to be fun and attainable for anyone who enjoys the outdoors (minimal physical activity required). This is an overnight course that offers students the opportunity to sleep in the shelters they create during class. Feel free to bring your own tent if you would like.
$170.00 per person
Sewing Buffalo and Buckskin Leather Bags
Having a way to carry materials and tools is a must have for outdoor and indoor types alike. A shoulder bag helps consolidate all your stuff and frees up your hands to complete tasks. If our Sewing Buckskin Bags class is an Bachelor’s degree, this Buffalo Bag class is the PhD. All participants will choose a pattern, measure their individual “carry” length, cut out a front, back, 1, 2 or 3 front flaps, gusset or capacity extender, an inside pocket, buckskin lacing and a shoulder strap and ultimately produce either a medium sized Buckskin bag or an extra-large Buffalo shoulder bag. We will also discuss how to add beadwork and other decorations to personalize your bag.
Buffalo leather and buckskin, all tools and materials provided
$85.00 per person for a Buckskin bag
$120.00 per person for a Buffalo Bag
Natural Cordage, Basketmaking and Spoon Carving
This full day workshop will teach you how to produce rope, make a basket and carve a spoon with all naturally harvested materials. We’ll begin by processing and twisting Dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum) into strong practical cordage capable of binding saplings for a shelter, building a fish trap, lacing up shoes or stringing a hunting bow. Next we’ll move to the forest fringe to select and harvest different native and invasive plants that are ideal for making woven baskets. Students will then learn to bend, and weave the materials into a beautiful spoked basket. Once we are finished with our baskets, learn to use different tools to reduce a piece of Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) or Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) into a beautiful, functional spoon perfect for cooking and eating with. At the end of this workshop, everyone will have a basket, a length of natural rope and a hand made spoon to take home with them.
All materials and tools provided.
$70.00 per person
Introduction to Friction Fire
This class will introduce students to skills necessary to make fire without using modern devices and materials. Fundamentals and components of the bow and hand drills will be demonstrated and taught as well as different natural tinders and coal extenders. You will have a new appreciation for fire after completing this class!
All participants will leave with a complete bow drill set.
$75.00 per person
Fermentation Celebration
Fermented foods and beverages are present in virtually every culture on Earth and are a vital part of a healthy digestive system. This course will introduce you to the history and basics of Lacto-fermentation and all the equipment necessary to produce ferments in your own kitchen.
This full day class will teach you how to make Sauerkraut, Kimchi, Jun, and Kombucha.
For the Sauerkraut and Kimchi session we will visit every stage of the process, from the cutting board, to the brining versus sweating, to the jarring up of our creation. Everyone will take a prepared jar of each home with them.
For the Jun and Kombucha session we will begin with a tasting. You will then meet a SCOBY or “Mother”, different fermentation vessels, fermentable sugars, and favorite recipes.
At the end of the day, everyone will leave with a SCOBY and container, as well as a mature jar of Kombucha.
$75.00 per person
Stone Tools
This one day class introduces participants to the principal skills and techniques used for thousands of years to create usable cutting tools from natural materials. Students will be introduced to particular rocks suitable for tool making, hammer stones, antler & copper billets and pressure flakers. Hafting techniques, natural glues and abrading techniques for stone celt production will also be demonstrated. All participants will create an stone tool (or two) to take home with them.
All materials and safety equipment included.
$75.00 per person
Hide Tanning
Tanning animal hides is not that complicated once you understand a few simple rules. This class is intended to be very affordable so if you are interested in a more intensive experience, such as brain tanning buckskin please contact us and we can arrange a multi day class. Participants will learn about tanning all types of animal hides using several different natural and chemical tanning solution methods such as brain tanning, egg tanning, glycerin and bark tanning. Students will learn to make a stretching rack and properly prepare a hide for tanning. We will discuss and demonstrate wet and dry scrape methods, learn to carefully “flesh out” or remove fats and membranes from any type of animal hide using several hide tanning tools. We will discuss and “smoke” an already brain tanned hide over an open fire. Upon completion of this course, ALL participants will be able to turn a “green” hide into leather at home.
We will be using fresh hair-on hides during this class so plan to get a little dirty!
If you have your own hides and/or would like to make a stretching rack to take home with you, call us at least a week before the class date so we have all materials on hand.
$85.00 per person
$120.00 to make and take your own stretching rack
Hickory Long Bow Class
The device we refer to as a “bow” has been around for approximately 10,000 years. It has fed us, protected us and amused us on target ranges. The bow exists on every continent and has it’s own unique designs in virtually every culture on earth. This course will introduce you to process of making this tool. We will be working with Mockernut Hickory (Carya Tomentosa) one of the most user friendly bow woods available. Students will start out with a 5-6’ seasoned stave and using a hatchet, different rasps and woodworking tools shape a split log into a working functional self bow. Hickory stave, all tools and material to make a string for your bow are all included.
$425.00 per person, 4 students MAX