COURSE DESCRIPTION 

Embark on an exhilarating journey into the world of wilderness craftsmanship with our Artisan of Woodcraft survival class! Immerse yourself in a range of captivating topics that will awaken your primal instincts and ignite your passion for the great outdoors. From weaving and mastering the art of an Israeli shepherd’s sling to carving and shooting a PaiPai hunting bow, you’ll unlock ancient skills that have stood the test of time. Picture yourself crafting snowshoes, Huaraches, and other modes of travel, while also learning to build indigenous camp kitchens and traditional watercraft like canoes and coracles. Unleash your creativity as you delve into the intricacies of thatching roofs, crafting bark baskets and packs, and mastering the art of cordage. With each knot tied and notch carved, you’ll demonstrate your proficiency in knife handling, fire-starting techniques, and practical applications. Join us on this thrilling journey where survival skills meet craftsmanship, and unleash your inner artisan of woodcraft!

It is often said that the wheel is the greatest invention of all time, but those who spend time in the field would argue the wheel is an incredibly useful tool with a really great publicist.   Did you know that not a single indigenous American people ever invented the wheel? It was the clever use of physics, knots, cordage, and notches that allowed America’s first peoples to thrive for thousands of years. In fact, people from around the world relied on notches and cordage to build ships, cabins, chairs, cooking apparatus and more. This class is all about the amazing ingenuity of our ancestors and how we can use basic skills, creativity, and human adaptability to become truly comfortable on both long term and short adventures. Every class is different based on class interests, class size and resources of the season, but here are examples students have enjoyed in the past.

COURSE TOPICS

• Weaving and using an Israeli shepherd’s sling
• Carving shaping and shooting a PaiPai hunting bow
• Making snow shoes, Huaraches and other modes of travel
• Carving and using indigenous camp kitchens
• Building a canoe, Bull Boat, or Coracle
• Thatching roofs and other long-term living shelter skills
• Bark baskets, packs, and other containers
• Making cordage and using it
• Building large and small projects with basic tools
• Making a Capote coat and other survival gear

COURSE OUTCOMES AND DEMONSTRATED SKILLS

• You show proficient use of knives and knots to effectively perform multiple functions
• You understand the importance of knife safely and demonstrate correct use and care for a knife
• You will use your knife to improve your fire starting skills and techniques
• You will carve a variety of notches and use them in practical applications
• You will tie a variety of knots and understand the practical applications for each knot