The Bushcraft Challenge

I love working and being outdoors (which helps when you work at Running Deer) and part of why I enjoy it so much is because I get to work at and pass on my love of bushcraft skills.

Bushcraft encompasses many things, but to me it is about learning and practicing practical outdoor skills. These can be as simple as tying a knot, using a knife or identifying a tree. Or they can be complicated projects like constructing a waterproof shelter or lighting a fire using friction alone. All this knowledge is both fun and easy to pick up, but you can spend years learning to master it and you never stop gaining new knowledge.

At Running Deer we are introducing more bushcraft skills into our curriculum this year by way of the Bushcraft Fabulous Forty Challenge. The challenges range from toasting a marshmallow to using a map and everything inbetween. The students will work towards four levels (bronze, silver, gold and platinum) gaining a certificate and reward for every 10 challenges they complete.

These challenges, whilst based on bushcraft, will teach other life lessons along the way too. Patience, perseverance, resilience and teamwork to name a few.

I’m looking forward to the challenge of the project, and hope the students will enjoy learning about bushcraft as much as I enjoy teaching it.

If you’d like to find out more about bushcraft you can do with you kids at home then check out www.bushkiddz.co.uk for information. Their website has some great ideas for activities you can try in your garden, especially helpful during times like these whilst home schooling.