IOL Bushcraft, Survival and Wilderness Living SIG
22nd June 2007
Windlehill Farm, Sutton on the Hill, Ashbourne, Derbyshire DE6 5JH
Join us for our first meeting to discuss the way forward in establishing Bushcraft and related skills into a recognised, workable format for the benefit of the many practitioners who use these inspiring skills.
IOL Bushcraft Special Interest Group (SIG)
Proposal outline
The name of the group:
Bushcraft, Survival and Wilderness Living Skills
Proposed Aims
a) To create universally accepted working procedures for the running of basic sessions relating to the subject in order to establish good/best practice especially in the subjects of wild food use/consumption, safe shelter construction and tool safety.
b) To help safeguard the growing industry in use of Bushcraft skills recognising that it can easily be misused due to lack of clear boundaries e.g. Survival training could involve a large amount of modern equipment e.g. Tarps, compass, canoes, ropes, ration packs; where as Bushcraft should focus primarily on the understanding and use of the natural resources of the countryside and the students initiative.
c) To establish good, appropriate / cost effective training for anyone using related skills.
d) To suggest clarity of training/experience that should be obtained in order to run various types of ventures recognising that there is a vast difference between running a simple 2-hour initiative session with shelter building and an overnight camp.
Members Support for the SIG
It was important that there was enough initial experience from a variety of backgrounds so that we can be truly objective in our approach to each given task.
Those who wish to be part of the SIG so far are:
Dave Watson Woodland Survival Crafts
Jonny Crocket Survival School
Sarah Robertshaw Step Out Training and Therapy
Roger Harrington Bison Bushcraft
Terry Hailwood Low Mill Outdoor Centre
Within this group we have a wide range of expertise that includes Forest School Leader, Outdoor Pursuit Instructors, Outdoor Education Manager/Program Developer, Expedition Leaders, some of the most experienced and established Bushcraft/Survival trainers in the country.
Aims consistent with those of the Institute for Outdoor Learning
At the heart of good Bushcraft and Wilderness Living practices are true sustainability and environmental sensitivity.
We believe in utilising/understanding our environment through first hand experience more than theory. Good Bushcraft /Survival challenges the perceptions of what is around us in an exciting and positive way. Consequently, it is an ideal tool to challenge the perceptions of ourselves/students in a positive way.
Criteria for Membership
Members will need to be current IOL members and contribute an additional £20 a year to cover the cost of room hire, web site and general running costs of the SIG.
Mode of Operation
Initially we will aim to meet twice a year until we have set clearer goals. We will run with a chair person and, hopefully, a secretary.
Cost: £3 to cover the hire of the building
(SIG annual membership fee to be charged at a later date)
To book: send your name, IOL membership number and address (email preferred); credit/debit card details or cheque, made payable to IOL, to:
Institute for Outdoor Learning, Plumpton Old Hall, Plumpton, Penrith CA11 9NP
For more information, contact Dave Watson on 07736 225 035.
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