Bow and Hand Drill Fire Making

This class will consist of two of the primitive and sacred arts of making fire with materials found in nature, the bow drill and the hand drill. Both methods have been used by many different cultures around the world, who lived close to the earth, and are the most dependable ways of making fires in a survival situation. Each student will carefully craft his/her own bow drill and hand drill set, using only a knife, and then work on proper form. There is nothing quite like the exhilarating feeling of creating fire from natural materials with your hands! Come and experience this sacred and vital skill with us soon! 

Edible Wild Plants

The class will consist of wild plant identification walks through the natural habitats of the area. Emphasis will be placed on physical plant characteristics, edible plant parts, proper plant preparation, and available season of harvest. Some poisonous wild plants will also be covered, since these often grow right with the edible ones. Come join us as we explore the world of edible wild plants and expand your diet to include these nutritious wild resources!  

Basket Weaving (Coil Method)

Here is a class that teaches one of the ancient methods of basket coiling used by the Anasazi Indians of the Southwest! Students will use completely natural materials (Yucca or Palmetto leaves) to construct a beautiful, yet functional basket. Each step of the process will be meticulously covered from start to finish, so do not be discouraged if this is your first basket weaving experience. This technique is appropriate for experienced and inexperienced basket weavers. Come join us soon to explore the potential and enjoy the art of natural basket weaving!  

Primitive Shelter

Adequate shelter is one of the first concerns in a survival situation. More people perish in the outdoors from exposure (to heat or cold) than for any other reason. The Native Americans, as well as our distant ancestors, realized the value of a well made shelter and built them accordingly. Come and learn how to build a shelter that can keep you warm in any kind of weather (debris hut) and explore several other effective shelter types that have been used by American Indians for hundreds of years! As a group, the class will build two primitive shelters (using all natural materials, of coarse) and learn the various materials that can be used for weatherproofing, waterproofing, and making a shelter a true home in the wilderness. Some basic camp furniture construction will also be covered. We look forward to helping you learn and gain experience in this very vital skill! 

Making Cordage

One of the most useful skills in the woods is a person's ability to make cordage (rope) from raw plant materials. Cordage is used for everything from securing shelter poles to making dental floss! Students will participate in harvesting, preparing, and finishing rolled, reverse-wrapped, and braided cordage from all natural materials. Multiple survival techniques and uses will be covered as well. So come and join us and learn how to make your very own rope!

Atlatl & Spear Making

This class will consist of one of the most ancient, yet effective, hunting weapons. Spear and atlatl (spear thrower) construction will be covered from start to finish with each student making their own personal set. Proper stalking and throwing techniques will also be covered. The class will finish with hands-on practice with everyone throwing at a spear throwing range! Hope to see you there!

Primitive Heating and Lighting

Here is a course for those who want to optimize camp energy use and be able to see at night. We will delve into different woods, fire structures, and natural heat reflectors to make the most of our campfires. Skills such as hot rock heating, traveling with fire (tourches and longmatches), stem candles, basic oil lamps, and a whole host of others will be covered!

Locating and Purifying Water

Water is one of the most important substances to all human life, yet so many take clean water for granted. Come learn how to locate and safely use water on the natural landscape. We will hike and discover water sources from dew, seeps, streams, and plants, then discuss certain sources to avoid. Natural filter systems, purification techniques, and containers will be covered as well!   

Basic Wilderness Survival Camp

Here is a weekend campout for those of you who are just getting into outdoor survival. Our days will be filled with hands-on activities to better equip our students for living in the woods, whether for short or long term. Skills covered will include bacic shelter construction (debris hut, wickiup, and lean-to), locating and purifying water, lighting a campfire with one match, fire by friction (bow and hand drill methods), making proper fire structures, primitive cooking techniques, hunting and trapping methods, edible and medicinal wild plants, rope making, tool making (using wood, stone, and bone) and much more! Evening meals and all materials are included in the class price. 

Bow and Arrow Making 

Students will construct their very own self bow from start to finish, as well as learn how to make arrows out of different wood types and materials. The class will begin with proper tree selection of the Osage Orange (Bois d'arc) tree for making a high quality bow. We will then go through the process of splitting out bow staves from tree trunks, stave reduction, growth ring integrity, grain reading, shaping, tillering, sanding, and oiling the finished bow. This class will consist of three weekend meetings, of which the last two will be decided on by students attending. After the third meeting, each student will have made his/her own high quality self bow that with proper care, will last a lifetime!  Note: Building a high quality bow from start to finish is a very physically demanding and tedious process that takes much patience and attention to detail. So only sign up for this one if you are ready to put in the work and will be dedicated to completing the whole process properly. 

Forest Survival Trip

Students will travel lightly through the forest with me, Mark Suter, and provide for their every need. Along the way, we will make our own shelters, harvest edible and useful wild plants, start campfires, discuss hunting and trapping techniques, collect and purify water, make our own eating utensils and much more! Other skills covered will include tool making, cattail sleeping mats, birch bark torches, rope making, and much more! Each student will only be allowed to bring with them a knife, blanket, a small bag of dried meat, and the clothes on their back! Mother Nature will take care of the rest of our needs as move through the woods like our ancesters did so long ago.

-No animals will be harmed during the trip.

-Students must be at least 18 years old.

-Students must be in reasonably good physical  shape (able to walk up to five miles a day).