Description
The Woodlander; Wilderness bushcraft is the original outdoor pursuits. Wilderness survival skills, tracking, wild food foraging, fungi, ancient technology, carving and greenwood crafts and ultimately going to wild places on expedition are all core disciplines of this immersive subject.
The six day Woodlander gives you fundamental bushcraft skills and a solid foundation in wilderness survival that will give you the confidence to go further for longer, with less reliance on technology. Stepping away from the cocooning bubble of technology and man made equipment we look at utilising what nature provides, from tools and shelter, to fire and food. The essence of the Woodlander is discovering the hidden secrets of the countryside, from knowing how to release the soap and sunblock locked in the leaves of plants and way-finding by the stars above, to gleaning a nutritious free meal and deciphering the mysterious stories of tracks in the mud. It is about learning to see your environment as if thought the eyes of one of your indigenous ancestors.
This course is suitable for the complete beginner and more experienced outdoors folk alike. We assume no knowledge and start from how to safely use a knife. Over the last fifteen years we’ve have had lots of elite level military personnel and seasoned expedition leaders attend this course who’ve said that they learned something new during every lesson. The course is ideal for those who want to increase their competence and knowledge in order to pass on skills to young people, or simply would like to reconnect with nature and spend time with kindred spirits around the camp fire.
- Days: Sun PM – Sat PM (6 Nights)
- Location: Witherslack, Lake District, England
- Food & Accommodation: Fully catered and includes camping fees
- Activity: Basic Bushcraft & Survival Skills
- Group Size: 6-14 (Av.10)
- Physical Rating: Easy
- 2023 Dates: 11-17 June 2023
Highlights
- Bushcraft knife safety
- Carving skills
- Sharpening bushcraft knives
- Water Disinfection
- Friction Fire & other ignition techniques
- Wilderness fishing skills
- Trapping & snaring techniques
- Natural shelters
- Jungle shelters
- Star-lore & astral navigation
- Natural bindings & cordage
- Wild food & plant Id
- Tree identification
- Campfire cookery
Inclusions
- A free bushcraft knife to keep.
- This course is fully catered throughout – we do our best to source food that is wild, local, organic, seasonal and nutritious. (This negates the need to buy food and bring stoves, fuel and cooking gear – it also maximises your learning time with us).
- The free loan of specialist bushcraft camping equipment – hammocks, tarps, laplander saws, fire-steels, billy cans, etc.
- Camping fees are included.
- We offer a complimentary pick-up and drop-off service from and to the nearest railway station at set times.
LucyD (verified owner) –
What an amazing week spent in the woods with highly skilled, knowledgeable and fun instructors. I learnt so much on this week long course. The pace was perfect and the tuition was delivered in a professional manner. There was a great mix of lectures, followed by practical sessions allowing us to develop and practice newly learned skills. The food was amazing and the selection of accommodation was 5 star – choose from your own tent, one of Wild Human’s tarp and hammocks, sleep in a shelter you have made or bivvy out under the stars. The Highlighs for me was new information on tracking, foraging and an amazing night sky lecture. If you are thinking about doing this course, just do it. Instead of getting up in the morning thinking “where’s my keys, wallet and phone”, spend a week thinking “where’s my knife, saw and fire steel”!
jaylatham1 (verified owner) –
I attended this course in May 2019. I simply cannot say enough good things about it. From the time of booking, right through the end it was just awesome. You can certainly tell you are dealing with a team with lots and lots of experience.
I found answers to most of my questions right there on the website and the kit list was spot on. I was travelling from Ireland and Ben helped me choose the best route. He even had one of the lads collect me from the train and drop me back at the end.
The camp itself was a very clever setup which made the stay very easy. The first evening we had a tour of the camp and got to know each a bit and then the rest of the week it was all go. We learned so much I actually struggled a bit to keep up at times. Many of the things we learned involved a practical element where we had to make or do something and very often the course moved on before we finished. We were given time later on to catch up on our “projects” and the guys were always around to help out. This worked really well as the course was not held up by slower people like me which allowed for maximum learning in the time allotted. I am home weeks now and I am still practicing and finishing my mini projects.
I plan to do as many of these Wild Human courses as I can in the near future. I have my sights set on the Coastal Forager next. I have a lot to learn and I cannot think of a better team to teach it to me.
See you again real soon guys and gals.
Jay
adrianswenson (verified owner) –
In 2019 I have been on the Trailblazer weekend and that was closely followed by the week long Woodlander. I thoroughly enjoyed both, my first experiences of bushcraft training. The main reason for the success was the staff, knowledgeable and able to teach and demonstrate in a manner that catered for each student. They are passionate about bushcraft. The days are long and busy with a huge variety of skills being shown, be prepared for treks through the woods in the Cumbrian rain. The food is good and there is plenty of it. I recommend that you be very familiar with your own kit before you arrive, camping and clothing, so that you can arrive and get your ‘home’ set up efficiently. I’m generally the course ‘oldie’ being retired but I found the demands of these two courses well within my abilities and comfort zone. Be prepared to have your life changed if you join a course. Adrian.
charis (verified owner) –
Attended Jun 19 having done the weekend Trailblazer a couple of years ago. Was everything I was expecting after that ‘taster’ course with a chance to consolidate some of the skills learnt plus lots of extra subjects that wouldn’t fit into a weekend. The staff were again really expert and friendly and the good ratio of instructors to students made it always feel that there was someone to ask if you hadn’t quite picked up something first time. Attendees were a great mix of ages, gender and experience which made for a lovely atmosphere as all wanted to make the most of the course but also have a fun break away from ‘normal’ life of screens, cars and houses.
Would thoroughly recommend!
JP (verified owner) –
This is a proper bushcraft course. There are others bushcraft course providers that give you hot showers, running water, and posh toilets, this is not one of those courses. This is a course that will teach the ground truth of living in the wilds, or as close as can be within a safe learning environment.
I did my research, I asked friends both civilian and military and discovered that Wild Human is unquestionably the best company to spend your hard earned money on if you want to immerse yourself in the world of bushcraft.
The real quality in the woodlander course comes from the instructors, it becomes immediately clear why the owner of Wild Human (Ben Mcnutt) carefully hand picks his staff.
Each instructor has an in depth knowledge of their respective specialisations, and enthusiastically feeds it to you like a wild bird feeds their fledglings.
I am ex- military and can genuinely say, that this was the best survival/ bushcraft course that I have been on.
Big thanks to Joe, Heather, and John for their boundless humour, energy and knowledge.
Waiting until the plague has been banished from these lands, so that I can book on the axe course.
Jon P
markpatrick14 (verified owner) –
What an awesome week.
Any 1 who is passionate about the outdoors and wants to gain knowledge should book onto wild human. The knowledge and passion these guys have is inspiring to say the least! I left the course with more passion for the art of bushcraft and thirst to learn more.
Thank you wild human for an amazing week, i cant wait to book onto many more courses and expeditions in the future!
jacklynn.stott (verified owner) –
I just came back from the course and wow, what a fantastic week! Post-covid, it was definitely needed, and boy did it not disappoint. The course far excited what I had imagined. I enjoyed making shelters, learning how to work in harmony with the land, reading tracks, and especially, making fire from friction (nothing beats the thrill of making fire that first time). Doing projects and chatting into the evenings every night was a great way to end each day. My friend and I were the only ladies on the course, but felt incredibly welcomed and apart of the group.
The pace of learning was perfect for me and none of what we did was particularly physically intensive. Ben, Joe, Ross, and John were amazing instructors. Joe especially had a really strong coaching style. They were all genuine, lovely and supportive, and their depth of their knowledge and passion really sparked something in me. I’m keen to dive deeper into Bushcraft and plan more trips! If you’ve got an adventurous itch to scratch, this is perfect! Just go for it, you won’t regret it!
lozm7 –
I got a lot out of this course. I gained core skills in bushcraft, connected back to nature by living simply in the woods and could enjoy the course with like minded people. The instructors were top quality and were enthusiastic to share their wisdom. FYI: Bring clothes to avoid the nettle stings for cordage making!
hannah.pathak (verified owner) –
I had the most incredible week on the Woodlander course. It felt like the most amazing break, the quality of instruction from Joe, Ross, Ben and John was phenomenal, and they went out of their way to ensure we learned lots and had a great time. Living in the woods for a week and learning new skills meant I left the week feeling chilled-out and confident, and eager to continue my journey of learning more. Thank you so much to the Wild Human team – your experience and passion showed through constantly and I look forward to more courses with you all.
richardbeckett2014 (verified owner) –
The Woodlander was the only holiday I’d been on in several years and was the best decision I’ve made in a long time.
What our instructors taught us and all the knowledge I took away from this course, as well as all the things I’d physically made, far exceeded all my imagined expectations.
John, Joe, Ross and Ben are absolutely superb instructors, who conveyed confidence into us all through their wisdom, experience and quick sense of humour. They are all fine examples of human beings.
The amount of knowledge they all shared with us was incredible, at times it completely blew me away.
Survival skills from ancient past, the basics, the fundamentals, the most important, it was being handed down to us as like we were in a tribe, it was all very exciting, a pleasure and a privilege to witness and be a part of.
My fellow students were also the best kind of people I’ve met in a long time, funny, friendly, helpful, kind and courteous and like myself, eager to learn get stuck in to the task at hand.
Learning the basics of bushcraft is what bound us all together… I will never forget them.
I came away from Wild Human Woodlander stronger, mentally, physically and spiritually, I think we all did on some level.
When I’ve told the story of my experience to every one I know, the smiles on their faces tells me that they really like what they hear.
If you’re thinking about getting into bushcraft, then this is the place and these are definitely the people, you will absolutely love it !
walla1985 –
What a week! Where do I start?
The instructors Ben, Joe, and Debs were absolutely top draw. Their passion for the subject is infectious and their encyclopaedic knowledge of the subject matter just left me in awe at times. As well as being excellent teachers, they were also very attentive hosts, always approachable and accommodating. They were also cracking people to chat to around the campfire at night sharing some great stories of past adventures.
The venue was perfect for the course; with a woodland stocked with a wide range of trees i.e. building/burning material; a diverse range of plants/mushrooms to identify and learn about; and plenty of local wildlife to track and get you hooked. The local tarn made for a great evening bathing venue, especially after a few days when you felt like you needed to freshen up. The weather wasn’t the best but the camp setup meant that it didn’t interfere with our ability to learn and crack on in relative comfort.
The food provided was very good, and provided in good quantity. Although the best meals were definitely the ones we had to prepare ourselves. There’s nothing more satisfying than eating a skewered trout or a pigeon pie after you’ve been shown how to process it all yourself and cook it over an open fire.
On our course we had people from a wide range of backgrounds and ages but what was evident was that we all had a desire to learn and immerse ourselves in the course, which led to a really nice group dynamic. We had so many laughs and everyone supported each other throughout when we were trying to hone our newly acquired skills.
I’ve been meaning to do this course for a few years and now I only wish I’d done it sooner. I will definitely be looking to sign on to another course in the near future. If you’re debating about it, just do it!! You won’t have any regrets.
henry (verified owner) –
What can I say. What an amazing week. Thank you so much for all your hard work.
Everything about this course is brilliant (the structure, content and pace) but for me what was best was Ben and Debs’ teaching. The way they teach and just their way of being in the woods is so inspiring and they complement each other perfectly.
I hope I have the chance to benefit from their teaching again in the near future.
davebellamy (verified owner) –
I attended the Woodlander course in June 2023 and i can honestly say that i thought it was absolutely brilliant. The knowledge that Debs and Ben have on all things Bushcraft and beyond will blow your mind. From Greek Mythology about stars through to modern day medicinal uses for plants, you will cover everything on this course. We were busy learning, practising, cooking,foraging or making things all day everyday with time for a swim ( if you wanted to) thrown in.
The food was outstanding and the homely relaxed atmosphere that they create made for an absolute perfect week living in the woods. If you want to immerse yourself in bushcraft for a longer period of time than a weekend then don’t hesitate to get yourself on this course.
Bas (verified owner) –
Absolutely loved it. A quick groupband was formed of 12 people (only 2 came together) from all layers of society. The course is a great mix of working with your hands, learning a lot of new information, beautifull nature, humor and leisure time. Definitely gonna do another one!
joseph (verified owner) –
I’ve just spent a wonderful week on the Woodlander course – I went having never done anything like this before, therefore a little anxious about how it would all turn out. Ben and Debs were incredibly welcoming and brilliant at sharing their immense knowledge on all things bushcraft (and beyond!) – there was never a moment that I felt stupid or patronised; their patience, generosity and passion for what they do meant that not only did I want to learn, but that I was able to do things that I never imagined that I could. It was great to be thrown in with a group of people who I didn’t know, and to share the experience of discovery and achievement with them. We were briefly part of an unexpected tribe, eating, sleeping, swimming, learning and laughing together. I think it’s something that everyone can and should do! It reconnects you with both the natural world and yourself.
jakerussellemail –
I’m a few days back from the Woodlander course and what an amazing, amazing week it was. I wholeheartedly recommend it for anyone interested in wild camping and/or bushcraft. If you’re wondering whether you should book it then just do it. Ben and Debs are genuine masters of their craft. They’re brilliant teachers and they manage to pass on their mind-bogglingly enormous wealth of knowledge with true skill, clarity and humour. But, even more than their Black Belt levels of bushcraft mastery, what I loved and appreciated most was the atmosphere and environment (literal and figurative) they created in this magical corner of the woods. They’re both great hosts and true leaders, and as we all sat around the fire whittling our spoons or roasting our trouts, talking, learning, laughing , I found myself thinking, more than a few times, that if our great little group was indeed a genuine tribe, I’d happily follow these two; we’d be in safe, expert hands. It was an honour to hang out with them and with the whole group, and being out in the woods all week has given me a proper system re-boot. Bring on the next one!
to.christian (verified owner) –
It’s been a few weeks since returning from camp, but I don’t think a day has gone by that I haven’t thought about it or, more likely, told other people about it.
As others have said, beyond the limitless breadth and depth of Ben and Debs’ knowledge on everything from first aid to fire lighting to foraging and much, much more, the environment and atmosphere that they cultivate during the week is just as valuable.
Practical knowledge and skills taught with patience and humour in a beautiful setting.
Now to book the next course…