Your Bushcraft Questions Answered
August 26th, 2021
Here we answer our most frequently asked bushcraft questions, which people often ask before booking onto our sessions. If there’s anything we’ve missed please feel free to let us know and we’ll add it to the list!
Bushcraft is one of the most popular activities at Cumulus Outdoors. During our sessions we teach children and adults the skills needed to survive in the great outdoors. All of our sessions take place in a picturesque woodland setting close to Corfe Castle in Dorset. Experienced instructors create a fun and informative environment to learn how to thrive in the wilderness. Our bushcraft sessions are tailored to the individual group and can be adapted to suit school and youth groups, families or stag or hen parties.
What does bushcraft mean?
Bushcraft refers to the use of survival skills in the natural environment. Techniques are often primitive and make use of items foraged from the immediate surroundings. Learning how to thrive in the great outdoors without modern equipment and technology can make your time in the wilderness more comfortable in the event of an emergency.
Skills taught in bushcraft sessions include fire lighting, shelter building, sourcing and purifying water and collecting food.
What are bushcraft skills?
There are a range of skills need to survive and thrive in the great outdoors. These include fire lighting, shelter building, foraging, food preparation, cooking, water sourcing and purification. Having an understanding of basic techniques can help you in an emergency situation. They are also fun and interesting to learn in activity sessions
How do I make a bushcraft shelter?
There are lots of different ways to build a bushcraft shelter. The type you build will depend on the conditions and the supplies that are readily available to you at the time. Read instructor, Ian’s blog for a step-by-step guide on how to set up a tarp tent, basha shelter and a lean to shelter. Minimal equipment is required.
What are the best bushcraft and survival courses in the UK?
Bushcraft has grown in popularity in recent years and there are now many bushcraft providers offering sessions across the UK. If you’re looking to try bushcraft in Dorset, Cumulus Outdoors offer a variety of bushcraft challenges, that can be adapted to suit children as well as adult groups.
From our base on the Isle of Purbeck, near Swanage we run a variety of bushcraft sessions. These vary in length and can take place during a morning, afternoon or overnight. Over the course of the session participants will learn a variety of survival skills in a fun and relaxed environment. Bushcraft skills taught in our sessions include how to craft using a knife, foraging, setting traps and snares, building shelters and starting fires.
What bushcraft skills can I practice at home?
One of the best things about bushcraft is that it can be practiced in any outdoor environment, including at home. You can hone you’re your survival skills in the safety of your garden, without lots of expensive equipment, so you’re fully prepared for heading into the great outdoors.
Our experienced instructor, Ian has compiled a number of blog posts with suggestions of bushcraft techniques you can try at home. These include tips on how to prepare a cup of bushcrafter’s coffee from dandelions and how to build a bushcraft shelter in your garden.
Are your bushcraft sessions suitable for beginners?
Absolutely! We tailor all of our bushcraft sessions to the needs of the group and can cater for complete beginners. Our Basic Bushcraft half day session is an excellent introduction and covers all the basics you’ll need to know.
Do you run bushcraft sessions for schools?
Yes, we’ve welcomed lots of school and youth groups to our bushcraft sessions over the years. Bushcraft sessions for schools can be booked as a day activity or make up part of a longer residential school trip in Dorset. Intrepid youngsters can even stay the night in the shelters they build!
Is bushcraft a good activity for families?
Bushcraft is great fun for families and a fantastic way to spend quality time together while trying something new. You’ll learn plenty of new skills and make lots of happy memories to cherish for years to come.
We run a family bonding bushcraft course from 9am – 5pm. This has been created with families in mind and includes outdoor games, tasks and challenges. Overnight stays can be incorporated on request
Do I need to supply any equipment?
No, you are not required to bring any specialist equipment. We will provide everything you’ll need during the session. We ask participants to dress appropriately for the outdoors and wear plenty of layers as it can get chilly under the trees. Don’t wear your best clothes, they may get a little wet and muddy!
Where can I try bushcraft in Dorset?
Cumulus Outdoors are an award-winning outdoor activity provider and we’re proud to offer bushcraft sessions in Dorset. Our sessions take place in a stunning location on the Isle of Purbeck, close to Corfe Castle and just a short drive from Swanage.
Bushcraft is an excellent activity for groups looking for unique things to do during a holiday in Dorset!
Do you run bushcraft parties or stag and hen sessions?
Bushcraft is an excellent activity to take on during a children’s party or stag/hen weekend. We create a fun and relaxed environment to enjoy a memorable experience with your friends. We can include bushcraft into a multi activity package or run a weekend session for participants wanting a more immersive experience.
Our survival weekend is really popular choice for hen and stag do’s. You’ll sleep in the shelter you constructed and cook a tasty meal of freshly prepared game.
Is bushcraft a good team building activity?
Bushcraft is well suited to businesses looking for a unique team building experience or away day. At Cumulus Outdoors we have developed a dedicated team building bushcraft session, which helps employees build upon their strengths and get to know each other better.
Over the course of the day participants work together to complete a number of challenges needed to survive the night. This fosters a healthy competitive spirit and the building of bonds outside of the work environment.
Cumulus Outdoors are an experienced outdoor activity provider in Dorset. From our base in Swanage, we offer a range of outdoor adventure activities including climbing, coasteering, kayaking and bushcraft. We tailor all of our sessions to the needs of the group and can cater for families, school and youth groups as well as stag and hen parties.
Get in touch with our friendly team to book an activity session with us today!