Another new course for 2010, the Bushman course is an intensive exploration of primitive bushcraft skills. The word primitive is derived from the latin root primus, which means first or original. We’ll focus on original skills, those that don’t require specialized kit or other gear. Nature is our gear store. Knowledge makes it accessible.

This course picks up where the Woodsman leaves off and runs the following week, making them available to be taken together. The focus here is on creating what you need from the natural materials available. We’ll still use a few simple tools for the sake of maximizing our time together, but there won’t be duplicate content from the Woodsman.

Topics covered include:

• The primitive mindset
• Fire by friction: bow drill and hand drill
• No-utensil cooking using rocks, wood, mud, holes and coals
• Primitive shelter: all-natural materials
• Comfort: sleeping pads and blankets from the forest
• The hot coal bed
• Making and using basic stone tools
• Field-expedient basketry
• Pack frame construction
• Primitive cord and rope-making
• Wooden vessels and containers
• Making nets
• Barehand navigation
• Atlatl and dart
• Field Ecology: Edible And Medicinal Plants, Mammal Tracking, The Night Sky, Weather Forecasting, etc.
• Optional exercise of spending the night in a shelter you construct.

For more information visit jackmtn.com/primitiveskills.html.