Last week we kicked off our 27th year with the start of long term program number 68; the spring 2026 Wilderness Bushcraft Semester at the field school. We’re approaching spring this week, but early April is still winter in Aroostook county, Maine. For week one we had torrential downpours, snow flurries, several nights with temperatures in the single digits (F), and lots of wind. As we slide into week 2 today, we’re looking at temperatures above freezing but lots of cold rain. It’s challenging to stay warm and dry.
We spent week 1 working on foundational skills such as making fire, using an axe and knife safely and effectively, barehand navigation and easing into camp routines.
At the start of week two we begin the canoe paddle-making process, as well as dialing in bow drills for lighting fires by friction. And we’re continuing our nature studies curriculum with learning about the weather, trees, fish, and mammals and their tracks. The academic side of our programs gets less fanfare than the hands-on/practical side, but is of equal importance. It adds breadth and depth of knowledge to the hands-on side of things, complementing lessons learned in the field. It is also a way to wisely use our time to keep progressing towards our goals when the weather is challenging. This isn’t to say that there isn’t value in being out in challenging weather; there is. But the important thing from the perspective of the course is to learn from those challenges. At the end of the day as an instructor, I always ask myself if we used the time we had wisely. There are a lot of things packed into the 9-weeks, and a lot of idle time, whether it is relaxing in the sun or suffering in the freezing rain, is not something we have the luxury to indulge.
It’s always a busy time on the Wilderness Bushcraft Semester. I know where the finish line is. We have a long way to go.
About the photo: Snowshoe hare tracks in the snow. It’s just about that time of year for the baby bunnies to arrive. Most years we find one or two of them, so prepare yourself for the tsunami of cuteness when I post the photos.
