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Tim Smith, M.Ed.
Founder And Director Of The Jack Mountain Bushcraft School
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Tim cooking a pizza in a cob oven.
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Tim is an educator, craftsman and guide, and has been called "America's greatest naturalist". He has been a full-time guide and bushcraft instructor since founding Jack Mountain Bushcraft in 1999.
Background:
Tim grew up on a lake in a small, rural town in New Hampshire, and like many rural kids spent much of his time in the woods or with a fishing rod in his hand. From a young age he was camping and fishing, both with others and by himself, and learning how to get around the lake in a canoe.
In a nearby museum was a dugout canoe that had been found on the bottom of the lake, and after seeing it at age 4 Tim became interested in how it came to be there and who built it. Thus was born a lifetime in interest in bushcraft and how people lived on the earth before our modern, industrial society existed.
After earning an undergraduate degree in anthropology, he fulfilled a childhood dream and moved to Alaska where he fished and lived for a year in a 12-foot trailer before returning to the lower 48 and getting a masters degree in education.
Tim spent several years learning the craft of guiding and traditions of the north woods from Master Maine Guide Raymond Reitze and studied extensively with Mors Kochanski. He spent significant time in both summer and winter traveling with and learning from native Cree people in northern Quebec. Highlights of his background include a 30-day primitive living experiment in the Alaskan bush, an 11-day walkabout with no food in Alberta, and numerous solo trips in the woods and on the rivers of Maine, New Hampshire, Quebec and Alaska.
Tim had been teaching outdoor education and survival workshops part-time for several years when he finished his masters degree in 1999, and founded Jack Mountain Bushcraft with the intent of spending a year or two teaching about the natural world before moving on to a teaching career. After a year of running bushcraft programs, Tim had an idea for a longer, more comprehensive program. Combining his outdoor experience with his education background, he designed and ran the 12-week Earth Skills Semester Program, now called the Wilderness Bushcraft Semester.
Since those early days he has learned countless lessons from the many people who have participated in Jack Mountain programs.
Bushcraft, Survival And Outdoor Educator:
In addition to a decade of 1-7 day bushcraft, survival, guide training and outdoor living courses, Tim has taught 14 semester-length, college level, field-based bushcraft courses. Summed up in a single word, Tim's educational philosophy is Can. For the expanded description, read our educational philosophy page.
Expedition Leader And Guide:
Tim is a Registered Master Maine Guide (hunting, fishing, recreation) licensed by the state, and has also been a hunting and fishing guide in New Hampshire.
He has guided survival, canoe, snowshoe, fishing and hiking trips in Maine, New Hampshire, Quebec, New Brunswick, Alaska and Florida. Destinations have included Maine's St. John and Allagash waterways, Quebec's La Verendrye Provincial Park, Alaska's Swan Lake Canoe Route and the Wilderness Waterway in the Florida Everglades, amongst others. He is a licensed hunter, trapper and fisherman.
Speaker:
• Canoecopia Paddlesports Show - Madison, Wisconsin.
• Rockingham Fishing and Hunting Expo - Salem, New Hampshire.
• Wilderness Outdoor Living Conference - University of Southern Maine.
• Snow Walker's Rendezvous - Hulbert Outdoor Center, Fairlee, Vermont.
• Wilderness Paddler's Gathering - Hulbert Outdoor Center, Fairlee, Vermont.
• Falls Brook Centre - Knowlesville, New Brunswick.
• Umbagog Wildlife Festival - Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge, New Hampshire.
Author:
Tim has written seven books and a variety of magazine and newspaper articles.
Books:
• Bush Cookery: Outdoor Cooking Secrets From A Professional Woodsman.
• Bushcraft Education: Riffs And Reflections On Teaching And Learning Outdoors.
• On The Trail: Selected Canoe And Snowshoe Trip Journals.
• The Jack Mountain Bushcraft School Canoe Handbook.
• The Simple Little Sourdough And Outdoor Baking Book.
• First Person Ecology.
• Jack Mountain Bushcraft Student Handbook.
Publications in which articles have been published:
• Paddler Magazine.
• Natural New England Magazine.
• Wilderness Way Magazine.
• The Granite State News.
Visit Tim's author page on Amazon.com, and storefront on Lulu.com.
Photographer:
Tim's photographs have appeared in numerous publications, including:
• Men's Journal.
• Field & Stream.
• Portland Magazine.
• NH To Do Magazine.
• Massachusetts Wildlife.
• Burlington Free Press - Burlington, VT.
• Granite State News - Wolfeboro, NH.
• The Hippo - Manchester, NH.
Television Presenter And Media Consultant:
Tim has worked on a number of television shows on both sides of the camera, including:
• I'll Try Anything Once - Treasure HD Network - Tim was the on-camera mentor to Toure in his quest to learn about living in the forest.
• American Builder - CN8, The Comcast Network - Tim worked with the guys as an on-camera mentor to prepare them for their survival trip.
• Man Vs. Wild: Alaskan Mountain Range - Discovery Channel - Tim worked off-camera as the survival expert.
• CMT Most Wanted: Survivalists - Country Music Television - Tim was featured on-camera along with other survival and simple living instructors and practitioners.
Media Appearances:
Tim and Jack Mountain Bushcraft & Guide Service have been the subject of regional and national media coverage. More information on this is available in our Media Room.
Sustainability Advocate:
Tim has worked on sustainability issues, both private and public, for years. He is on the board of directors of GALA - Global Awareness, Local Action, an organization working toward a sustainable future.
Education:
University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
• Master of Education.
Union College, Schenectady, New York
• BA, Cultural Anthropology.
• Anthropological Field Study; Barbados, West Indies.
Kenai Peninsula College, Soldotna, Alaska
• Field Identification And Uses Of Alaskan Flora.
St. Mark's School, Southborough, Massachusetts.
Medical Background and Training:
Tim has completed a significant amount of training in wilderness and emergency medicine with SOLO, including:
• Wilderness First Aid and CPR Refresher Course; October, 2007.
• Wilderness First Responder Refresher Training Program; January, 2003.
• Winter Medicine and Rescue, December; 2000.
• Fundamentals of Search and Rescue; November, 2000.
• Wilderness First Aid; November, 2000.
• EMT Refresher Training Program; October, 2000.
• EMT Refresher Training Program; January, 1999.
• Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician; November/December, 1996.
Athletic Achievements:
Tim achieved great success playing hockey, being a 2 time Hockey Night In Boston all-scholastic, 2 time Independent School League all-league selection, Boston Globe league MVP, First Team NEPSIHA all-New England, and All-American at St. Mark's School in Southboro, MA. Following high school Tim spent a year with the Madison (Wisconsin) Capitals in the United States Hockey League and during the 1990 Junior A national championship set (and might still hold) the record for the fastest two goals by a single player with his two goals in 15 seconds against the Detroit Jr. Wings. He then attended Union College and competed in the Eastern College Athletic Conference, but his career was cut short after his freshman year due to a shoulder injury.
Professional Organizations:
• Maine Wilderness Guides Organization - Life Member
• Maine Professional Guides Association - Life Member
• New Hampshire Guides Association - Former Member And Board Member
Affiliations:
Tim is and has been a member of numerous organizations, including:
• American Mensa
• Kenai Peninsula Botanical Society
• Society of Primitive Technology
Testimonials:
Read what past clients and students have said about Tim on our Testimonials page.
"Tim represents the best qualities of the new generation of Maine Guides. Not only is he a Master Maine Guide, a licensed hunter, trapper, and fisherman, but he is also a naturalist, an excellent photographer, a media consultant, writer, and teacher." |
- Maine Wilderness Guides Organization
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