Tim Smith, M.Ed.

Founder Of The Jack Mountain Bushcraft School
Registered Master Maine Guide

Background:

Tim grew up on a lake in a small 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, fishing and learning how to get around the lake in a canoe.

In a nearby museum was a dugout canoe that had been recovered from the bottom of the lake. After seeing it Tim became interested in who built it and how they did it, beginning a lifelong in interest in how people lived 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 founded Jack Mountain Bushcraft in 1999.

Read more about the History of the Jack Mountain Bushcraft School.

Bushcraft, Survival And Outdoor Educator:

In addition to numerous 1-7 day bushcraft, survival, guide training and outdoor living courses, Tim has taught 18 (as of fall, 2011) college-accredited bushcraft semester courses. Summed up in a single word, his educational philosophy is: Can. For the expanded description, read our educational philosophy page.
        • Wilderness Bushcraft Semester
        • Winter Bushcraft Immersion And Snowshoe Expedition
        • Canoe Expedition Semester
        • Summer Bushcraft Immersion

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:

Tim has been a featured speaker on outdoor education, survival and sustainability at a variety of events, including:
        • Canoecopia Paddlesports Show - Madison, Wisconsin.
        • Survival & Preparedness Conference - Dallas, Texas.
        • Rockingham Fishing and Hunting Expo - Salem, New Hampshire.
        • Wilderness Outdoor Living Conference - Portland, Maine.
        • Snow Walker's Rendezvous - Fairlee, Vermont.
        • Wilderness Paddler's Gathering - Fairlee, Vermont.
        • Falls Brook Centre - Knowlesville, New Brunswick, Canada.

Get more information on Tim's talks.

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 consulted on a number of television shows on both sides of the camera, including:
        • Man Vs. Wild with Bear Grylls - Discovery Channel. Off-camera consultant.
        • I'll Try Anything Once - Treasure HD Network - On-camera consultant and instructor.
        • American Builder - CN8, The Comcast Network - On-camera consultant and instructor.
        • CMT Most Wanted: Survivalists - Country Music Television - On-camera.

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 (EMT); November/December, 1996.

Athletic Achievements:

Tim achieved great success playing hockey. He was 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 a Pro-Am all-American while playing at St. Mark's School in Southboro, MA. His junior and senior year he represented NH in the New England high school hockey all-star tournament. Following high school Tim spent a year with the Madison (Wisconsin) Capitols in the United States Hockey League and during the 1990 Junior A national championship tournament 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 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.

Letter Of Reccomendation:

In 2001 Mors Kochanski wrote a recommendation for Tim. Read it here.

Connect:

Connect with Tim on his blog, Twitter, Facebook and other sites at the JMBS Social Media Hub.

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