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.

As this is a hands-on course, there are various crafts that participants have the option of making. These are useful kit items such as a baskets for carrying your stuff, not arts and crafts items like sculpted figurines.

The course runs from Sunday afternoon to Friday afternoon. Included in the tuition is lodging Friday night at Blackwater Outfitters where you can get a shower and a good night's sleep before hitting the road Saturday morning. The maximum group size is 12.

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Travel Information and Directions:   Travel information is located here. After you register you will receive local driving directions to our site.

Arrival and Departure:   Plan to arrive on sunday afternoon, between 4 and 6. We'll have dinner, a group introduction and a tour of the grounds starting at 6. The course is over on Friday at 4 PM. Included in the tuition is lodging Friday night at Blackwater Outfitters where you can get a shower and a good night's sleep before hitting the road.

Accommodations:   Bring a tent, tarp, or other shelter. It will be your home for the week. For summer programs please consider bringing a bug net if you don't have noseeum netting on your tent. There are also cabins available through Blackwater Outfitters, located five minutes away. They can be reached at: 207-540-4101.

Meals:   Simple meals are provided during the course, and consist of fresh baked goods, beans, grains, and other foods that don't require refrigeration. For those whose palate requires greater stimulation than our meals provide, the Masardis Trading Post offers home cooked meals and is just a few miles away. We encourage you to bring any snacks you may not be able to live without.

Cancellation and Refund Policies:   With cancellations 60 days or more than in advance of the course, tuition, less the deposit, will be refunded. With cancellations less than 60 days prior to the start of the course all monies are non-refundable and non-transferable. These policies reflect the fact that we do not overbook, canceled spaces are very difficult to fill at the last minute, and that the vast majority of costs are incurred in preparing for a course/trip. If a program is canceled by us for any reason, the full tuition (including the deposit) will be refunded.

What is included with the tuition:   Included in the tuition are all camping fees, group meals, instruction, and group gear.

What is not included with the tuition:   Not included with the tuition are personal gear, items from town, knives (if you choose to purchase one) and any food or meals other than the group meals.

Course Insurance:   Adventure travel and wilderness education are not inexpensive, and anything can happen when we're in the bush. We recommend that all participants have medical insurance. We also recommend you protect your investment with travel insurance for trips and tuition insurance for courses.

Tobacco:   Smoking is not permitted in or near any buildings. All cigarette butts are to be placed into the metal can provided.

Vehicles and Parking:  We're located .6 miles down a gravel road. During the winter and spring the road can be impassable for 2-wheel drive vehicles, and sometimes for any vehicles other than snow machines.

Telephone: We don't have a phone or electricity. If you need to be in constant phone contact please consider bringing a cell phone, and if you need to charge a phone (or other electronic device), please look into getting a charger or bringing extra batteries.

Other: Please don't bring any pets, alcohol or illegal drugs.

Questions? Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

We reserve the right to include or omit any of the course topics listed due to class interest, availability of materials, inclement weather, or other factor that makes them impractical or unsafe.

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