Week 1 of the 2010 Wilderness Bushcraft Semester is in the record books. We spent time eating a lot of wild foods, poling and paddling canoes, building shelters, lighting fires, cooking over the fires we lit, making crooked knives on the campfire, learning about off-grid solar technology, studying the weather, and much, much more. Busy busy busy. More coming later, but I wanted to write a quick post saying I’m not gone, just out at the field school living off the grid.
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I’ve been researching the role of crafting on the learning process recently. There is a mountain of how-to information on crafting, but most of it on how-to-do things; the questions of why and what are the impacts are aren’t as common. Since crafting is one of the seven core elements of the Jack Mountain Bushcraft School process, and working with the hands to make useful items is a large part of our immersion programs, I’ve been studying to expand our curriculum to include more about the impact of crafting on learning.
I’m currently reading Frank R. Wilson’s book The Hand; How it’s use shapes the brain, language, and human culture, from which I pulled this quotation on page 7:
I would argue that any theory of human intelligence which ignores the interdependence of hand and brain function, the historic origins of that relationship, or the impact of that history on developmental dynamics in modern humans, is grossly misleading and sterile.
The hand is certainly discounted in modern education. But at what cost to the learner? I believe strongly that know-how, or being able to do accomplish practical tasks, is equally as important as, and a foundation of, abstract thinking.
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We use the logbook to track the individual progression of each student. However, there are some skills where a demonstration of the skill set is necessary for competence. You can either complete a task safely and efficiently, or you can’t.
The practical exam process is about having a minimum skill level necessary to be able to lead trips and travel through remote areas safely.
Practical Exam Components:
Fire
Candidate will demonstrate their knowledge of fire by explaining what the five stages of fire are, then demonstrating their competency and skill with those five stages.
Axe
The axe is the first tool of the woodsman. Candidate must demonstrate safety and judgement in using the axe under any conditions.
Knife
The knife is the general tool of the woods. The ability to safely and powerfully wield it, while posing no danger to one’s self, is of critical importance. Candidate will be tested on its safe use by carving several objects in a given amount of time.
Saw
Candidate will demonstrate their knowledge of building a bucksaw out of natural materials (will be given a blade) in 30 minutes using only a knife. Candidate will then use the saw to section a log.
Cordage And Knots
Candidate will demonstrate knowledge of, and ability to tie, a series of knots useful for general bushcraft, as well as specific knots to traveling.
Canoe
The canoe is the transportation method of the northern guide. Candidate must demonstrate their knowledge of canoes, and ability to control a loaded canoe in various conditions of wind and water.
Navigation
Candidate will demonstrate knowledge of map and compass for use in navigation by taking a bearing with a compass in the field and explaining the dif ference between magnetic and geographic north. Candidate will complete triangulation exercise demonstrating knowledge of using compass to find a specific point. Candidate will then use the compass to plot an accurate course on a topographic map. For barehand navigation, candidate will use natural direction indicators and their knowledge of geometry to create an accurate direction indicator, explaining how they would calibrate it to measure one degree of accuracy.
Cooking
Candidate will demonstrate their ability with regard to food preparation by lighting a fire and baking (in a reflector oven), frying and boiling a meal consisting of sourdough biscuits, cof fee, and two fried eggs, finishing at a specific time.
Survival
Candidate will demonstrate their knowledge of survival by discussing the survival equation, then talking about the appropriate order of survival priorities in a survival plan.
Individual Shelter
Candidate will discuss the physics of shelter construction as they build an individual shelter chosen by the instructor. Candidate will identify the mechanisms of energy transfer and how the shelter minimizes these.
Tree And Plant ID
Candidate will demonstrate their familiarity with the flora of northern Maine by identifying 25 plants chosen at random by the instructor. Candidate must know the common name and latin name, as well as the english and latin family names. Candidate should know something about the uses and lore of each plant.
Lost Person Scenario
Candidate will demonstrate how they would deal with a lost person on a remote trip. This will be a live-action exercise with someone actually being lost.
Camp Life
Candidate will demonstrate their ability to set up and manage a clean and safe remote campsite.
Weather
Candidate will demonstrate their understanding of the weather and observational forecasting by identifying the wind direction and cloud type, then making a prediction about the weather for the next 24 hours based on their observations.
Sharpening
Candidate will demonstrate their understanding of the sharpening process and the ability to sharpen a knife to a shaving edge.
For more on these topics see The Jack Mountain Bushcraft Student Handbook.
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