Student Information Packet
Earth Skills Education Programs
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• Broken in footwear. Must be good for walking.
• Sandals or water shoes (can be old sneakers, but these dry slowly)
• Knee-high waterproof boots (rubber)
• Sleeping Bag: rated to 20 degrees for the semester, can be warmer for the summer
• Sleeping Pad (foam pad or Thermarest)
• Inexpensive Wool Blanket - $20 or less at a military surplus store
• Wool Socks: 3 pair
• Other Socks: several pair
• Warm Wool Shirt or Jacket
• Long Pants
• Underwear, T-Shirts, shorts, etc.
• Bathing Suit
• Other clothing that can get dirty and beat up.
• Towel
• Rain Gear, including rain pants (no ponchos allowed in canoes) - should be sized to fit over cold weather clothes
• Warm winter hat (to wear when sleeping and late in the semester course)
• Hat with wide brim (for sun and rain protection)
• Work Gloves (available in most hardware stores. leather is best)
• Bag for your gear (we'll be making pack baskets, pack frames, etc.)
• Sun Glasses
• Personal Toiletries, washcloth, biodegradable soap, etc.
• Head Lamp or flashlight
• Cup for Hot/Cold drinks (unbreakable, travel mug-style)
• Plate, bowl, fork, spoon
• Water Bottle with wide mouth (similar to Nalgene)
• Orienteering compass
• Notebook and pen/pencil
• Dry Bag - To hold your gear when canoeing. There are lots of options here. They include: canvas pack with waterproof liner, commercial dry bags, army duffel-type bag with waterproof liner, pack basket with liner, or any sack lined with a garbage bag. What you need is a way to keep things dry on canoe trips. In the past students have purchased commercial dry bags, but haven't gotten a large large enough bag to hold all the their belongings. In order to get the right size dry bag, put all gear for a canoe trip (clothes, sleeping bag, pad, extra shoes, notebook, reading material, toiletries, etc.) into a trashbag. Then get a large enough bag to hold this trash bag. I can get 6 millimeter (thick) clear polyethylene bags for between $3-5 that work well as pack liners. If you have any questions on this, don't hesitate to call or email. Another place to look for ideas is our online forum.
Tool List
• Sharp Knife, fixed blade (non-folding) - We recommend the Eriksson #510, available from Ben's Backwoods
• Axe with Sturdy Leather Sheath (no hatchets) - handle should not be shorter than 25". Contact Pole And Paddle Canoe for old, high-quality axes
• Draw Knife or Swedish Push Knife (Scroll down to #2006) - Not needed for the summer course
• Spoke Shave - Not needed for the summer course
Optional Gear
• Tent
• Fishing Gear
• Lantern - These provide light and heat for your shelter. We've had good luck with the Coleman Dual Fuel or Deitz Hurricane oil lamps
• Thick, open-cell foam pad - can make a stick bed the pinnacle of luxury
• Camera
• Musical Instrument
• Canoe paddle and/or pole
• PFD
• Cell Phone
• Laptop Computer
• Canoe or Kayak
• Bicycle - we're less than 3 miles from downtown Wolfeboro and have miles of mountain biking trails at our doorstep |
We provide tents, pfd's, paddles, poles, and boats when on trips. If you have one that you really like, feel free to bring it. As for boats, our home base is on the Aroostook River. If you have a boat that you enjoy paddling, feel free to bring it. You will not have access to our phone, except in case of emergency. Likewise, we will not be acting as your message service. If you need to use a phone regularly, please consider getting a cell phone. Otherwise, it is 6 miles to town and payphones.
• 1 pair 17-inch high Tingley (or similar) rubber boots - we will be making mukluks
• Broken in footwear for warmer weather(nothing new). Must be good for walking.
• Felt Boot Liners: 2 pair (the best I've seen are from Steger Mukluks)
• Insulative Boot Insoles: 2 pair
• Sleeping Bag(Preferably Down): rated to at least -20 degrees
• Inexpensive Wool Blanket - $20 or less at a military surplus store
• Sleeping Pad
• Long Underwear: 2 pairs (no cotton)
• Wool Socks: 4 pair (no cotton)
• Wool Shirts: 2-3 (layerable)
• Wool Pants: 1 pair
• Windproof jacket and pants (can be rain gear)
• Rain Gear - should be sized to fit over cold weather clothes, can double as windproof gear
• Parka or warm Jacket
• Warm winter hat
• Mittens
• Leather Gloves
• Scarf
• Shorts and/or Bathing Suit
• Sun Glasses
• Personal Toiletries, including towel and washcloth, etc.
• Other clothing that can get dirty and beat up.
• Flash Light or Head Lamp
• Snowshoes: 1 pair (read about snowshoe sizing information, and please contact me before buying)
- The Faber "sport" model is the traditional style for this part of the world, and works very well.
- Don't purchase bindings, as we'll be making them.
• Cup for Hot/Cold drinks (unbreakable)
• Plate, bowl, fork, spoon
• Water Bottle with wide mouth (similar to Nalgene)
• Orienteering compass
• Notebook and pen/pencil
• Duffle bag to carry your gear when snowshoeing. This is to hold all your personal gear when traveling. It is important that the bag have no rigid frame, such as an external or internal frame backpacks, so that it will ride well on the toboggan. An economical choice is a military surplus canvas duffle bag. In order to get the right size, put all gear for a winter trip (clothes, sleeping bag, pad, footwear, notebook, reading material, toiletries, etc.) into a trashbag. Then buy a large enough bag to hold this trash bag.
Tool List
• Sharp Knife, fixed blade (non-folding) - We recommend the Eriksson #510, available from Ben's Backwoods
• Axe with Sturdy Leather Sheath (no hatchets) - handle should not be shorter than 25". Contact Pole And Paddle Canoe for old, high-quality axes.
Optional Gear
• Tent
• Camera
• Laptop Computer
• Ice fishing gear
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Please let us know if any of this is difficult to find, as most of the items are available within a short drive from Wolfeboro. In the past, students have had good luck at used clothing and army surplus stores for their wool clothes. It is expensive new, but can often be picked up for next to nothing second-hand. For example, several of our previous students
were able to buy two pairs of $70 wool pants for $5 a pair at a Goodwill store. Others have found like-new Filson wool clothes on Ebay.
Contact us with any questions or concerns.
Unless otherwise specified, courses begin in Masardis, Maine. See the Travel Information page for driving directions, airline and bus information. We can do an airport and bus pickup in Presque Isle, Maine, but please let us know in advance.
Please make travel plans to arrive the day before the course begins, and to leave the Sunday after the course ends.
While on trips all meals will be provided. In order to help with meal planning, please provide the following information clearly labeled on a piece of paper or in an email:
1. List any food allergies you may have. Be specific.
2. List any foods you don't like and can't or won't eat.
3. List several foods or meals you like and enjoy eating.
Please keep in mind that this will be used in meal planning.
Please don't bring any pets, firearms (it's ok to bring these but please let us know in advance), or illegal drugs. With regard to alcohol, people are welcome to go to town for a drink, however we ask that they don't bring it back with them for the good of the group.
In the past we've had students purchase all the books on this list, and while purchasing them is no longer mandatory we still recommend getting your own copies. We've got one copy of each of them in our workshop for student use so purchasing them is no longer mandatory. In putting together the book list, we've worked hard to find books that will continue to be useful references for you long after the course is over. This is by no means an exhaustive list - for that check out our Annotated Bibliography. I recommend first looking for them on the internet used, at such sites as bookfinder.com and half.com. This alone will usually cut the bill in half.
Bushcraft by Mors Kochanski
ISBN: 1551051222 - This book was originally titled "Northern Bushcraft", so if you're looking for it used it could be under either title. We strongly recommend you get your own copy of this as we'll be using it regularly.
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Eric Sloane's Weather Book by Eric Sloane
This book is back in print after a long absence. We strongly recommend you get your own copy of this as we'll be reading it the first week and going back to it for reference and clarification throughout the course.
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Humanure Handbook by Joseph Jenkins
ISBN: 0964425890 - In addition to the print version, this book is available in a free online edition at http://www.weblife.org/humanure/default.html. This book should be read and understood before arriving as we use this system and understanding it will minimize misconceptions.
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Botany in a Day by Thomas J. Elpel
ISBN: 1892784076
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Mammal Tracks & Sign by Mark Elbroch
ISBN: 0811726266
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Field Guides - From the Peterson's field guide series:
Edible Wild Plants; Eastern and Central North America
Medicinal Wild Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central NA
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Pocket Books by Mors Kochanski - These are available from either Hollowtop.com or Karamat.com. Both of these outfits also sell Bushcraft, and Hollowtop also sells Botany in a Day. The pocket books are inexpensive, and all of them are packed with good information. If you have the means, I recommend purchasing all 16, but we'll work mainly with those listed below.
Basic Netting
Knife Sharpening
Top Seven Bush Knots and the Use of the Windlass
Basic Weather Knowledge
Tools of Survival and Survival Training
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For The Earth Skills Winter Program Only:
Winter: An Ecological Handbook by James Halfpenny
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For The Earth Skills Winter Program Only:
Snow Walker's Companion by Garrett And Alexandra Conover
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During the course we will have several scheduled breaks. During breaks, students are free to do whatever they want. In the past, students have used this time to work on projects, visit friends and family, explore the area, or just relax.
Not included in the tuition are any meals eaten on the road or out, food to supplement the staple foods provided, entertainment, appropriate licenses (ex. fishing), equipment purchases, medical insurance for students, spending money, etc. Please contact us if there are any questions on this matter.
After being officially admitted, a deposit of $1000 is required to hold a space in the program. The balance of the tuition is due 60 days in advance of the program starting date. Please call and let us know well ahead of time if this presents a problem as we anticipate a waiting list for each Earth Skills Program.
If you must cancel and cannot attend the course, please let us know as soon as possible. If you cancel more than 60 days prior to the start of the course, we will refund 1/2 of the total tuition. We cannot refund any tuition after the 45-day mark (45 days prior to the start of the course).
However, I recently spoke with an insurance agent whose company has a tuition insurance plan. The company is called Insure Tuition, and the plan is the Camp Tuition Reimbursement Insurance. Coverage for the ESSP runs in the neighborhood of $200. For more information on this, go to http://insuretuition.com/
These policies reflect the facts that we do not overbook, cancelled spaces are difficult to fill at the last minute, and that significant costs are incurred in preparing for the program.
When you sign up for the course, we let the other registered students know your contact information for the purposes of networking. If you do not want us to provide them with your contact information, let us know.
If you have any questions about anything don't hesitate to contact us.
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