Bushcraft Meets.

There are many ways to learn more about  Bushcraft from signing onto courses, reading books or even watching  presenters like Ray Mears on TV, but in the end nothing beats getting  out and doing it.

I am often asked how is the best way to get started and for most people my answer is always the same.

Get involved in an organisation or forum like Bushcraft UK and sign up for some of their meet ups.

There are meets organised by members all over the country and although they  are not usually set up like a course, designed with specific teaching  objectives, they are a great introduction and opportunity to learn.

The meets attract members at all levels from raw beginners to experts in their fields and I have never met anyone that was not more than  willing to share their skills.

People often imagine that you already have to have  certain skills or equipment to go to a meet but you might be surprised to find very little is really needed.

They are usually held in established campsites so basic toilets and water  supplies are not normally a problem. You will of course need some form  of shelter but a normal tent is quite sufficient.

Many turn up  with tarps and hammocks which is fine too but most sites do not have the available materials for building natural shelters.

Bring  something to eat and if  necessary the means to heat it. Some sites allow ground fires, most  require fires to be off the ground for safety reasons. Again, there is  nothing wrong with bringing a simple camping stove if you like.

Obviously you need to be prepared for the conditions you are likely to encounter.

Warm clothing is a good idea, even in Summer the evenings can get cold.  Waterproofs and footwear suitable for muddy conditions are sensible too.

A sleeping bag or good warm blankets and an insulated  sleeping mat. If you are bringing a hammock, be aware that you will  still need insulation under that as well because the bag will be  compressed where you contact the hammock.

Less obvious things to bring are a notebook and a chair of some sort. Most evenings people will gather around camp fires for company and  conversation. Many will enjoy a drink or two in moderation. A camp chair will be a welcome comfort for these enjoyable evenings.

Don’t be  afraid to ask  questions, all are willing to share knowledge but most will not impose  just in case you are happy working things out on your own.

We all  started out somewhere and it’s easy to forget that first time when we  hadn’t got a clue how to set up a tarp or what knots to use on a  hammock. Ask if you can look at how others have set up, sometimes you  will be amazed at the little tips and tricks you can learn or the  different ways people have of doing things.

Most of all be prepared to find  as welcoming a bunch of people as you could care to meet.

Bushcrafters are a varied breed, they come from all walks of life and have the experiences to match.

Perhaps it is that shared interest that creates such an instant sense of  camaraderie around the camp fire but I would bet that once you have  taken the first step of attending such a meet, your next thought will be

”When is the next one...“