Well winter has come a little early here in the Land of 10,000 lakes. Today brought our first snow fall of the season. A sticky, heavy, wet 6-8 inches or so.
To go along with my last post regarding Experience vs. Knowledge may I offer a suggestion? How about taking some classes in bush craft skills online? What if I told you they were completely free? sound too good to be true? Think again, my friends.
One of the best forums out there that pertains to bush crafting is Bushcraft USA, the link can be found on the sideboard of my blog. There are so many great threads on that board it's unbelievable. Trip reports, gear threads, vendors, and much more. One of the best features is Bush Class.
Bush Class USA
Bush class is an online course offering various classes on skills and techniques ranging from the basics through intermediate and advanced skills. They are taught mainly by Terry Barney of the Midwest School of Bushcraft. Terry is also a former Air Force Survival Instructor. While Terry is the main man, many of the courses are taught by other amazing members of the forum.
These classes are done on your own time with no pressure. To earn your certification in each of the three levels you submit pictures or video of your completed class in the appropriate threads. In addition each to the skills each course requires a number of outings, many of which are "overnighters". They don't have to be done in order but one class does build on another so it is easier and makes more sense to do so.
Personally I wont be winter camping this year so my over nighters will wait until the spring thaw, but I will try to get out for some outings to hone skills during some of the milder days ahead. The classes themselves, aside from those requiring fire craft can be done in the comfort of your own home, mostly.
A great way to gain some valuable experience with some skills to have if ever you should need them.
Monday, November 10, 2014
Friday, November 7, 2014
Knowledge vs. Experience
Facebook, for better or worse, created some really good discussion today among my friends. A few of them stumbled upon an online quiz to determine how long they would last in a survival situation. While some of the questions were quite good, many of them were of the sort where the "right" answer would be easy to determine by the actual questions.
After a few points about how plant/pollen allergies would make thriving in the wild impossible for a couple of them even though they scored well, one friend had a very good observation. She stated something about scoring well because she watches a lot of the survival shows on cable so she knew the answers. She then stated she wouldn't actually do as well as her score indicted because while she may KNOW how to survive she has no EXPERIENCE in a survival situation. Her skills are all theory and not actual practice.
I'm hoping that this post will act as a nudge for me in the coming long cold Minnesota Winter months to keep up with some skill practice. I live in the city. The winters are long and cold here and it is very easy to curl up on the warm couch with television and the internet and while away the hours.
After a few points about how plant/pollen allergies would make thriving in the wild impossible for a couple of them even though they scored well, one friend had a very good observation. She stated something about scoring well because she watches a lot of the survival shows on cable so she knew the answers. She then stated she wouldn't actually do as well as her score indicted because while she may KNOW how to survive she has no EXPERIENCE in a survival situation. Her skills are all theory and not actual practice.
I'm hoping that this post will act as a nudge for me in the coming long cold Minnesota Winter months to keep up with some skill practice. I live in the city. The winters are long and cold here and it is very easy to curl up on the warm couch with television and the internet and while away the hours.
Ordinary days
This post, while I hope others will read, is mainly here as a reminder to me. A quick note to remind us to take note of even "ordinary" days. I'm just a budding blogger, starting out and hoping that I get better and better with each post. I'm not the story teller I want to be just yet, still perfecting my skills as a wordsmith.
The idea, then, is to take note of the small things, the ordinary things, we find outside and write about them. Lets take a moment when we can, to notice things. On our way out to the car in the morning, or standing at the bus stop, walking the corner store, whatever. Perhaps, if we go out with the intent of writing about our experiences we might enhance them. We might become more observant, more critical, heighten our awareness even. We may think of things in a new way, question things we thought we knew, not to mention learn new things. Anything is possible.
If I can train my brain to the point that when I am out on a hike or a simple walk around the block or impromptu outing to look for interesting things...well I might just find them!
To me this is similar to my reason for taking a camera with me when ever I can. Hoping that I will take a picture that will rekindle the experience or feelings that I felt at the time of the photo.
Who know, if we take these notes and write them down someone, our family or students might look on these quick notes and observations and find them fascinating.
Now. To give credit where it is do, what got me on this topic was an article I found in the July-August edition of the Minnesota Conservation Volunteer magazine. It's put out by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and I absolutely love this magazine. This particular issue opens with an editorial by the editor in chief, Kathleen Weflen and its called "Take Note of Ordinary days". It speaks in more depth on just what I've blogged here and its what sparked this post.
Soon the weather here in the Northstar state is going to get down right cold. When we are bundled up like arctic explorers quick stepping into the next warm shelter or store I can't honestly say I will be able to notice much. From now until then, and as soon as I get acclimated again, I will endeavor to take better note, and post them here, of "ordinary" days.
The idea, then, is to take note of the small things, the ordinary things, we find outside and write about them. Lets take a moment when we can, to notice things. On our way out to the car in the morning, or standing at the bus stop, walking the corner store, whatever. Perhaps, if we go out with the intent of writing about our experiences we might enhance them. We might become more observant, more critical, heighten our awareness even. We may think of things in a new way, question things we thought we knew, not to mention learn new things. Anything is possible.
If I can train my brain to the point that when I am out on a hike or a simple walk around the block or impromptu outing to look for interesting things...well I might just find them!
To me this is similar to my reason for taking a camera with me when ever I can. Hoping that I will take a picture that will rekindle the experience or feelings that I felt at the time of the photo.
Who know, if we take these notes and write them down someone, our family or students might look on these quick notes and observations and find them fascinating.
Now. To give credit where it is do, what got me on this topic was an article I found in the July-August edition of the Minnesota Conservation Volunteer magazine. It's put out by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and I absolutely love this magazine. This particular issue opens with an editorial by the editor in chief, Kathleen Weflen and its called "Take Note of Ordinary days". It speaks in more depth on just what I've blogged here and its what sparked this post.
Soon the weather here in the Northstar state is going to get down right cold. When we are bundled up like arctic explorers quick stepping into the next warm shelter or store I can't honestly say I will be able to notice much. From now until then, and as soon as I get acclimated again, I will endeavor to take better note, and post them here, of "ordinary" days.
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