Practice Ancient Fire-Making

You may have seen wilderness survival programs showing people easily creating campfires without matches or lighters. You can learn those same valuable fire-making skills to become more confident in your hiking and camping endeavors while gaining a closer, mutualistic relationship with the natural world.

During this class, you will experience the basics of friction fire-starting using a bow drill.

• First, we will mindfully wander the woods, learning about our local natural areas by identifying and gathering materials for a fire from ideal trees, shrubs, herbs and grasses. Tips will be shared about tending the wilderness to increase its health while foraging for materials.

• Next, you will learn to carefully craft those natural materials into a bow, fire board, spindle, handhold and tinder bundle. As you learn practical skills with a knife, you will naturally cultivate virtues of slowness and patience.

• Lastly, techniques for igniting an ember from the tools you…