Frequently Asked Questions  
 
How demanding are your courses?

We are not a survival company; our courses are better described as educational rather than endurance. You are not required to carry heavy loads, bath in frozen streams or join the military for the duration of the course. Some may find our events tiring as we pack in as much knowledge and experience as possible and there will be some gentle walking. Throughout your time with us you will be well fed and watered; we believe that if our clients are uncomfortable then their learning and enjoyment will be restricted. It becomes difficult to concentrate on the subject if you are worried about being cold, hungry or the weight of your backpack.

Do I need to have prior experience?

You need no prior experience, there are no entry requirements for any of our courses and each can be attended as stand alone events. We teach more advanced techniques by creating courses specific to certain skills and areas of knowledge. We find this creates a progression through the subject and allows our clients to concentrate on the areas which most interest them. There is no mystery surrounding the subject and in the past we have taught ages ranging from five to the late sixties proving bushcraft can be learned by anyone physically and mentally able to take part.
  
   
 
   

Will I need specialist kit?

Please do not go out and spend a fortune on equipment as you probably already possess most of the things you need and if not, most things can be bought cheaply at an Army Surplus store. We offer the use of hammocks, flysheets, sleeping mats and bivouac bags if you don’t want to bring a tent. You will have to supply your own sleeping bag and we do recommend one that is 3 season or more. Silk liners can also make your bags considerably warmer. For more information, see our general KIT LIST we require you to bring on our courses.

What will I be eating?

All of our courses are fully catered with breakfast, lunch and evening meal. There is always a fire in camp and so the kettle is always on providing hot drinks on demand. Alcohol is not permitted on our courses for obvious safety reasons. Where possible, we try to use local organically produced food, game and fair trade products. Vegetarian and vegan diets are catered for but please remember to inform us prior to the commencement of your course. If you have any other specific dietary issues, allergies or requirements we also need to be informed well in advance of your course.

Will we be hunting and trapping?

There will be game and fish preparation on our wild food courses and foraging for coastal edibles, and we never miss a chance to introduce our clients to the culinary delights of wild plants. We do not however teach methods of hunting and trapping birds and mammals on any of our courses.

  
 
 
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Tel/Fax: +44 (0)1730 816299 Monday, Wednesday & Friday 9am - 5pm
 

Do I have to camp?

Over the years we have had a few clients who, despite our best efforts to change their minds, really hate the thought of camping and find this element the biggest problem in learning outdoor skills. Although camping is integral to many of our courses lots of our events do not require it.
Although you may be working fairly late into the evening it is quite possible to sleep in local B&B’s or hotels. You should contact Midhurst Tourist information Centre on 01730 817322 who will have up to date listings.

 


Additional Information

Course meeting times

Unless specified our courses start at 7 pm on the start date (5pm for the Bow Making) and end at 4pm on the last day when you will be taken back to the local train station or returned to your car. Cars are parked within a relatively short walk of the main camp behind locked gates and are regularly checked by our staff. Although we cannot guarantee the safety of your vehicle we have never had an issue of theft or damage.

Tools

All the tools needed for our courses will be loaned or in the case of the Essence of bushcraft and the Essential bushcraft courses you will be given a sheath knife to keep. Unless specified on joining instructions or previously agreed by our staff, please leave all other cutting tools, such as axes and large knives at home. Many tools specified for outdoor use are often unsuitable, unsafe or require specialist training to become proficient with.

Sanitary and course facilities

Sanitary and course facilities - An expedition type camp does not have flushing toilets or running water but we try to make life's necessary functions as comfortable as possible. We offer a covered shower and toilet, although it's still basic you might just learn to love it!

We are in the process of building a heated round house which should make any inclement weather much more bearable if we notice it at all!

Course cancellation and variation

We will always endeavour to stay as close to the course programme as possible and will only cancel or change a course should the natural world throw something unexpected our way. This usually means severe weather, some deviation in this respect can be beneficial to learning and we would only consider cancelling a course should the conditions compromise safety. Please ensure you are kitted out as per our kit list.

Peace of Mind
All our instructors are fully trained and qualified in Remote Response First Aid. There is a Paramedic Pilot station in Midhurst (5 miles) and the nearest Casualty/A&E is in Chichester which is about 20 minutes drive. Most basic medical conditions can be dealt with but if you have any queries concerning your health and your preferred course please contact us for a confidential discussion.