Dan Wowak - Bushcraft Kid: Survive in the Wild and Have Fun Doing It!

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To my grandfatherthe hikes down to the railroad tracks and the summer mornings fishing at Tuscarora all molded my life forever.

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When I was a kid, an early dismissal from school because of a snowstorm was always welcomed. I remember rushing home to pack my outdoor gear so I could head into the woods. With snow falling and my backpack loaded, I would climb the mountains that surrounded my town. Looking back, I cant tell you what the actual purpose was of doing that, but I can tell you it was always an adventure. Being in the woods was a staple in my life from when I was a young boy. Fishing with my grandparents, camping with friends, and even hiking during those snowstorms in the Appalachians molded me into the woodsman I am today. From as early as I can remember, I was interested in being outside. And I was also always excited about the gear I carried. I would pack, unpack, and repack my gear. And it was just as fun as actually being out in the woods.

Back in those days, I never knew of, or had even heard of, bushcraft; I just knew that when I went into the woods, it was going to be a challenge. (And I can tell you that even after 30 years, its still a challenge and that will never change, but thats also what makes it fun.) The weather, the terrain, even the time of day all presented unique situations. I soon realized that with just my gear and the knowledge I possessed, I could make Mother Nature work in my favor. I could use what nature provided to beat the elements and make life better in the woods, so thats what I did. I ditched all the high-tech gadgets and went old school. I would think about what men on the frontier carried or what my grandfather carried when he went camping. I researched how both men and women who lived remotely would thrive. Soon I was carrying heavy-duty canvas backpacks, wool blankets, and most importantly, tools like a belt knife, an axe, a flint and steel kit, and ropes to all help make camp life better.

As Ive spent time outside over the years, Ive made my camps a home away from home. Ive built hooks to hang my gear, benches to sit on, and work tables to help me carve things. Ive cooked delicious meals and made them with cooking tools I created simply, with materials I found in the forest around me. Soon I realized that nearly every comfort I had at home I could have in the woods. Whats interesting is that even back when I didnt know about bushcraft, its what I was doing every time I went outside. It wasnt until I got a bit older that I started to hear about bushcraft. And although I cant remember the first time I heard the term, I started to realize that bushcraft was what I had been doing all along and its the thing I love to do in the woods. And whats best about it is that anyone can do it. Its customizable to what you like to do; there are no rules! Bushcraft is simply about having fun in the woods with your gear and with nature around you.

Spending time in the woods brings happiness and a sense of accomplishment to everyone, and I wrote this book because I want you to get outside and enjoy the outdoors. I outline many of the essential skills you should learn when youre heading into the outdoors. But dont worry if youve never done any of it before! Learning bushcraft skills takes time, and as you go on more and more outdoor adventures, youll incorporate more and more of these skills. We will cover everything from getting a good nights sleep, to starting a fantastic campfire, to making your own cooking utensils. One of my favorite sayings is another tool for the toolbox. I want you to try to think of all of the skills youre about to learn as tools for your bushcraft toolbox. And just like with normal tools at a shop, you wont use them all at once, but as problems arise. If you forget a drinking cup, youll know how to make one with birch bark! If you have wet boots, youll learn how to make a boot dryer! We will talk about all of that and tons more.

Bushcraft is my life and has been my life since a young boy. I hope you find as much excitement and relaxation with it as I have over my life. And I hope you find bushcraft to be as fun as I did as a kid, and it gets you excited to get into the woods. Enjoy!

Dan Wowak

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Planning your outdoor trip can be just as fun and exciting as the adventure itself. Looking at maps, finding out what the weather will be like, and packing your gear are all exciting parts of planning an outdoor adventure. In this chapter, we will take a look at some important things to consider when planning an awesome outdoor adventure, and youll learn how to pack smart!

Preparing for Your Outdoor Adventure | CONTENTS

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What is Bushcraft?

Bushcraft is the art of creating useful solutions to solve problems in the outdoors. Its about more than just learning survival skillsits about using tools and mostly just the materials that nature provides to create solutions. Yes, you always need to carry some gear as you embark on any adventure, but you cant carry everything, so why not learn how to make some of the things youll need while youre out there? It doesnt matter if youll be spending just a few hours outside or if youre going on a multi-day trip, bushcraft will fuel your adventure and add to the fun!

Think about this: If a bridge needs to be built, engineers begin the process by figuring out how to build the bridge. Theyll use tools like calculators and computers to develop blueprints and figure out the best way to build the bridge. Next, construction workers will gather all of the necessary materials for the project and get to work: pouring concrete, setting metal beams, and laying asphalt. Before long, the bridge is completed and a problem that was there before has now been solved: the bridge provides an easier way for people to drive their cars from one point to another. Much like a construction company designs and builds a bridge, bushcrafters design solutions to solve problems by using materials and tools to make something that is needed and useful. When bushcrafters have problems to solve, they are the engineer and the construction worker, but theyre also the driver who ultimately uses the bridge because they use the solution theyve created to make outdoor life a little easier and a little more enjoyable. A bushcrafter sees a need, designs a solution, builds the solution, and then uses the solution. The most exciting part of bushcrafting is that other than staying safe, there really are no rules! If you can dream up a solution, create it, and put it to use, its a success!