Ben’s Backwoods + Lester River Bushcraft

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS

Ben Piersma lives in the woods of northern Michigan and runs Bensbackwoods.com a bushcraft and survival supply company.

Ben’s full time job is testing, researching, and selling tools and outdoor goods for camp life in the north woods. He uses hand tools like axes, hand-saws, and knives daily for fishing, hunting, foraging, self reliance, and bushcraft. Ben has designed several production knives as well as outdoor gear and is consulted on design by different manufactures. He is a expert with a camp axe and has produced “Safe and Efficiant Camp Axe Use” DVD as a teaching aid. Ben has spent most of his training with Mors Kochanski, and Karamat instructors Kelly Harlton and Dragan Uzelac with the focus on survival and bushcraft in the boreal forest. He has been teaching bushcraft and survival skills in the north woods of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota since 2012. 

YouTube: Ben’s Backwoods Channel
Facebook: Ben’s Backwoods Facebook
Website: bensbackwoods.com

Jason Gustafson (Lester River Bushcraft) has trained with many of the best in the business (Mors Kochanski, Madison Parker & Terry Barney).  He has 5+ years of FMA (Filipino Martial Arts) and has taught classes at Dirtime, the Winter Camping Symposium & other local events.  

Training/Certification References

•Mors Kochanski – Karamat Wilderness Ways
•Madison Parker – Bulletproof Primitive Supply
•Terry Barney – 88 Tactical
•Mark Laine – Center Line Systems 
•Dirttime 
•Winter Camping Symposium

Instagram: @lesterriverbushcraft
Website: lrbushcraft.com

ESSENTIAL NORTHWOODS BUSHCRAFT & SURVIVAL SKILLS

2-Day Class | Class Cost: $350
Instructors: Ben Piersma (Bens Backwoods) and Jason Gustafson (Lester River Bushcraft)

DESCRIPTION:

This class will cover the skills and tools required for survival and comfort in the north woods.
These skills will give you safety and confidence in everything from a unexpected night in the
woods to a longer off grid trip or expedition. The Main topics covered will be shelter, fire and
water. We will go over basic kit ideas for a day pack or bug out bag to meet your shelter fire and
water needs. The goal is to combine skills, natural resources from the environment and a few well
selected tools to not only survive but to thrive in the northwoods.


Shelter: Clothing is your first line of shelter, we will cover clothing options for cold/wet weather,
footwear , base layers , insulation layers and environmental layers for working around fire.
We will cover tarp set up for heated or unheated shelter, running a tight ridgeline, building a
raised and insulated bed, stake carving and super shelter for deep cold weather.
We will also cover sleeping bag and ground pad selection for cold weather.


Fire: Mastering lighter, matches and ferro rod for fire lighting will be a large part of the class as it
is the top skill in meeting your needs in a wilderness emergency or living situation. We will cover
birch bark, fatwood, twig bundles and feathersticks. Types of fires used will be a warming drying
fire for emergency use and a long fire for cooking and sleeping.

Water: Water filters for on the move pros and cons, boiling water over a fire as a reliable source
of water. Setting up a cooking crane pot suspension system for a large group or a small tripod for
single person use. We will cover carving a pot hook to hang a pot as well as using a cord. Boiling
Kochanski coffee and gathering roots, leaves, bark and mushrooms for bush tea.
Tool Selection and Use: Understanding what tools you need for crafting, carving , cutting and
meeting your firewood needs. Knife, axe, saw and pot selection for different kits. Maintenence
and sharpening of tools. We will cover safe use of these tools as well as several techniques for
firewood processing including the one stick fire and the score and snap method of processing.

All students will be given a Mora knife and ferro rod.

REQUIREMENTS:

  • Positive mental attitude
  • Outdoor clothing to meet the expected weather conditions as most teaching will be done outside.
  • Folding chair
  • Food and drinks for yourself. ( A large pot of hot water and coffee will be available throughout the
    camp )
  • Coffee cup or metal canteen cup etc.
  • Headlamp, knives, saws axes and personal gear you want to test and use.
  • Students are encouraged to camp out Friday and Saturday night. See NWTF Lodging page for camping costs and amenities.

AVAILABLE CLASSES:

Saturday & Sunday – October 5 & 6, 2024
Class Tuition: $350 (50% due at registration, remaining due at class start)
Click here to register

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