Bushcraft Anyone?

There’s a growing hobby/movement that’s been becoming popularized, primarily through YouTube, but also through outdoor hobby channels. This movement is called bushcraft and is something I’ve grown an interest in lately. The hobby, movement, activity, or whatever you want to classify it as encapsulates a feeling of returning to wilderness and nature.

Bushcraft involves, but is not limited to, primitive camping (sorry no glamping here), historical outdoors techniques – typically from the 1700s or 1800s, and primitive survival skills. There are several channels on YouTube dedicated to this craft. It could be as simple as spending a day out in nature with nothing but a water bottle, tarp, and knife or even extended to week long trips with all the accouterments one would need to live off the land (traps, rifles, pots and pans, etc…).

What it boils down to is enjoying nature and the serenity that nature provides. There’s a power that God has imbued in nature,  healing and calming power. There is even scientific evidence that suggests that microbes in the soil can make you physically healthier and happier. You can read more about it here. I couldn’t find a unified definition of bushcraft – everyone has their own take, but it appears everyone has the same reason for enjoying buschraft – which is to get out and enjoy nature.

Learning about bushcraft taught me about the value of respecting nature as well as other survival techniques that may be useful for me in the future, from purifying water, to making traps, it’s overall a great hobby to be enjoyed by all. Nature is a bit of a double edged sword, it can be kind and serene, but also deadly and unpredictable. Studying and practicing bushcraft (and I don’t mean to sound overly philosophical woo woo), will help you be in harmony with nature, be a part of nature instead of struggling against it. Do you enjoy nature? If you don’t know, why don’t you go out to your local park and take a walk on one of the nature trails, then analyze how you feel afterwards. Getting away from the hustle and bustle of the daily grind will be a great reprieve and may even help you be healthier and happier.

Thanks