Basic Skills Weekend: Covers the most important survival skills such as friction fire (bow and hand-drill, cordage (string and rope from plant fiber), basic flintknapping and stone tool construction, traps, edible/useful plant ID, water procurement and treatment, and shelter. $200
Click here for Schedule
3-Day Advanced Skills/Primitive Living Course: Covers Weaponry (atlatl, quickie surivival bow & arrow, rivercane blowgun), fishing gear, traps, bone tools, general toolmaking and hafting, glues and adhesives (pine pitch, hide/fish glue), basketry & containers, ember-burned bowls, shelter. $275 Click here for Schedule
Foraging Programs and Specialty Workshops: Foraging programs can be held at First Earth’s Camp, a couple of private locations near Springfield MO, or at a location of your choice. The fee is $250 for a 2 1/2 hour program, plus additional travel fees if over 50 mi. From Springfield. Check out the events calendar at Dogwood Canyon Nature Park for my monthly primitive skills classes at their location near Blue Eye MO. I’ll also be teaching workshops at the WOW Outdoor School Roaring River on October 8-9.
Customized skills workshops are available for groups of 6 or more, with advance notice.
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The Hunter-Gatherer: For graduates of Advanced Skills, this is a chance to “take it to the woods”. we will hike into the wilderness with a bare minimum of basic food staples and a blanket, and live as a small band of hunter-gatherers for approximately one week. (By special appointment only, these will be on hold till after 2022 when my next foraging book is finished)
I’ve passed on my Braintan Buckskin classes to my exceptionally talented assistant of the last 15 years, Lynn Emery. His number is (417) 684-1676
All work materials provided, primitive camping on location. Classes start at around 8:30 am, end around 3-5 pm on the last day. Bring your own food for the weekend. There are several Mennonite-owned businesses nearby, The Meadowview Dutch Market has groceries and sandwiches, the Lead Mine Country Store has hot lunches, Ozark Winds Bake Shop has fresh baked goods, all are around 15 min. from camp and are open from 8:30 am-5pm Monday-Saturday.
To register for classes or foraging programs – Click the “Shop” page and select the $100 class deposit, pay by credit card or PayPal. Or, send a $100 check to the address below. We’ll send a location map upon receipt. Most classes are held at First Earth’s Camp on the Niangua River. Make checks payable at least two weeks in advance to:
Bo Brown
1696 South Farm Road 241
Rogersville, MO. 65742
What to Bring:
- Camping gear (tent, sleeping pad & bag, rain gear), camp chair, flashlight
- Food & water for the duration. I usually have some water on hand, and there’s a nearby potable spring
- Leather gloves
- Smaller lockblade or fixed blade knife (unserrated edge is more useful, a 4″ Morakniv Companion is a good choice for under $20 if you don’t already have a favorite)
- Notebook, camera, or smartphone as a memory aid, especially during edible plant ID segment
To get a leg up on the skills and a continuation of what you’ll learn in the classes, visit John McPherson’s Prairie Wolf site from the links page to purchase his book “Primitive Wilderness Living and Survival Skills”, or other books/instructional videos. He was of immense help when we started the school in 1993, and I’m particularly honored to have assisted with his series of U.S. Army Special Forces (SERE) Survival Instructor training classes. John & Geri continue to be an inspiration to everyone in this field. Also put David & Paula Wescott/Backtracks on that list, as hosts of the annual Rabbitstick and Wintercount gatherings. I’ve been teaching there for over 20 years, and keep hearing first-timers describe it as a life-changing experience. There are a number of these gatherings around the country, among them our locally hosted Bois D’ Arc Skills Camp & Knap-in, all will provide a wealth of hands-on learning.
