Rooted in wild food and grounded camp competence, the Boreal Field School is a small-group, four-day immersion in the boreal backcountry. This isn’t a bushcraft or survival course - it’s about basecamp competence - the practical systems that let you live well in the forest, stay longer, and turn the surrounding ecosystem into your meals, drinks, and daily rhythm.
Hunting, fishing, and foraging aren’t skills you pick up in a weekend. Success in the field depends on your confidence with camp systems, tools, and teamwork — the more comfortable you are, the more time you’ll spend outdoors, and the better you’ll excel at whatever draws you there. This program condenses years of hard-won experience into a hands-on environment where you can practice, learn from mistakes, and level up.
Maximum six participants.
Daily Activities Include
- Living in a wall-tent backcountry camp: setup, maintenance, and practical team workflows
- Daily guided foraging walks to identify and harvest key boreal species, with direct integration into meals and camp routines
- Bush skills in context: knots, cordage, rigging, wood processing, firecraft, and safe knife and axe use
- Field cookery and team-based meal preparation: menu planning, fuel management, simple tools, and incorporating wild ingredients into everyday camp meals
- Daily wild mixology sessions to explore flavors from the forest in a hands-on, team-focused way
- Shooting practice emphasizing safety, skill, and situational awareness
- Evening reflections and debriefs to reinforce learning, team competence, and practical problem-solving
Boreal Field School
Day 1 – Arrival & Camp Foundations
Arrive mid-afternoon and step into the boreal backcountry. Begin by establishing camp, setting up tents, stoves, and the field kitchen. Learn foundational knots and basic firecraft while getting a feel for the rhythm of backcountry living. Evening: wild mixology session and team-based dinner, introducing you to camp life and collaboration.Day 2 – Camp Competence & Applied Foraging
Develop essential camp skills: firewood selection, axe and knife use, tripod and lashing techniques, and efficient kitchen workflow. Explore the forest on a guided foraging walk and bring those finds into the field kitchen. Evening: wild mixology session and team-based dinner, connecting the day’s skills to practical application.Day 3 – Hunting Foundations & Applied Skills
Morning introduces basic hunting concepts and safe knife handling. Continue refining campcraft skills and practice shooting for safety and accuracy in a controlled environment. Evening: wild mixology session and team-based dinner, reflecting on applied skills and personal growth.Day 4 – Camp Leadership & Wilderness Stewardship
Morning: step back to see the bigger picture – managing a camp, decision-making, risk management, resource planning, first aid basics, and wilderness stewardship principles. Midday: team-based brunch integrating foraged ingredients and skills from the week. Afternoon: written exam and camp breakdown. Final reflection and departure.