Those of us living in the Pacific Northwest (and many other regions around the world) are fortunate to be gifted every spring with an abundance of Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica). While it’s sting can be unpleasant, it teaches us to pay attention to our surroundings and I believe that’s a good thing. It also offers…
Read More “Stinging Nettle: Harvesting, Processing and Recipes” »
All of us have eaten insects, whether we knew it or not. As a kid, I even ate a worm on the playground to impress and gross out my friends. It’s not really a big deal. Unfortunately, adults who spent their whole lives growing up in western culture, now consider the notion of eating insects…
Making traditional fire by friction, or “rubbing two sticks together” is real, and it’s more than a fun project: it’s also the most reliable way to start a fire once you learn how. How can an ancient way of starting fire be the most reliable if it is difficult? Well, it’s only difficult if you…
Read More “Bow Drill Fire Making Kits – Directions, Tips, Tricks, Pitfalls & Advice” »
I almost made my own fire-making video, but then I saw this great video by Peter Kummerfeldt who does a superb job explaining the best way to make a fire at Outdoor Survival-Chapter 9-Fire. The only thing missing from his explanation is that fire needs shelter. In fact, fire has the following 4 requirements: Fuel…
Read More “The Best Way To Make A Fire: Bed, Pillow & Blanket plus Criss-Cross Construction” »
A day on the seashore is fun, but a if you know some basic information about seaweeds and shellfish, then a day is never enough. In fact, you could live on the beach always discover new things. “Edge” areas are always the places where the greatest number of species cross paths, and there is no…
Read More “Eating From The Seashore: Seaweeds & Shellfish of the Salish Sea” »
It’s hard to think of anything that embodies the spirit of the great outdoors more than a good old-fashioned campfire under the stars. They provide us with warmth, light, and a great social atmosphere. There’s something deeply human about huddling around a raging fire with friends and family that brings us all closer together. Great…
Please click here to read critical introductory material in Top Native Plants To Learn for Herbal Medicine, Part 1 of 2 including the non-flowering plants, and my article on the Tenets of Herbal Medicine. These articles are designed to help the beginner cut the chaff, and start studying plants that will give a solid foundation of…
Read More “Top Native Plants To Learn for Herbal Medicine: Part 2 of 2 – Flowering Plants” »
The following plants which are native to the Pacific Northwest either 1) are scientifically proven to effectively treat health issues, or 2) I have personally tested to work. However, many of them should only be used under the care and advice of a naturopathic physician. Please seek medical advice and never rely on internet advice…
Read More “Top Native Plants To Learn for Herbal Medicine: Part 1 of 2” »
Since the founding of the Boy Scouts and to the era of modern of survival schools, the “debris hut” has enjoyed great popularity. Unfortunately, the debris hut is not a practical design for emergency shelter. To build a debris hut, you need 1) plenty of time, which no one in a survival situation has, 2) a mind sharp enough…
Recommended Orienteering Compasses First, it is critical to get a “spinning dial” compass that is clear plastic, although it’s also nice to get one that allows you to “set declination” which is a fancy way of saying that it has prominent red lines/arrows that clearly shows your magnetic declination so that every time you use…
Read More “Video & Blog: How To Use A Compass; Using Map & Compass; Recommended Compasses” »
Wolf College Top 10 Lostproofing Skills Plan your route and risk manage it (empower all to say “stop, is it worth the risk, and if so, let’s make a mitigation plan) Every person needs to bring the 10 essentials. See https://www.mountaineers.org/learn/how-to/the-ten-essentials Always tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll be back. Then go there! If…
Read More “Top 10 List of Natural Navigation, Lostproofing & Orienteering Tips, Tricks & Advice” »
Wolf College founder and co-owner Chris Chisholm finds red-wing blackbirds in cattail pond, harvests cattail rhizomes, transplants the cattail into the Wolf College bioswale rain garden, and cooks cattails for carbohydrate loading.
First Plants to Learn No plant is more important than any other, just like no person’s life should be more important than anyone else’s. But all of us who publish books about plants make choices as to which plants to highlight, and which to leave out during the editing process. My choice of plants is…
The Opposite of Panic Experts say “don’t panic” in case of emergency, but we are biologically wired with a “freeze, fight or flee” response, so the only people who don’t automatically panic are trained emergency responders. So what are the rest of us to do? When we panic, adrenaline floods our system, and our “lower…
Read More “Emergency & Wilderness Survival – Tips, Suggestions & Advice” »
Sign up for our First Tuesday of the Month Outdoor Skills Newsletter The newsletter contains deals and information not available anywhere else! Examples include: – Where to find current hot wildlife spots and more – Previews of program ideas and upcoming skills videos – Mini skills newsletter workshops from our workshop hand-outs – Special program discount…
Read More “First Monthly Outdoor Skills Newsletter publishes March 4th, 2013” »
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