Last weekend I had the pleasure of running some intro bushcraft/outdoor living programming during a weekend retreat hosted by Elizabeth and her crew at Camp Wizby in central Vermont. The camp’s location is beautiful with fields in the very early stages of turning back into a forest, river access and trails throughout. I didn’t have the pleasure of participating in any of the other programming available, but got to meet and chat a little with the other educators and practitioners and was impressed with their passion for what they had on offer.
I’ve run a lot of these introductory level programs, and I never really get tired of them. The pace is often slow, while people handle a knife for the first time, or struggle to make the connections between what I’m explaining or showing and what they need to do to succeed. However, when that connection gets made and people light their first fire with carved kindling, or cut down a sapling with a knife quickly and efficiently, it’s a pretty powerful thing every single time. These little moments remind me how much a love living with these skillsets, and seeing the spark ignited in other people will never cease to be the most rewarding thing I do in my career.
So needless to say, I’m looking forward to collaborating more with Camp Wizby in the future, and I hope you all go check out what they’re creating there. It’s a special place.