Forêt Acadienne School of Bushcraft

Throwback Friday! 🌲⏳

Back in 2016, I was giving a presentation in the woods on my 18th-century camping kit and gear.

At the time, I was fascinated by how people lived, travelled, and survived with the tools and materials available hundreds of years ago. Studying historical camping gave me a new appreciation for craftsmanship, self-reliance, and the ingenuity of those who came before us.

Many of the lessons I learned from historical camping still influence the way I teach bushcraft today. While my gear has changed over the years, the principles remain the same: understand your tools, know your environment, and keep learning.

Looking back, it's amazing to see how the journey has evolved.

Have you ever tried historical camping or historical reenactment?

🥾 Lesson Learned: Every Journey Starts With a Single Step

I didn't know it at the time, but this was the beginning of a journey.

When this photo was taken, I was simply enjoying another day outdoors. I wasn't thinking about teaching bushcraft, leading courses, or sharing what I had learned with others. I was just eager to explore, challenge myself, and spend as much time in the woods as possible.

Looking back now, I realize that every hike, every camp, every mistake, and every success was preparing me for where I am today.

The biggest lesson I've learned is that you don't need to have all the answers to begin. Experience is built one trip at a time, one skill at a time, and one lesson at a time.

If you're just starting your own outdoor journey, keep going. The knowledge and confidence you're looking for will come with every kilometre walked and every night spent under the trees.

What was the moment that started your outdoor journey?

The forest has more to teach you than you might think. 🌲

How well do you really know the woods around you?

On August 30th, join Forêt Acadienne School of Bushcraft and Jessika Gauvin for Intro to Backcountry Awareness; a day focused on learning to observe and understand the forest around us.

We’ll explore trees, mushrooms, fungi, and other signs of the natural world while learning how to move through the woods with greater awareness and curiosity.

🌲 Intro to Backcountry Awareness
📅 August 30, 2026
📍 Mapleton Park Rotary Lodge
🥾 Nature walk & outdoor learning
🍄 Special focus on fungi and mushrooms with mycology expert Jessika Gauvin

Whether you're new to the outdoors or simply want to become more observant on your next hike, this course will help you slow down, look closer, and see more.

Spaces are limited.

What outdoor skill would you like to learn this year?

☔ One Item, Many Uses: The Military Poncho

Some pieces of gear earn a permanent place in your kit because they can do so much.

For me, that's the military poncho.
I've used it as:

🏕️ A quick shelter
🌧️ Rain gear on the trail
🛏️ A ground sheet
💨 A windbreak around camp
🎒 A cover for my backpack
🛡️ An emergency bivy when paired with natural insulation (browse bed)

I like gear that solves more than one problem, and a good poncho does exactly that.

It's not the lightest option available, but its versatility has kept it in my kit for years.

What's your favourite multi-use piece of gear?

🔥 A well-earned prize!

A big thank you to one of our followers who generously donated this bushcraft book to be awarded during our recent Intro to Intermediate Bushcraft Course!

The challenge was simple: the book would go to the first participant to successfully produce an ember with a bow drill.

And after plenty of effort, practice, and perseverance… we had a winner! 🔥👏

Congratulations Kimberley Shields on earning the prize — and a huge thank you again to our generous follower for helping make the course even more memorable.

This is what bushcraft is all about: learning, sharing, and passing the knowledge along. 🌲

We have a presentation on How to Conquer your First Thru-Hike during this Festival!

Information found on the Town of Riverview's website or follow the link in the first comment. 👇

🍂 Harvest Fest is back! Join us September 18-20 for a weekend packed with markets, workshops, live music, family activities, and all the best of the fall season. The full event schedule is now available on our website, so start planning your Harvest Fest weekend!

Read the full story: https://buff.ly/Do702aK

Congratulations, Bushcrafters! 🌲🔥

A huge congratulations to the 9 participants who completed our Intro to Intermediate Bushcraft Course yesterday!

From building a pack frame and bucksaw, to making a bowdrill, practicing knots, and putting those bushcraft skills to work in the forest! It was a full day of learning, building, and getting our hands dirty.

Thank you to everyone who came out, challenged yourselves, shared your knowledge, and embraced the experience. Well done, everyone! 👏

This photo only caught 6 of our 9 participants, but the accomplishment belongs to all 9! 🌲