Basic Primitive Skills Intro: Fire, Cordage and Sharp Things 

17 June 2017
9:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Cost: $40/person

It is time once again to offer this course, which emphasizes a competent knowledge of fire, cordage, and edge tools as the core skill set for wilderness proficiency. This class will include a crash-course in learning how to produce and maintain a sharp edge from stone; identification and processing of suitable plant fibers, and how to turn these materials into 2- and 3-ply cordage; principles of combustion and how to set up a successful "3 minute" practice fire, lit with matches/lighters; and how to make fire with traditional flint-and-steel and the bow-drill. Please note: This is NOT a flintknapping course. The stone tool portion will focus exclusively on the simplest methods of producing sharp flakes, with a limited amount of pressure flaking for maintenance of cutting edges and flint fire-strikers.