Who Coined the Term Bushcraft?
The term “bushcraft” is believed to have originated in Southern Africa, where it was used to describe the traditional skills and knowledge of indigenous peoples who lived in the bush. However, the term was popularized in the UK in the 20th century by outdoorsman and author Richard Graves, who wrote the influential book “Bushcraft: How to Live in the Wilderness”. The term has since become widely used to describe a range of wilderness survival and outdoor skills.
But What is Bushcraft?
Depending on who you ask or who you watch on YouTube, or whose books you read, you will get varying opinions and definitions on what exactly Bushcraft is. There are some commonalities amongst all bushcrafters, though. One being that Bushcraft is a way to practice and hone skills and learn new skills. Second, are the five C’s of survivability, and those are combustion, cover, cordage, cutting and container. A third shared opinion is that Bushcraft skills and survival skills are NOT the same, which is mostly true to an extent. Bushcraft is a choice, and most people participate in it because they enjoy trying to live in the elements like long hunters and mountain men of the past. Survival is not always a choice; it is usually due to some sort of natural disaster or something happening beyond your control, and you must learn on the fly until help arrives to rescue you. Bushcraft is knowledge gained either by practicing or by being taught to you by someone in an outdoor classroom setting. Lots of folks like you and myself are self-taught by getting out there and just doing it. Building fires, building shelters of all kinds, gathering tinder food or water, wood-crafting and scouting are all the ways you get better at Bushcraft.
There are lots of tools and gear you will need or want, but the best tool you’ll need to be successful in Bushcraft is your brain. Lots of Bushcraft is learning, but with practice, you begin to remember the skills and they become part of you, and you retain that knowledge for when you actually need them, perhaps in a survival situation. There are several avenues one could take toward Bushcraft, but the best way is to just get out there.
Further definition can be found here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushcraft
Bradley
Bushcraft Evolution
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