Latest news with #bushcraft
The Guardian
30-05-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
‘This is not a wellness retreat': four days on an Australian wilderness survival course
On our very first night in the bush, Gordon Dedman issued a warning: 'Fussy people die.' Dedman, a man with an apt name for a military survival instructor, is all muscle and green khaki. Sat by the fire, he addresses his students. 'This is not a wellness retreat. It is about getting out of your comfort zone.' I am in the Camden bush, on Dharawal and Gundungurra Country, for a four-day wilderness survival course taught by the consultant for TV's most gruelling show, Alone Australia. On the itinerary: knife work, knots, emergency shelters, fire lighting, water collection, plant identification, solar and celestial navigation, plus emergency signalling and rescue techniques. On my person: fresh hiking boots, gold hoops, perfectly low-rise cargo pants and a black tee. The last time I went camping was with school in year 9, in a tent set up about 50 steps from a cabin. Out of my comfort zone, indeed – this time I don't have a tent, or a toilet. After a short hike, we arrive at sunset to a large green tarp billowing gently. It's a military parachute, Dedman tells us. We gather at a semicircle of stools beneath the canopy. Dedman gets straight to it. The goal of 'survival' is to be found, he says. This is different to bushcraft, which has a direct relationship with nature and draws from the skills traditional cultures used to live in the wilderness. Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning Dedman's philosophy about the land and people's role on it is clear just a few hours in: 'Our existence here is based on the caring capacity of the Earth. 'But we live in a system of expanding expenditure … at total odds with nature. Something is very broken with our system.' We go around the circle of 15 students, introducing ourselves. Most of us are novices, mainly Sydney and Canberra-based men with office jobs looking to reconnect with the outdoors (participant Julian Carrick says he is here to 'soothe the soul' and 'see the stars') plus two parents, their eager sons and myself. Some students have dabbled in survival and bushcraft for years – including Karla Pound, a National Geographic expedition leader and contestant on the current season of Alone. We're not equipped for when things go wrong, she tells me. She says even during common occurrences such as power outages and floods, 'people don't know the first thing to do'. 'It is really important to have these basic, fundamental skills under your belt.' The parachute tarp becomes our base for the next four days, with classes held early in the morning and late at night. These hours are by design, to simulate the exhaustion and distraction one might feel in a real survival situation. Meanwhile our days are structured around practical skills. First, knives (I'm limp-wristed and slow), then knots (I actually catch on). We use both to set up our first emergency shelters – pitched plastic sheets strung up between two trees and secured with pegs we carved ourselves, totally open to the surrounds. These structures are called hootchies. I am slow to find a spot – too picky, terrified of sleeping near thick shrubbery. It's a justified fear, I'd say, given we are in the habitat of funnel web spiders, king brown and red belly black snakes. By the time I choose a location, the sun is setting. I fumble in the dark, trying to hold all my ropes and pegs in place. It is only thanks to kind peers – a physio and a former-detective-turned-teacher – that I am able to set up in time for dinner. 'The western world has a problem with food aversion,' Dedman says at meal time. So true. I'm hungry for the potato cooking under the bonfire coals we are sitting around. We waste so much, he says, we're disconnected from our food's sources. I nod when he mentions more sustainable protein alternatives to beef. Then he brings out a container of live meal worms. We are going to eat them, he says. I laugh. Classic Dedman! My head torch lights up the plump, yellow bodies writhing in the container and visceral anxiety floods my stomach. 'Fussy people die.' After several failed attempts, I get the worms into my mouth. They wriggle around my fingers. They thrash against my lips. They burst between my teeth, and the group applauds. I actually enjoy the taste. This will forever be my greatest feat. I am overcome with relief! But Dedman has leftovers. I was too hesitant, he tells me. I can will myself to do anything, he says. Eat more. I manage to eat a second squirming helping and then Dedman lets me be. Our next course: crickets. Sign up to Saved for Later Catch up on the fun stuff with Guardian Australia's culture and lifestyle rundown of pop culture, trends and tips after newsletter promotion We are shown how to take one in our hands, efficiently break off its head, slide the body on to a stick and roast it over the fire. My throat is closing up at this point. The insects are jumping. My hands are shaking. A course instructor suggests I try breathing. 'It's twitching in the fire!' the 12-year-old observes. I realise if I'm actually caught out in the bush I'll likely perish because I can't catch, behead and eat a cricket. An instructor does it for me. Ever since being attacked by a swarm of seagulls on a beach, I've been a little jumpy around animals. I start overthinking my impending night's sleep – what if I wake up to a snake in my sleeping bag? But on a midnight walk to learn celestial navigation before bed, my thoughts are interrupted when we turn off our torches and look up. The air is crisp, the surrounds are silent and the sky glimmers. Fear is replaced by cool, calm peace. I have a great night's sleep. The next day we learn to make fire with our knife and a ferro rod, and purify creek water. While learning about local flora on a bush walk, Dedman throws impromptu challenges at us – five minutes to gather tinder and kindle and start a fire. All this skill-building has been working us up to the task of our third night – finding an ally or two, scoping out a safe spot and setting up an emergency base. I turn to my new friends Daniel and Damien and we set off, racing against our faux competition who have their sights set on the same campsite. We string up our reflective blankets at a tilt between two trees, light a fire, filter our creek water and prepare a hearty meal of kangaroo stew. We eat and chat beneath the night sky and I start to feel a little sad. This place is so beautiful and tomorrow I have to go home. 'I mean, just look around you,' Carrick, a peer on the course, said earlier in the day. 'This place is heaven right here. You don't need to look any further.' Dedman's lessons differ depending on the environment. Here are a few general takeaways for when you are lost or stranded. Mindset is important. Panic is dangerous and can affect those around you. You need to be able to plan, act and hold the will to live. Make sure you think through your survival priorities. The rule of threes is governed by what will harm you first: you can survive just three minutes without air, three days without water and three weeks without food. Follow the PLAN acronym: protection (first aid, clothing, shelter, fire), location (attracting, holding and directing attention), acquisition (of water, then food) and navigation (orientation, travel, direction). When going anywhere remote, ensure you can be found. Have a satellite communication device like an EPIRB (emergency position-indicating radiobeacon) on you. Also take stock of everything you have that can attract attention in the natural environment – shiny, bright and reflective materials. You can set these up between trees as a method of passive signalling, fly a bright flag at the end of a big stick, or make a ground-to-air sign with letters. 'V' is the international emergency distress symbol. A ground to air sign has to be 6m x 3m to be seen by a passing aerial vehicle or satellite. Search efforts are conducted in patterns. Aircraft will do a box search at the height they can see an animal move. A ground search will follow a track, a river, or man-made things such as telecommunication towers and windmills. Contour searches of mountains are conducted by circling. If you know these patterns, you can set your signalling to capitalise on where you will most likely be seen. Find more in depth advice on the Bushcraft Survival Australia blog. The three-day fundamentals module 1 course costs $855 for an adult, or $427.50 for a child (aged 12 and up). Bushcraft Survival runs courses around Australia, which can be booked online. The journalist attended as a guest of Bushcraft Survival Australia
SBS Australia
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
'Alone Australia' Season 3: The top 4 reflect on their experience in the wilderness
The cast of Alone Australia season 3. Credit: Alone Australia reunion The following article contains spoilers for who makes the top 4 of Alone Australia season 3. The time has come to find out who makes it to the end of this year's season of Alone Australia . Who will succumb to the cold? Who will fall to hunger? Who will manage to snag victory in their basket trap? Only Corinne, Muzza, Shay and Tom remain, and the end is getting closer and closer. With just two episodes left, we asked the four remaining Alone Australia survivalists to reflect on their time in the wilderness. Who will make it to the end? Find out in the nail-biting finale. The following interviews are in alphabetical order, and do not reflect the final positions of the top four. An only child, raised in the rural highlands of Scotland, now an adult living alone on 10 acres of suburban bushland in the south of Tasmania, Corinne is not one to be intimidated by the cold, the wet or the isolation. With a deep passion for bushcraft, she thrives on play with natural materials, crafting utensils, baskets, and traps, but foraging is her true survival forte. It was her fascination with foraging that led her to start and grow a successful bush food business, which she recently sold to pay off her home and focus on her dream of off-grid living. The biggest challenge for Corinne, however, was something she did not expect. "The toughest part was coming home. The noise and overstimulation. Everything was just... too much! Sounds, flavours, people, traffic, social media," she said. "My stomach struggled to handle dairy, sugar and artificial ingredients. I caught the flu and due to my weakened immune system the simple flu just absolutely smashed me! "I had so much work, overdue bills and life chores to catch up on! Life doesn't pause and wait for you just because you go out bush for a few months. And, of course, friends, clients and colleagues had no idea what I had gone through and I couldn't share it with anyone. They had continued their lives as normal and had no idea. It was quite an overwhelming and lonely experience." While in the wilderness, Corinne said she was constantly surprising herself, and pushed through every challenge with a positive attitude. The one thing she learnt from the experience? Gratitude. Gratitude for hot running water, for a microwave, for a leech-free bed. But most of all, for the people around her that she left behind to take on the Alone Australia challenge. "It makes you re-prioritise what is actually important in life," she said. "Life can be so stressful and complicated; work, paying bills, mortgage, social pressures and expectations, cost of living crisis, family. In a way, we are all in a survival situation, getting swept up in the whirlwind of life and we forget to just slow down, breathe and connect with ourselves. "It's difficult to just put your work and personal life on pause for an indefinite amount of time with no explanation of what your are doing and where you are going. I didn't expect to be out there for so long and I had to put a lot of trust in others to keep my alibi going at my work and home. The big question: will Corinne be able to make it to the very end? Find out in the Alone Australia double-episode finale Wednesday 4 June at 7:30pm. Muzza might be the oldest participant ever on Alone Australia , but at '63 years young,' he's quick to remind everyone that age is just a number. With the fitness and strength to match his adventurous spirit, this professional bushman and gifted storyteller has captured the hearts of Alone Australia viewers from the very first moment he appeared on screen. Reflecting on his experience in the Tasmanian wilderness, Muzza said that going in, he knew his own strengths and weaknesses well, so for him, there were no surprises, only challenges. "Going through starvation was mentally and physically cruel! When your body has run out of fat and it starts to eat itself, your mind goes into some sort of survival phase, and you cannot think of anything but feeding yourself," he said. "The thought of cutting my own arm off and cooking it up crossed my mind." Despite how confronting the hunger was, Muzza said he would "love to do it again", but would focus more on the filming and content side of things. After all, an audience of fans are watching every moment. "My advice would be to anyone contemplating doing Alone , just do it! Don't kid yourself of what you are capable of, be yourself, the good the bad the ugly. You don't have to have all the skills, as necessity will teach you. Like doing a tough long distance hike, it's 90% in your head and 10% in your legs," he said. Coming out of the Alone wilderness, Muzza said he learnt a few skills that he can now apply to the real world, mostly from watching the pattern of birds. "A couple of tiny birds used to come to my shelter about 20 minutes before a storm front came, and if I saw black cockatoos flying west, it coincided with a day or two of better weather," he said. He said this also gave him a better awareness of how First Nations peoples navigated the land, and used patterns recognised in nature to predict weather events. Can Muzza's body withstand an unforgiving Tasmanian winter and make it right to the very end? Find out in the Alone Australia double-episode finale Wednesday 4 June at 7:30pm. Shay, a shy and soft-spoken North Island New Zealander, has always felt more at home in nature than anywhere else. A possum trapper since 16, he spends many days deep in the bush hunting for meat and fur to support his family. Living mostly off wild animals — venison, possum, wallaby, hedgehog, and rabbits — Shay and his wife prioritise sustainable, wild food. In recent years, Shay has shared his knowledge of New Zealand's flora, fauna, and bush food on his YouTube channel , enjoying the process of documenting his adventures. Shay's advice for anyone looking to take on the Alone Australia challenge? Prepare yourself for everything coming your way. "Go bush for a week with no food and no phone, books or other distractions," he said. " Alone will never be easy but understanding how hard it will be is a great help, you'll know how to prepare if you have a good feel for what you have just signed up for!" Much like fellow Alone Australia contestant Corinne, Shay noted how gratitude was something he will take with him from his time in the wilderness. "More gratitude for everyday life," he said. "Knowing how lucky I am to live where I do and have the family I have. "I was surprised how much gratitude I had for the little things like dry socks, particularly during the hard times." The one thing Shay would do differently? Change one of his starting items. "I would take a clear tarp as one of my items and would practice primitive live capture traps back home before I left," he said. With his slight frame and difficulty maintaining weight, could this be the Achilles' heel that tests the resilience of this otherwise capable bushman? Find out in the Alone Australia double-episode finale Wednesday 4 June at 7:30pm. Tom lives a lifestyle grounded in self-sufficiency, nurturing his family with homegrown fruits, vegetables, foraged foods, and wild game — from small catches to larger hunts. A trained ecologist, he is currently an at-home-dad who also works as a zoo educator and runs his own nature education business, leading guided safaris and creating engaging content for councils across Sydney. An expert in trapping, plant and insect identification as well as foraging, Tom has refined his skills through years of study and practice. Fishing, a lifelong passion, is where he truly excels, having mastered various techniques across all water types. Born without his right hand due to symbrachydactyly, Tom has confronted challenges head-on, adapting to life with and without prosthetics. His exceptional adaptability shines through in his mastery of activities like rock climbing, building, hunting, swimming, kayaking, horseback riding, and fishing — all skilfully executed. "Like many of us, I've become my own biggest armchair critic. Watching the documentary back, it's hard not to yell at the screen 'why on earth didn't you do that?' but, then I pause," he said. "I remember how special my time was, how much I learned, and I remind myself to be kind, especially to the version of me who showed up, day after day, and gave it everything. If I had the chance to do it again, I'd craft fish traps and build my shelter closer to the water's edge where I could monitor my lines around the clock." Overcoming multiple challenges throughout the season, Tom said the hardest one of all was in the name of the game: being 'Alone'. "That's the hardest part. Sure, hunger gnaws at you and the mental battle to push it aside is real, but at the core, we all need human connection. When a doctor in his 60s gives you goosebumps just by placing a stethoscope on your chest not from cold, but from his genuine warmth, you feel it deeply. "Not a single day passed without thoughts of the heroes back home. My partner, family, and friends came together in my absence, and their encouragement echoed in my mind. They were always with me and that kept me sane. "When I longed for community and family, I turned to the natural world around me. In that solitude, I found peace and awe. The smallest details became profound — the birdsong in the trees, the tiny spiders weaving delicate webs in the gaps of my shelter, everything had me focused. I became part of the wildlife. I stayed curious, and that curiosity kept me out there." Will Tom cope with the isolation and separation from his family to make it to the end? Find out in the Alone Australia double-episode finale Wednesday 4 June at 7:30pm. The final two episodes of Alone Australia will premiere on Wednesday 4 June at 7.30pm and 8.30pm on SBS (Local Time) and SBS On Demand (AEST) and culminate at 9.30pm with Alone Australia: The Reunion exclusively on SBS On Demand. The reunion episode is also airing on SBS on Thursday 11 June at 7.30pm. All twelve episodes of season 3 will be available with subtitles in Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Arabic, Vietnamese and Korean, and with audio description for blind or vision-impaired audiences. Share this with family and friends SBS's award winning companion podcast. Join host Yumi Stynes for Seen, a new SBS podcast about cultural creatives who have risen to excellence despite a role-model vacuum.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Family-friendly island to host poo-themed activity trail
Brownsea Island is set to provide a unique learning experience for families this May. The National Trust has announced the return of its popular Poo-tastic Activity Trail and Way of the Wild bushcraft taster sessions. The Poo-tastic trail is a quirky initiative dedicated to educating participants about the intriguing world of animal droppings. The trail seeks to shed light on the innovative ways animals reuse poo as a resource. One such example is the behaviour of insect-eating creatures, who sift through droppings in search of their next meal. READ MORE: National Trust Dorset spring events including egg hunt Families dive into the wild world of animal droppings this May half-term (Image: Trevor Ray Hart) Interestingly, bat droppings, also known as guano, have been used to make explosives due to their high saltpetre content. This component was used in fireworks and explosives during World War I. The Poo-tastic trail will be open daily from Saturday, May 24, to Sunday, June 1, and is free of charge. Families can look forward to engaging in fun games such as cow pat frisbee, wombat Jenga, and the sloth poo dance, all of which will not involve real poo. Those who complete the trail will be rewarded with an "I've dung the poo trail" sticker. SEE MORE:Dorset estate among England's best National Trust sites Brownsea Island revives its hit Poo-tastic trail with quirky family fun (Image: Dawn Clark) Visitor experience officer, Dawn Clark, said: "We introduced the Poo-tastic trail last year and we were blown away by how poopular the event was. "Families really love the funny side of this unusual trail and lots of fun was had by all. "We are looking forward to seeing plenty of laughter and minds blown by poo-mazing facts again this year." In addition to the Poo-tastic trail, bushcraft expert Joe Peartree will be conducting three hour-long bushcraft taster sessions on Friday, May 30. These sessions will provide hands-on experience in essential survival skills, including fire lighting, shelter construction, and plant and tree identification. The sessions, suitable for children aged seven and above, cost £6.50 per person. These events offer a unique opportunity for families to learn, work together, and have fun in the process. However, attendees should be aware that ferry fares and island entrance fees apply for non-members. For more information, visit the Brownsea Island website or contact the visitor centre.
