Life on the Farm: Bushcraft – Ages 10–18
Friday, November 6, 2026 | 10:00 AM–2:00 PM | $175 First-Time Students | $145 Returning Students
Could you build a shelter, start a fire, prepare a meal, and filter water using only the bare essentials?
Join us at Buckland Family Farm for an immersive day of bushcraft, where students will put their knowledge of science, engineering, and the natural world to work while developing practical outdoor skills.
Bushcraft is the art of using knowledge, resourcefulness, and materials found in nature to meet basic needs. Throughout the day, students will work individually and cooperatively to solve real-world challenges using simple tools and limited supplies.
We'll begin by exploring the principles of shelter construction, considering location, available materials, weather protection, and structural stability. Students will gather natural materials and work together to design and build a functional outdoor shelter.
Next, we'll investigate the science of fire, including combustion, the fire triangle, fuel selection, and fire safety. Students will learn to identify and prepare tinder, kindling, and fuel, then practice supervised fire-starting and fire-maintenance techniques.
Once we've established our fire, we'll put it to practical use by preparing and cooking a meal outdoors using only basic tools and essential supplies. Students will explore heat transfer, cooking methods, and the challenges of preparing food without the conveniences of a modern kitchen.
Finally, we'll investigate one of the most important outdoor survival challenges: obtaining safe drinking water. Students will construct and test simple water filtration systems using natural materials, observing how different layers remove sediment and other visible particles. We'll discuss the difference between filtration and purification and why clear water is not necessarily safe to drink.
Throughout the day, students will discover how scientific knowledge, practical skills, and careful observation work together to help people meet their basic needs in the natural world.
What We'll Explore
Shelter Construction: Select a suitable location, gather natural materials, and design and build a simple outdoor shelter.
Fire Science & Skills: Investigate combustion, the fire triangle, tinder, kindling, and fuel while practicing supervised fire-starting techniques.
Outdoor Cooking: Prepare a meal over an open fire using basic equipment and limited supplies.
Water Filtration: Design, construct, and test a filtration system using sand, gravel, charcoal, and other materials.
Problem-Solving: Apply engineering principles, scientific reasoning, and teamwork to practical outdoor challenges.
Resourcefulness: Explore how people have historically relied on knowledge of the natural environment to provide shelter, warmth, food, and water.
At a Glance
Ages: 10–18
Date: Friday, November 6, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
Location: Buckland Family Farm, Flat Top, WV
Tuition: $175 first-time students | $145 returning students
Enrollment: Limited to 6 students
Educational Focus: Environmental science, physics, engineering, outdoor skills, practical life skills, and problem-solving
Activities: Shelter building, supervised fire-starting, outdoor meal preparation, and water filtration experiments
Students should dress for outdoor activity, wear sturdy closed-toe shoes or boots, and bring a water bottle. Lunch will be prepared as part of the day's activities. Please communicate any food allergies or dietary restrictions before class.
All fire-building and cooking activities will be closely supervised. Activities may be adjusted according to weather and safety conditions.
Register NOW!
Invoices can be paid using Hope Scholarship or via PayPal.
Request to be contacted as new themed dates are added!