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Cornwall Navigation Course – Sunday 7th May 2017

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All too often mobile devices such as GPS and sat-navs are solely relied upon when it comes to determining direction and whereabouts. But what happens when your battery dies or there’s no signal?

Relying on such devices has the potential to put yourself and your family at risk in the wrong situation; with basic navigational skills you’ll be less reliant on technology and more confident when it comes to getting the most out of an adventure.

Our Conventional Navigation Course is designed for people with very little experience in dealing with a map and a compass – making it perfect for learning the basics. This lifesaving skill is ideal for anyone and everyone, whether you’re a casual country walker or budding adventurer, it’s a must have.

The main aim of the course is to give the student a basic understanding of maps and the practical use of a lightweight compass. The day will begin with a theory class about using a map and compass, which will then act as the main foundation for the course. Once the foundations are set, students will head out into the local area and put the theory into practise, which will involve walking no more than approximately three miles.

Participants should bring a packed lunch and appropriate clothing to suit the weather conditions of the day. The course will start at 10:00, so an arrival of 09:30 is recommended and the course will finish at roughly 16:15 – full directions and instructions will be sent out on booking (we are located in Cornwall, near Truro).

The cost of the course is £45 per person including VAT. To book or for more details contact Spanner on 07899928131 or spanner@footstepsofdiscovery.co.uk

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Cornwall RV 2017 – Bushcraft and Survival Weekend

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It’s back! For the 10th year running we’re hosting our renowned Cornwall RV (Rendezvous) over the Easter Weekend (14th-17th April). We’ve lined up a variety of activities and events for all age groups and experiences; from the basics of fire lighting and bread making to blacksmithing and hide tanning, it’s set to be a great weekend of survival and bushcraft.

We’re welcoming all ages, newbies and veterans, to join us over the Easter Weekend for what is guaranteed to be a fantastic weekend of woodland survival. As with previous years we always try to keep costs down with adult tickets costing £15 per night and child tickets £10 per night. Day tickets will cost £10 per adult and £7.50 per child.

This year we’ve added more competition based activities, perfect for those with a competitive edge. Our yearly axe throwing competition is always a crowd favourite and we’re also adding a bow drill and slingshot competition.

We’ve already confirmed a great range of reliable exhibitors, old and new, for this year’s event; from Fire by Friction with Ross Burt to Leather-Craft with Green-Craft. You can find the full list of confirmed activities below, with more to be added in the coming weeks.

For those staying one night or more, you’ll be wild camping so be sure to bring your own tent and you can pitch up around your self-made fire. They’ll also be a range of snacks and refreshments available to buy as well as some BBQ food. You’ll be able to try Hangi too (at a small additional cost), a traditional New Zealand Maori method of cooking meat using heated rocks buried in a pit oven.

A typical day at the Cornwall R.V:

Early morning:

Wake up and cook yourself breakfast on a self-made fire – or purchase a breakfast roll from our food tent.

From 10:00am onwards you’ll be able to partake in any of listed activities below, from leather-craft to blacksmithing.

Late morning and lunch:

Try your hand at axe-throwing and see if you can beat the best.

Afternoon:

Take advantage of as many activities as you’d like, be sure to work on your fire lighting or learn the basics of animal traps.

Evening:

Hangi will be available as an evening meal or you can buy something from the food tent.

The bar will be open, serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, so sit around the fire, meet new people, converse with the exhibitors and enjoy your evening under the night sky.

To book, either use the link below or email mark@footstepsofdiscovery.co.uk or spanner@footstepsofdiscovery.co.uk to book and confirm your place. Book online here.

For more information feel free to contact us via Facebook, email or telephone. 

Footsteps of Discovery activities

Adults:

Lecture Conduct; After Capture and Breaking Soft Restraints

Signal rescuing

Axe throwing

Primitive weapons

Children:

Fire lighting

Games

Bread making

Easter egg hunt

Here’s our confirmed list of exhibitors for 2017:

Leather-craft with Leon from Green-Craft.

Fire by friction and Hand Drill with Ross Burt.Hide Tanning over a couple of days with Angie from Panash Adventures. Numbers on this course will be limited.

John Clark of Bowji-Bushcamping will be providing a demo of Field Butchery on Saturday at 10am and will be providing an intro to tracking on Sunday at 2pm.

Richard Hopkins from the International Guild of Knot Tyers.

Ronen Burstein will be doing a demonstration of forging a blade.

Archery with Rebellion Archers.

Spooncarving with Justin Sanford.

Air Soft Rifle Range and CQB.

On Saturday there will be a Hangi (cost £6 per head).

JJB Bars will be providing beverages.

Food and light refreshment are available for purchase from Footsteps of Discovery’s “snack shack”.

Steve Marvel will be back amongst us and will provide wild food walks on request.