Can you hear it? The wild is calling. It's calling for adventures great and small, it's calling for time well spent in high mountain valleys and winding creeks. Summer is officially here, and I couldn't think of a better way to usher her in than to send you all out.
But first you need to be prepared. Safety in the wild is imperative, and knowing what to do in a sticky situation can make all the difference. That's why I love Bush Craft 101: A Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival by Dave Canterbury. To quote the book: ""Bushcraft" is a term for wilderness skills and is the practice of surviving and thriving in the natural world."
Survival books can be a bit daunting at times, and can be a little intimidating, really. Not this one. Bush Craft 101 does a wonderful job of piecing out the details in an easy to understand format, including well thought out drawings to help the ideas sink in.
Basic concepts like tying knots, making your own tools, tracking, foraging, and shelter are covered with ease and sincerity. Canterbury's writing is matter of fact yet inviting, making it easy to keep turning the pages.
What I loved most about this book though is the importance Canterbury places on how little you really need to make it out there. Gizmos and gadgets are great, but most of the things we buy to "survive" in the wild are unnecessary, or can be found or created with materials on hand.
Self sufficiency is a beautiful thing. Knowing what to do and how to make it happen out in the wilderness is vital. But what I found most fascinating about Bush Craft 101 is the connection that is forged with nature when you're out there roughing it. So I implore you, take a good long look at your survival skills, and then take a peek at this book, it will make all the difference.
We want all you lovely people out there to be safe this summer, so we are giving one lucky reader a copy of Bush Craft 101!
To enter to win a copy of Bush Craft 101 simply leave a comment on this blog by Thursday, July 1st at 9am MST. The winner will be chosen by the lovely Random Number Generator and announced later that day.
And the winner is Lynn who wrote:
"With 2 boys in our family, camping is an adventure we enjoy with zeal!"
Thank you to everyone who participated!
~ Jordan
* Last time in Books and Stories: Solar System + A Giveaway!
