What Happened
Bushcraft Skills @ Wild Spirit, Merthyr Mawr
Thursday, August 13, 2009
The adventurous souls of Rhydyfelin's After School and Middle Club visited Wild Spirit Bushcraft Skills Centre in Merthyr Mawr, along with Heather and Victoria, for an overnight stay under the stars learning a wide range of bushcraft skills.
Their stay involved a 'Wild Food Forage', scowering the woodland for edible plants to munch, medicinal plants that can help treat wounds and overcome illnesses and poisonous or deadly plants that should be stayed well clear of! They also learned how sap from a Spruce tree can be used to make a candle, while it's roots can be used to make string - both very handy when it comes to surviving in the wilderness!
The group discovered how to make rope from nettles and Elm trees, and how to tie a variety of knots while erecting their Hammocks, which make for a surprisingly comfortable bed...just as long as you are sure to tie your knots tightly!
There was also time to learn how to make fire using flint and steel, and then cooking dinner in a cauldron over it. A delicious corned beef stew was enjoyed by everyone, even the notoriously fussy Victoria managed to wolf down a bowl!
A fantastic time was had by all and a return visit is being planned already for members of Senior Youth Club. Demi Vincent from Middle Club summed it up nicely by saying, "I've learned way more here than I ever learn at School!"