Bushcraft (2 weeks) (ages 14-17)
Live simply. Build skills. Go deeper into the Maine woods.
Deep in the forests of Mt. Christopher sits one of Bryant Pond’s most remote campsites the home base for two weeks of wilderness living, skill-building, and adventure.
Guided by experienced outdoor staff, Bushcraft campers step away from the routines of everyday life and immerse themselves in the outdoors. They cook over open fires, build shelters, practice traditional woods skills, and learn to live responsibly and confidently in the wilderness.
Two Weeks in the Maine Woods
Bushcraft is designed to build skills progressively. Campers spend their first week developing and strengthening their wilderness skills at a remote base camp before putting those skills into practice during an off-site, off-grid camping trip in the second week.
Week One: Build the Foundation
At base camp, campers learn and practice the skills needed to live comfortably and responsibly outdoors. Hands-on experiences include:
- Fire-building, including techniques that don’t rely on matches
- Wilderness cooking over an open fire
- Natural shelter construction
- Tool use and traditional woods skills
- Animal tracking
- Foraging and plant knowledge
- Leave No Trace practices
- Outdoor living and campcraft
Campers take an active role in daily camp life, including preparing meals and caring for their campsite. As their skills grow, so do their confidence, independence, and ability to work together.
Week Two: Take Your Skills Off-Grid
During the second week, campers leave their base camp for an off-site camping trip, putting the skills they’ve developed into practice while living off-grid.
Traveling and camping together gives campers the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned while continuing to develop their skills in outdoor living, navigation, leadership, problem-solving, and teamwork.
The trip moves campers beyond practicing individual skills and challenges them to bring those skills together as they travel, set up camp, prepare meals, and live outdoors as a group.
The Next Challenge in Wilderness Survival
Bushcraft is the most advanced program in Bryant Pond’s Wilderness Survival pathway, building on the skills introduced in Wilderness Survival I and Wilderness Survival II. The two-week format gives teens the time and opportunity to take those skills further through an immersive wilderness experience.
But Bushcraft is about more than learning how to build a fire, construct a shelter, or live comfortably in an off-grid setting. Over two weeks, campers learn to rely on themselves and one another, take responsibility for life at camp, solve problems, and become more confident and capable in the outdoors.
For campers interested in continuing to challenge themselves, the skills and experience gained in Bushcraft can also provide valuable preparation for Bryant Pond’s Junior Maine Guide program.
Dates & Registration 
Ages: 14–17
Program Length: Two weeks
2027 Program Dates:
Week 5 through Week 6 (7/25/27 – 8/6/27)
Cost: $1910.00