Inaugural Foundations of Resilient Living 2026 - course recap
- gbucknell
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Foundations course recap: three nights under canvas, one cracking community
We just wrapped up our Foundations (Everyday Bushcraft) course and I’m still smiling about it.
Originally, we were meant to kick off on the Friday evening — but Friday’s heat and the broader fire situation pushed us back a day. So instead of starting Friday night, we rolled in Saturday morning and adjusted the program to suit the conditions.
That change turned into one of the best reminders of what we teach: adapt, stay calm, make good decisions, and keep people safe.
Fire restrictions: safety first, always
We had fire restrictions in place right through to Monday, so we stayed compliant the whole way — no shortcuts, no “she’ll be right.”
Then on Monday morning, conditions allowed us a small, controlled fire (and only because it was safe and permitted). Nothing big. Just enough to give the kids a taste of that classic camp experience with a few marshmallows during our fire session.
It wasn’t about the fire. It was about the lesson:
know the conditions
follow restrictions
manage risk
and still create a meaningful experience
That’s bushcraft done properly.
The five skills, resilience, and a bit of situational awareness
Across the four days we worked through the five Everyday Bushcraft skills, plus resilience principles and situational awareness — the stuff that keeps you safe in the bush and sharper in everyday life.
One of the highlights was our shelter work.
We built a survival shelter frame and walked through:
site selection
the “Ws” (everything you should check before you commit to a spot)
avoiding hazards like what’s above you, what’s under you (ants nests), and what’s around you
Because this isn’t a life-or-death survival scenario, we made the call not to strip foliage from trees. Instead, we used Australian Army hoochie tarps as our cover — practical, effective, and low-impact.
We even had a few participants take it a step further…
Bravehearts: sleeping out of the tent
A few people chose to sleep in the hoochie shelters for two nights. For some, that was a big leap — sleeping outside a tent can feel daunting the first time.
But those bravehearts gave it a go… and loved it.
As for me — I did what I always try to do when I can: slept in my swag under the stars.
No tent. Quiet bush. Proper rest.
I had my son in his tent next to me, and we just sat there chatting until about 11pm, then we both drifted off. We woke early, brewed coffee, and got moving.
Honestly: best sleep I’ve had in ages.
The best part: strangers becoming a community
Here’s the part that really got me.
By the end of the course, we had people who’d never met before swapping numbers, exchanging emails, and planning catch-ups in the coming weeks.
Even some of the younger kids — despite living in different parts of Melbourne — were already talking about meeting up again.
That’s what we’re building here:
skills, confidence, and a community that supports each other.
What’s next
Our next course is Sunday the 25th:
1-Day Five Skills Course — a fast, hands-on day covering the core skills.
We’ve also got:
One Side of the Mountain course coming up early next month
and we’ll be reaching out to schools this week to kick off our school program:
a full day in the field where students learn the five skills hands-on, away from screens, using real-world teamwork and problem-solving.
It’s shaping up to be a big year.
Want to join us?
If you want details or upcoming dates, head to:
See you out there. 🌿🔥🏕️
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