Normal Practices and Gear Listing Requirements for Hands-on Multi-Day Classes

Class Normal Practices

• Please bring your own camping equipment, food, and food preparation supplies.  A common hallmark of our classes is to share supplies when needed and sometimes even food.  This allows you to see how different pieces of equipment work and learn about new skills.   
• Bring water for yourself.  A good guess is 1 gallon of water per person, per day you are there.  We will have extra if you underestimate your needs
• No dogs allowed in any Nature Reliance School class. 
• Unless otherwise noted in an email, please feel free to show up to weekend courses anytime after 4pm but NOT before. 
• The exact location will be sent to those who register for a class.  For estimating travel before receiving those directions, please plan on driving to Frenchburg, KY.   
• The recommended minimum age for this class is 13 years of age.  Younger children will be allowed only with special permission from the instructor cadre.  Please inquire at info@naturereliance.org.  
• If you have any of our books and would like them to be signed, please bring them.  If you want to buy some for that purpose, then refer to this link.

Our Approach to Gear

Our approach to gear is simple.  For Level 1 classes we want you to be comfortable enough to make the learning experience as easy as possible.  For level 2 and above classes we want you to have increased your knowledge enough that you use less gear.  To save us some time in producing redundant listings for different classes, the following are our gear lists.  Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions:  info@naturereliance.org.

For all classes we will have loaner equipment for use.  However if you go ahead and purchase some of these recommendations you can practice with your gear to get a feel for it and our feedback on how to use it.  For each of these listings, we are offering you our recommended choice.  Nearly all purchases listed here serve to support Nature Reliance School.  So any purchase you make will continue to allow us to keep class costs low.  If you already have this gear, by all means, bring it and use and learn more of its pros and cons.  Please note when available, we have offered you a list of items that will help meet various budgets.  They are listed as good, better, best.  If you do not have the requisite equipment for class instruction you can borrow ours.  However we dont have extra camping (tent, hammock, sleeping systems) to borrow.  

Please also note that for level 1 classes, and others, where we have a basecamp setup.  You will be parking about 100 yards or so from where most people camp.  So plan on packing with that in mind.  You are also welcome to camp at your car but it is a more exposed area.  Once you register for class you will receive a follow up email that details the location so you can have a good idea of what to expect when you arrive and setup.  

General recommendations for all classes:

• Notebook and pencil/pen, 
• A clipboard or similar for stable writing platform.
• Day Pack (Good, Better, Best)
• Basic First Aid Kit (we always have an extensive first aid kit on site for more involved issues)
• Water container (Bottle or Bladder) also bring 1 gallon of water for drinking and food prep for yourself.
• Head Lamp or Flashlight
• Camera for photos (cell phones welcome)
• Bug spray and sunscreen
• Weather-related gear, we train rain or shine.
• Sleep system of your choice (hammock, tent or tarp).  NRS has very few extra items and you can borrow, please contact us early if you want some of these supplies as they go quickly.
• Food and food-prep supplies (you are responsible for your own food and preparation of it)
• Personal toiletries and water for your use.  There is an outhouse on site but no running water.
• Camping/Lawn type chair
• A good bushcraft knife (any of the LTWK are good ones).  If you want to "try before you buy" dont purchase and come to class.  I will have a couple of dozen knives for people to practice with. 
• A small hatchet.  We typically recommend Husqvarna because they are more affordable than Gransfors or Wetterlings.  Part of this class will be learning how to choose a good axe. 
• A good hand saw.  This could include something simple like a carpenter's saw.  Silky make great saws as does Bahco. 
• If you have a froe bring it. 
• If you have wood chisels you would like to use bring them.   In the interest of time we will mostly rough cut our projects but you may want to fine tune some things while you are there.  
• Cordage.  Paracord or bankline is good for binding.  Jutte twine is good for binding and firestarting.  
• Work gloves and safety glasses.   We will be making a lot of stuff in this class.  If you are new to working with hand tools you definitely want some work gloves and safety glasses for flying debris.
• Bring your typical cooking equipment for outdoors.  We will do some bushcraft cooking but it will not require any cooking utensils. :)