Bushcraft Canoe Expedition in the Land of the Midnight Sun

Arctic Sweden in summer is the land of the midnight sun. The contrast to winter could hardly be starker - 24 hour daylight, warm temperatures, edible berries carpetting the taiga forest and the lakes and rivers abounding with fish. The region is also the home of impressive large mammals such as reindeer, moose, lynx, wolverine, wolves and brown bears, as well as numerous small mammals and fascinating birds.

Imagine paddling an open canoe through this beautiful and unspoilt wilderness, wild camping and learning a comprehensive set of bushcraft survival skills along the way. Join our expedition and you will be doing exactly that!

We will be visiting the Laponia area of northern Sweden, well within the Arctic Circle. This area is officially designated the world's largest unmodified nature area cultured by natives - the reindeer herding Sami people.

We will spend the first day providing basic bushcraft survival training close to a well equipped wilderness cabin. Once we have covered the basic skills we will then set off on an adventurous canoe expedition to apply and build on what you have already learnt.

Dates

5 - 13 July 2010

Cost and inclusions

£900 (deposit of £300 with balance paid two calendar months before the course). This includes internal transports to and from Kiruna Airport, all accommodation, main meals, all training, equipment used on the course, and a certificate of attendance. Flights are not included.

Course content

You will learn some key bushcraft survival skills for the summer Arctic environment with the focus being on hands on experience:

• Firelighting with sparks and friction, using local materials
• Water sourcing and purification
• Coping with mosquitos (numerous in summer)
• Knife and axe use
• Trapping and game preparation
• Fishing using lures, nets and night lines
• Identification of flora, plant uses and foraging
• Tracking
• Open canoeing
• Hiking
• Shelter building
• Raft building

Requirements

The course does not require any bushcraft or canoeing experience, though this is a definite advantage.

You must:

• be over 18 years old;
• be able to swim 200 m
• have some outdoor experience (e.g. hill walking, camping, adventure sports, bushcraft etc.)
• have a reasonable level of physical fitness
• have a sense of humour!