An Archery Wilderness School

Traditional archers wilderness skill set for self-sufficiency in nature.
To us, this means being able to walk away from wherever you are in nature with your bow and arrows, minimal gear and be able to provide safe fire, shelter, clean water and food for yourself, and if necessary a partner, for either a short or extended period of time.
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This program is designed to teach outdoor skills to individuals who like to go camping, hunting, hiking or just want to enjoy the outdoors again without the stress of carrying heavy packs or the fear that you don't have the skills to do it safely.
By replacing gear centric thinking with practical skill based outdoor experiences. Our goal is to give you the skills for camping as a planned activity but also as a life skill to help overcome adverse situations that may occur when interacting with nature. ​

Autumn & Winter schedule will be posted soon

The Roots

Common sense skill set for security in the outdoors. Like the Mouse we are small, untrained and need to build our Core skills.

The Trunk

Strong roots build sturdy trunks. Like the indigenous Weasel, we need wilderness skills for symbiotic and safe experiences in the outdoors.

The Canopy

​ With roots firmly planted and a strong trunk, only than can the canopy bloom and provide shelter from the storm. And like the Badger you can be comfortable in the woods and feel like never left your backyard.

Mouse

Everyone has to start at the beginning. When you arrive you'll be walked through the items one would find in a pre-industrial archers satchel. You'll learn what to carry or wear on your person, what tools you'll need; how to use them and maintain them. We'll cover some basic knots used most frequently around a camp. You'll make no trace fires with a single match. We'll gather water, learn to purify it with what nature can provide and build a camp for yourself with a tarp shelter.

Every morning and evening will consist of archery lessons.

Weasel

Once your shelter is built, now the fun can begin. You'll use the tools you learned about in the beginning and become more situationally aware of your surroundings. You'll learn to fish and set snares so they can work for you while you set up camp.
You'll practice different techniques to build fires, purify water and learn about wild edibles. We'll discuss hunting, fishing, 3 day packs, tracking and scouting. Marital arts may not be something you think of when you think about being in the wilderness, but learning body dynamics will lessen your chances of sustaining a mechanical injury.

Badger

The last two days you'll work on debris shelters provided by the forest and construct a water still. You'll combine the skills you've learned and start tool building; survival bows and arrows, knapping. Build fire using Flint & Steel and continue to learn more edibles and medicinal plants. You'll also be able to continue learning marital arts, being able to use a knife or tomahawk in self defense helps you understand those tools better.
This course is designed to be a week long interactive experience for those over the age of 16. It is broken into three sections, we recommend taking all three but they can be taken independently if you already have a working knowledge of camping skills. The course takes place at Haven for Humanity in Livingston Manor N.Y. For information about their site please visit their webpage.

​We provide wholesome nutritious meals designed to proved your body with the necessary vitamins and minerals to carry out the day to day actives. While you will build your own shelter, proper shelter is available for those who may feel uncomfortable out among the stars.
For this week long experiance we ask $1,200 per person.
Please click here for a list of items you will need to bring.
The Ancestors Way is intended to teach you new skills in order to achieve successful and safe experiences with nature. This outdoor skills course in conjunction with traditional archery establishes abilities that can lead to a more active lifestyle, overall health improvement, less stress and more focus. By practicing these skills in a safe yet wild environment you can begin to build the muscle memory required for a strong outdoor lifestyle. You can learn through trial and error with a skilled instructor and gain confidence in your growing skills.  The stronger your skills become the more pride you'll feel and the less fear you’ll experience, that leads to more adventures. The young benefit from a healthy outdoor life more than anyone and we all see the need for us to get back to nature no matter our age. We want to help you take solid  steps to beat your own trails. As we learn to be more connected to the earth by living more succinctly with nature, we reduce our carbon footprint naturally.

Bear

​​To teach a way of life that is symbiotic with our primitive nature and Mother Earth. We want to teach you a modern perspective on old world living.
​This is for folks who aren't accustomed to country living but want to learn some of the basics. We will have special guest instructors who will teach you about ​canning, gathering and prepairing firewood, planting food plots, caring and handling tools you should have around the house and how to use them safely. Basic carpentry skills so you can mend those small things that keep falling apart. And other skills to help you be more self-reliant within this hectic society and to feel more comfortable on your homestead.
As instructors become available we will post times and dates for sessions. Or contact us for scheduling and prices.
These courses are taught by Joseph who has used these skills since childhood. He's also worked with Search and Rescue in Colorado. As a certified Marital arts instructor he has been teaching his skills set for over 30 years and has been building English Longbows for more than 15 years now. He is also a certified EMT in the state in N.Y. which also includes search and rescue responsibility on land and in the water.