Sharp Grover, Billy Comstock, Charlie Reynolds, Billy Dixon, Jack Stillwell, Wild Bill Hickok, Buffalo Bill Cody, William Mathewson -- even Kit Carson and William Bent, to mention only a few, received a part or all of their training in plainscraft, in Indian strategy, and in the lessons of hardihood, endurance and loyalty, on the plains of Kansas.
-Paul I. Wellman

What's Happening

Plainscraft wilderness school holds occasional nature talks: a chance to gather and explore a particular topic related to the environment and wilderness skills. These are kind of a cross between a lecture and a social gathering. We have a presenter or facilitator that leads the talk.

The Wilderness club meets monthly to explore the local area. For the last four years we have met in the Haskell Baker Wetlands, an area near Lawrence, Kansas rich in plant and animal life. These are more active events and we practice various primitive skills as well as share our knowledge about the land with each other.

In time we plan to hold weekend classes, summer camps, and learning intensives.

Want an overview of what's planned? Check out the events calendar.

Fresh Tracks

It's summer time, and Plainscraft is taking a break. The next Wilderness Club meeting will be in September.

Do mark your calendars for September 25-27th, because that's the Bois D'Arc Primitive Skills Camp and Knap In! Held in southwest Missouri, this weekend event features many primitive skills workshops and some of the best flintknappers around.

First Earth Wilderness School, LLC, holds it's next Basic Skills Workshop on October 17th and 18th. The Advanced workshop is October 31st - November 2nd. This is a great way to learn some survival skills in a beautiful location. They feed you some great food while you are there as well.

The Wilderness Awareness School has set up a new online community for Kamana students, mentors and really anyone interested in wilderness skills. Check it out at http://wildernessawareness.ning.com.

Plainscraft Journals

Stinging Nettle

Brushing this plant can give you a painful sting, but don't let that put you off. It is one of the most useful and nutritious wild plants you can find in the woods.

Medicinal Plants of Kansas

Looking for information on Soapwort, I ran across an 1882 reference for Medical Flora of Kansas.

Snowy Blessing

Though some tracks baffled us. We felt thankful for the snow. The wetlands provides some good opportunities to track in mud, but we often lose trails in the woods or to the dry land between puddles. Often we can only clearly trail an animal a few steps. Sometimes only one step.

Wahoo

Wandering along the Wakarusa on Nov. 6th, we happened upon this lovely bit of color in the very brown and open woods. These beautiful crimson berries grow on an opposite branching tree/shrub. It didn't look like any of the usual suspects for opposite branchers. Not a maple, ash, dogwood, horse chestnut or honeysuckle (Caprifoliacea.)[..]