Getting ready to spend the night out in a tent? This course will teach you the skills to be successful and comfortable spending a night in the wilderness. We will go over the fundamentals of backpacking by packing our pack, setting up a mock camp, learning how to use our stoves, making a fire, storing our food, and cleaning up. And, of course, you will learn the proper way to poop in the woods.  All of this while following the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace. You’ll learn practical camping skills for use in every situation, from car camping to long-distance backpacking.

Topics include:

• Gear basics – “10 Essentials”
• “The Big Three” – tent, sleeping bag, and tent
• Backpack – proper fit and how to pack
• Cook systems
• Choosing a campsite
• Basic fire starting techniques
• Food planning and storage
• Hygiene

Demo gear will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own.