You don’t have to become an adventurer to explore the great outdoors. It is something you are when you are born. Babies crawl over the floor and climb over pillows and boxes to see what’s behind the couch in the living room. Exploring is a natural state of mind. But when you grow up in an urban society with different expectations and demands, your original spirit falls apart, and you start to behave in a civilized way.
““But why venture into the wilderness?””
Good question. Spending time in the wilderness, away from society and usual routines, will strengthen a deeper connection to your authentic self.
Why do we climb to the highest peak of the mountain, if we can also climb a small boulder next to it? Because every time we are in nature we’re subconsciously reaching for something beyond ourselves. It’s a bilateral exploration, both internal and external. We often discover a new parts of ourselves.
““I have an office job and I am not an adventurer. I don’t have the skills and knowledge to do these things.”
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I think this is the main reason that keeps many people away from venturing into the wilderness. Not knowing where to start, and not having the experience and skills to go by yourself. This makes the “real” wilderness actually inaccessible to most of us, right?
There is nothing wrong with not having wilderness or outdoor skills. Many of us have office jobs, have family responsibilities, and have other things to do. Not everyone has time to learn and practise these skills in their free time, as it can take years to acquire them. Yet I find it important for everyone to understand them, as they are the basic elements of life.
““Ok. But why is it important to become familiar with these wilderness skills?””
Let’s be honest with ourselves: we have lost our wild side. We can’t deny that we are disconnected from the natural world than ever. We have our smart devices and AI. In our modern eco-system, we daily contend with earth, water, fire, air, and space. We’ve created complex infrastructures in our modern world of these relatively simple elements. But what do we know about them?
At Berqana, we disconnect from modern society to reconnect with our own wild nature. During our expeditions and workshops, I will teach you a specific set of survival skills so you become self-reliant and confident travelling and spending time in the wilderness.
I’ve created ways to make this field of expertise accessible and understandable for everyone.
“I see. But I don’t need these survival skills in the modern world we live in. Right?”
Going into the wilderness often results in a growing appreciation for life's basic experiences. The survival skills you’ll learn are not only limited to the wilderness, but the experiences gained through wilderness leadership are highly valuable in the workplace, and can help individuals become more effective and successful leaders. And apart from leadership, knowing these skills is a massive confidence booster.
“So, are we going to survive? Is it going to be a military camp?”
No. The difference between wilderness living and survival skills is the mindset. Survival skills will allow you to survive until you are rescued. Wilderness skills will allow you to build comfort in the wilderness and understand the surrounding elements. It includes survival skills, but has a different approach. It’s a synonym for the knowledge of nature. The more you know, the less you carry.
““Growth can only happen to those who are willing to lower themselves to pick it up”. ”