In summary
-
Sports
-
Duration2 days
-
LevelBeginner
-
DestinationIle-de-France / Paris
-
AgeFrom 16 - 90 years
-
CO₂-Emissions3.5 kg CO2
-
Type of stayIn a group
-
Languages
French
In a few words
Embark on an unforgettable adventure in the Essonne department (91), in the heart of the Gâtinais region, in Buthiers/Malesherbes, less than an hour from Paris ! Bushcraft is "the art of the woods," the art of living more simply in nature . Discover essential outdoor skills: navigation, finding and filtering water, packing your bag, lighting a fire, building a shelter, how to plan your adventures while respecting the law and the environment, and much more. Our experienced instructors will guide you through hands-on workshops on wilderness survival techniques. By the end of the weekend, you'll be ready to confidently plan your own getaways. Join us for an enriching experience combining training , adventure , and camaraderie around the campfire!
The highlights
-
Equipment provided
-
Certified outdoor instructor
-
An experience emphasizing hands-on workshops and knowledge transfer
Photos
Vincent - verified review - may 2026
Vincent - verified review - may 2026
Kelly - verified review - october 2024
Kelly - verified review - october 2024
Kelly - verified review - october 2024
Kelly - verified review - october 2024
Kelly - verified review - october 2024
Margaret Musoga - verified review - august 2024
Margaret Musoga - verified review - august 2024
Cyria - verified review - august 2024
Sport
Level
Bushcraft
The expert's opinion
Although physically accessible to beginners, the content is dense and technical, making the course very educational even for the most experienced!
In figures
Hiking
- Average duration/day: 4h
- Average distance/day: 12 km
Management
French
You are supervised by a trainer specializing in survival and self-reliance techniques in nature , holding a CQP ARPO or DE AMM diploma.
Program
-
Welcome and first day of workshops
- Activity Bushcraft
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Distance 12 km
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
9am: Welcome of participants and introduction of the team. Round table discussion of everyone's expectations and distribution of equipment for the 2 days.
9:30 am: departure for the first workshop on orientation and map reading. In turn, each person will lead the group to practice using a compass.
During this easy hike, we will see:
- Survival priorities using the rule of 3
- Putting together a survival kit: "the 6 Cs" and the kit system
- Learn how to carry your bag ergonomically
- Using a knife safely for small jobs
12pm : Lunch (bring your own)
1 p.m.: Fire regulations, wood preparation, batoning, and fire-making techniques without a lighter or matches. Finding and collecting natural kindling. We will continue in the afternoon with other practical workshops: Finding and filtering water to make it drinkable, an introduction to botany, learning to identify some edible plants, and choosing a bivouac site.
We will arrive at the bivouac site before nightfall (time depending on the season and weather) and we will discuss useful knots and setting up camp for the evening.
The evening will be a convivial gathering around the campfire, with an opportunity for informal conversation with the leader. A recap of the first day will follow. A headlamp hike may be offered to those who are keen.
Total walking distance for the day: approximately 8 to 12km without major elevation gain.
Day 1 -
Bushcraft workshops and refresher courses
- Activity Bushcraft
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
8am: Natural wake-up and breakfast by the campfire. Group debriefing on the night's experience before packing up camp after raising awareness of the "leave no trace" concept and respect for the environment.
We will continue this second day with new workshops:
- Organizing and packing your bag, choosing your adventure gear
- Alert emergency services on the scene, stabilize a victim
- Preventing and managing hypothermia
- Animal tracking
Depending on the schedule and the weather, we will dedicate the remaining time to revision in the form of practical workshops, either individually or in pairs.
4 p.m.: Return to the parking lot, debriefing and return of equipment
4:30-5:00 PM: End of internship
Day 2
Note
The meals you bring will be enhanced with the day's harvest . In the evening, we encourage sharing local specialties!
The program is subject to change depending on the season and the weather; the order of the workshops may be reversed for reasons of comfort and pedagogy.
The activity is maintained regardless of the weather, except in the event of a climatic event that jeopardizes the safety of the group.
During the summer period and in the event of a prefectural decree, there will be no campfires on the training course.
Accommodation
Camping under a tarp (provided) on a private forest plot in the heart of a forest massif. No amenities.
Access
Same starting and ending point (Malesherbes RER station parking lot),
It is possible to leave belongings at the cars on site.
Depending on the time of year and prefectural decrees, the meeting point may be moved to a different RER station in Maisse; you will be notified if this is the case.
Go to the starting point
Remember to plan your connections in advance for the weekend by checking departure times.
Free public parking at the train station.
Easy parking
Price details
The price includes
- Supervision by a qualified outdoor professional (CQP ARPO or DE AMM)
- The provision of technical and bivouac equipment
- Consumables for bushcraft workshops (cord, firesteel...)
- The privatization of a plot of forest for bivouacking
The price does not include
- Transportation to the meeting point
- Meals: you should plan a simple lunch (sandwich, salad or freeze-dried food if you have a camping stove) and for the evening a freeze-dried meal or a meal to cook over a campfire
Options
- Meals in the form of survival rations : CHF18.30 / unit
- Sleeping bag : CHF5.49 / unit
- Flex fare and insurance
Practical information
Specific formalities
Specifics
Before your departure, check with the embassy or consulate regarding the entry and stay requirements for your destination country. You can also find this information on the France Diplomatie website ( https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/dossiers-pays/ ).
In the case of flights with stopovers operated by different airlines, also check the entry requirements of the countries you are transiting through.
It is your responsibility to ensure you are in compliance, particularly regarding the validity of your identity documents (for example, some countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after your return) , visa requirements, necessary vaccinations, and health recommendations. And don't forget to consider any customs restrictions and other potential requirements of your destination or transit country.
ℹ️ Information may change up to the departure date, remember to regularly check official websites.
Equipment
Equipment provided on site
A materials kit will be provided to you (one kit per pair) during the experiment, containing:
- 1 compass
- 1 firesteel
- 1 tarp, sardines, string
- 1 headlamp
- 1 heavy survival blanket
- 1 fixed blade knife
- 1 IGN map of the area
Equipment to bring
A complete list with a visual and checkable PDF sheet will be sent to you by email upon registration.
1. Required equipment
This equipment is necessary to ensure your safety. If you have any difficulty obtaining it, please contact us: we may be able to lend you the missing piece of equipment or direct you to where you can get it.
- One hiking backpack of at least 45L. Comfortable, ideally with a waist belt. If it's larger, no problem, just be careful not to fill it completely.
- 1 sleeping mat , insulating material for the ground such as an inflatable mattress or a foam pad. We offer these for rent with the sleeping bag.
- One sleeping bag . It must be suitable for the forecasted nighttime temperature. Check the comfort temperature (the highest temperature rating) to ensure the bag is appropriate. We offer sleeping bags for rent as an option.
- 1 pair of hiking shoes or trail running shoes. They should be comfortable, not too new, and have good grip.
- 1 metal cup that can go on the fire.
- Water , minimum 2L for 36h.
- Meals for the duration of the course: a simple lunch (sandwich, salad, or freeze-dried food if you have a camping stove; you must be self-sufficient in terms of heating for lunch as there is no communal fire), and for dinner, freeze-dried food or meals to be cooked over a campfire. We offer a social evening with the opportunity to share local specialties. Optional rations with 24 hours of meals (two hot meals), a camping stove, and breakfast are available.
2. Optional equipment for a survival course
This is the equipment we provide anyway. If you own this equipment, or plan to invest in it, please bring it with you; for pedagogical reasons, it's much more effective to work with your own equipment. Otherwise, we'll make it available (no need to let us know, we always plan for it).
- 1 compass , with a baseplate type orientation compass, the simplest model with a rotating dial is perfect.
- 1 firesteel , it must be of good quality.
- 1 notebook . There are waterproof notebooks like Rite in Rain, but any notebook + pencil will do.
- A tarp is a sheet approximately 3x3m with attachment points. Avoid agricultural tarps, which are not well-suited for this purpose.
- 1 headlamp , or a flashlight, with fresh batteries.
- 1 heavy survival blanket
- 2 to 6 meters of cord , string or paracord
- A first aid kit is required. This is optional as all our instructors are equipped. However, if you prefer to be self-sufficient, you may wish to bring a small medical kit. If you are on any medication or have specific medical needs, it is essential to have the necessary supplies to ensure your well-being during the course, but your doctor can advise you. Please inform the instructor of any medication you are taking.
- 1 fixed blade knife , with a single blade approximately 10 to 15cm long.
- 1 small folding saw
- One pair of cut-resistant gloves is strongly recommended.
Clothing to bring
Your clothing must be suitable for life in the forest :
- Durable clothing made of natural, non-synthetic materials (synthetic clothing may be damaged by fire)
- A pair of walking shoes , high-top or low-top, preferably waterproof, but above all comfortable and already broken in: avoid brand new shoes. Trail running shoes can also be suitable.
- A spare pair of socks
- A change of clothes to leave in the car for the return trip if you wish.
The 3-layer principle allows for the management of almost all situations:
- a long-sleeved base layer in breathable fabric (hollow fibers) and merino or thermal leggings
- a warm fleece jacket, durable hiking pants
- A windproof, waterproof, and breathable jacket such as Gore-Tex. If you take a down jacket, bring a loose-fitting cotton overshirt to protect yourself from embers.
They traveled with us
