Below are a few pictures from the various, most recent courses I have conducted.

A man outdoors near a lake, dressed in a green jacket and wide-brimmed hat, holding a fishing net, with a backdrop of water, reeds, and trees.

One-day Foraging Course

Group of people in military camo uniforms gathered around a small fire in a snowy forest during daytime.

Training Canadian Soldiers in Kananaskis Country

Three soldiers in camouflage uniforms building a camouflaged shelter in a snowy forest, using logs and rope.

Three soldiers in camouflage uniforms constructing a makeshift barrier using tree branches and logs in a snowy forest.

A man in a green jacket and black pants standing in a snowy forest, with another person in camouflage cutting a tree with a saw. There are snow-covered ground and numerous pine trees surrounding them.

Two soldiers in camouflage uniforms and green hats stand next to a large, overturned evergreen tree in a snowy forest.

A person in camouflage clothing and snow boots working near a makeshift shelter built with sticks, branches, and a reflective tarp, set up among trees in a snowy forest.

Military personnel in camouflage uniforms constructing a shelter in a snowy forest.

Three soldiers in camouflage uniforms and green hats in a snow-covered forest, inspecting a makeshift shelter built with wood and a tarp.

Group of eight soldiers in camouflage military uniforms with some wearing Canadian flags, gathered around a small campfire in a forest during winter, with snow on the ground and leafless trees, under a cloudy sky.

A winter scene at sunset with snow-covered ground, leafless trees, and a colorful sky with orange and pink clouds.

A campfire outdoor at night with a cooking pot suspended over the flames, supported by three sticks.

Two individuals outdoors at night around a small campfire in a wooded area, with one person sitting on a wooden structure, possibly a ladder, wearing a headlamp.

A man squatting next to a small campfire in a snowy forest, smiling and giving a thumbs-up.

Two-day Wilderness Survival Course

Man dressed warmly in a beanie, gloves, and black vest stands outdoors in a snowy forest next to a campfire pot and a wooden board with notes. The notes discuss psychology of survival, adaptive mindset, achievable goals, and fire/stream.

A man in a black jacket and green beanie pointing at a diagram on a large sheet of paper titled 'Axles' in a snowy forest. The diagram shows a sketch of an axle with labels such as 'toe,' 'heel,' 'check,' 'shoulder,' 'belly,' and 'throat.'

Person setting up a small tarp shelter in a snowy forest, surrounding logs covered with ferns serve as a base.

A person kneeling in the snow, gathering sticks and branches with a pile of wood next to them in a wooded area.

A man and a boy are building a small campfire with sticks in a snowy outdoor setting, while another person sits nearby in a camouflage jacket and red hat.

Person kneeling in snowy forest, smiling and giving a thumbs up, beside a small campfire with burning sticks.

A man kneeling on snow-covered ground outdoors, preparing kindling and branches for a fire with trees and a table in the background.

A person wearing a red jacket and black beanie working on assembling a small campfire with twigs and logs on snow-covered ground outdoors.

A man wearing a black beanie and a red jacket taking a selfie near a campfire in a snowy forest. In the background, there is a makeshift outdoor setup with a small fire, logs, a backpack, and a wooden structure under a tarp.

Two men examining and measuring a tree with a piece of string in a snowy forest.

Two men working together outdoors in a snowy forest, handling a small black electronic device or wire.

Person tying a black cord around a small tree branch outdoors in a snowy environment.

A woman in a gray hoodie holding a bundle of dry grasses that is on fire outdoors during winter, with snow on the ground and trees in the background.

A man wearing glasses, a blue knit hat, and a black jacket holds a bundle of dried grass or reeds that is on fire, in a snowy forest with tall trees in the background.

Person holding a bundle of dry grass or reeds over a small fire outdoors in a snowy forest setting.

A man in winter clothing giving a thumbs up while holding a small burning pile of dried leaves or grass in a snowy forest.

Two men in winter clothing outdoors in a snowy forest, one sitting inside a makeshift shelter made of branches and plastic, the other standing nearby looking at his phone.

A man lies on a makeshift bed in a forest, covered with a camouflage blanket, with a reflective emergency blanket behind him, during winter. He is smiling and resting in the snow.

Two men in winter clothing standing in a snowy forest, preparing or inspecting a large Christmas tree set up on a wooden stand.

A small fire burning on a tripod in a snowy forest during daylight with smoke rising, surrounded by leafless trees.

A small outdoor Christmas tree on a stand carefully set on snow in a wooded area, with a controlled fire burning at its base, surrounded by tall trees and a clear sky.

A campfire with logs burning, a metal pot hanging over it, in a snowy forest setting with outdoor benches and supplies nearby.

Two-day Fire for Survival Course

Person holding a bundle of dry sticks and grass over a snowy ground.

A person holding a bundle of small dry sticks and twigs, which are on fire, in a snowy outdoor setting.

Various natural and synthetic fibers, including dried grasses, cotton, wool, and synthetic fiber fluff, with containers of lotion and hand sanitizer on a wooden surface.

A person kneeling on snow in a forest, sawing a log on a tree stump with a handsaw, while another person stands nearby. A vehicle is parked in the background.

A person wearing a brown jacket and black pants is carving wood on a tree stump with a small knife, outdoors in a snowy area.

Person cutting a tree branch with a saw, kneeling on snow, wearing a winter jacket, striped beanie, and tan boots.

Three young women sitting in a snow-covered forest, smiling, with a lean-to shelter made of sticks and a reflective blanket behind them.

A winter camping scene in a snowy forest with four people standing around a makeshift outdoor kitchen area. There are small fires burning on the ground, and a large camera or shelter, possibly a tarp, is suspended overhead. The people are dressed war

A campfire with a hanging pot over it in a snowy forest setting, with wooden benches and supplies nearby.

A close-up photo of a white rope tied around a tree branch in a forested area with leaf-covered ground and numerous trees in the background.

Two-day Survival Snaring and Trapping Course

Group of five people sitting and working around a campfire under a tarp in a wooded area, with some tools and supplies nearby.

An example of a survival snare is seen in a forested area.

A man with curly hair, mustache, and beard in a black beanie, red and black checkered shirt, tan pants, and work boots is sitting outdoors on a wooden bench, holding a large stick and appearing to carve or examine it closely in a wooded area.

Tree branch wrapped with a white cord or string in a wooded area with fallen leaves and small twigs on the ground.

Group of people in outdoor forest setting holding certificates and smiling, some wearing hats, with a blue tarp overhead.

Three-day Wilderness Survival Course

Person wearing a gray vest over a dark t-shirt, with a wearable device or pocket clip with various electronic components attached, outdoors with trees in background.

First Nations Wilderness Skills Days

Seven men sitting side by side on a wooden bench inside a rustic shelter with a wooden beam ceiling, taking a course photo.

Five hunting or utility knives with different handles lying on green grass.

Group of ten smiling people, mostly women, sitting and standing on a wooden bench in a forested area during daytime, taking a course photo.

Outdoor hunting or survival knife with a black handle, alongside a green sheath, placed on a woven wicker surface.

Group of six people, three children and three adults, standing outdoors in a forest clearing, holding certificates of achievement from the Alberta Trappers' Association, under a makeshift shelter made of branches and a tarp.

Two-day Knife and Fire Skills

A young boy kneeling next to a small campfire in a wooded area, wearing yellow gloves and outdoor clothing, smiling at the camera.

Two people, a woman and a young boy, stand together next to a camp fore they have built outdoors in a forest near fallen leaves. They are dressed in outdoor clothing with boots and gloves, smiling at the camera.

A woman with a gray beanie and jacket squats in a forest next to a small campfire with flames, surrounded by fallen leaves and trees.

Two people in casual outdoor clothing standing near a small campfire in a forest with fallen leaves.

A group of people gathered around a campfire in a snowy field during sunset, with trees in the background and a sign for Eagle Point Blue Rapids parks council.

Two-day Winter Wilderness Survival Course

A Instructor in a green winter jacket, black beanie, and sunglasses stands in the snow and demonstrates knife sharpening. There is a shovel and a table with various supplies behind him, with a forest in the background.

A person in camouflage military uniform and a gray beanie using a knife to cut feather sticks on a cold winter day. There are backpacks, a red chair, and various gear in the background, with a snowy field and leafless trees under a clear blue sky.

Three people in winter gear are engaged in an outdoor activity in a snowy forest. One person is standing, wearing a green jacket and a knit hat, while two others are kneeling and working with tools on the snow.

Three people outdoors in winter, dressed in warm clothing, standing among snow-covered trees, holding a red rope, learning knots with vehicles and equipment in the background.

People learning knots in a snowy forest, wearing warm clothing and sunglasses.

An instructor in a green jacket and black beanie kneeling in the snow, arranging bundles of twigs or branches, to demonstrate how to make a fire. Other people stand nearby watching, and there are additional branches and snowy ground around them.

Two young men kneeling in snow around a small campfire outdoors in winter, smiling at the camera, with a forested background and two additional people in the distance.

People in winter clothing work together to cut and gather fallen trees in a snow-covered forest.

Four people in winter clothing standing outdoors in a snowy forest, constructing a shelter using fallen tree branches and logs.

Group of people outdoors in a snowy forest, with the instructor kneeling and holding a metal container, while others observe and take photos.

A person wearing a striped winter hat and a green jacket outdoors in a snowy forest, standing among bare trees.

Group of people in winter clothing gathered outdoors in a snowy forest, observing a small shelter made of fallen branches and a tarp against trees.

Group of people outdoors in a snowy forest, wearing winter clothing, gathered around a campfire, with a makeshift shelter made of logs and plastic in the background.

Group of people in winter clothing sitting and standing around a makeshift shelter made of sticks and plastic, with a small fire burning on the snowy ground in a forest.

People outdoors in winter working on a signal fire made of sticks and branches.

Three people in winter clothing construct a makeshift signal fire in a snowy forest. In the background, there are more people and outdoor gear.

An instructor in a green jacket and knit cap standing outdoors in a winter forest, helps to make an improvised shelter.

Three hikers walking on a trail in a mountainous area with snow-capped peaks and cloudy sky.

Four-day Wilderness Navigation and Survival Course

Group of three hikers on a mountain trail examining a map, with cloudy sky and distant snow-capped peaks in the background.

Two hikers and an instructor standing on a mountain trail with snow-capped peaks in the background, reviewing a map and discussing their route.

Three hikers examining a map on a mountain trail with snow-covered peaks in the background.

Two hikers, a woman with a blue poncho and a man wearing a wide-brimmed hat, look at a map on a cloudy mountain trail with patches of snow, a backpack on the ground, and rocky terrain.

A waterfall in a rocky canyon with ice patches on the rocks and three people exploring near the water's edge.

An instructor demonstrates the way to establish in improvised cooking set-up made from sticks as pot-hangers over the fire..

Two people in a wooded outdoor area, one standing and the other kneeling, using a wooden mallet on a stake in the ground, surrounded by outdoor gear and trees.

A man demonstrating a fire safety or fire-starting technique to a group of children outside a log cabin, with green door and wooden wall, during winter.

School Goups - Team Teaching

A school group of young children with their instructor stands beside a wetland on in the winter on the edge of a frozen lake with thick woodlands in the background

An instructor is giving a presentation to a group of children indoors with wooden walls, some of whom are wearing colorful winter clothing.

A group of children in winter clothing gathered around a man kneeling in front of a wooden log wall, engaged in an outdoor educational activity.

A young person kneeling in the snow, tending to a small campfire, with a backpack and winter clothing, in a snowy forest with several snow-covered trees and two other people observing in the background.

Group of people in winter clothes gathered around a small fire in a snowy forest.

Three hikers in winter clothing standing around a small campfire in a snowy forest, with one tending the fire and two observing.

Two children in winter clothing lying on the snow in a small snow cave or trench, with evergreen branches and snow around them.

People in winter clothing observing a makeshift shelter built in a snowy forest, with a person lying inside.

A group of people gathered inside a log cabin watching a man kneeling on the floor, creating sparks on a piece of wood on a tree stump; the interior has wooden logs on the walls and a window.

A group of six people, wearing winter clothes, are standing in a snowy forest, looking down at the snow-covered ground where animal tracks are visible.

Person lying inside a small shelter made of branches, leaves, and logs in a snowy forest, with another person standing nearby.

High School kids in winter clothing standing in a snowy forest, holding wires or cords, and listening to an instructor (outside the picture frame) who appears to be explaining something.

A group of young people and an adult sitting around an outdoor campfire in a snow-covered forest, with a hanging cast iron pot cooking over the flames.

Three girls and one person tying or checking a knot on a rope around a tree in a snowy forest.

A person in a green jacket and white pants is climbing a ladder made of logs tied with white straps that is leaning against a tree in a snowy forest. Another person in a gray hoodie and black pants is standing below, looking up at the climber and hol

Person climbing a wooden ladder in a snowy forest, wearing outdoor winter gear and camouflage boots.

Two young women smiling and hugging in a snowy forest, with snow on tree branches, wearing winter jackets and knit hats.

Children and adults standing in lines on a grassy field under a partly cloudy sky, participating in an outdoor activity or game.

A man in outdoor clothing and a wide-brimmed hat is teaching a group of children about trees outdoors on a sunny day, standing next to a large pine tree.

Group of young people outdoors, some barefoot, putting on shoes on a grassy area near trees on a partly cloudy day.

Four people in winter clothing around a snow igloo in a forest.

An older man wearing a beige hat and shirt, smiling, with a leather knife sheath hanging around his neck, standing outdoors with a metal and wood structure in the background.

Tribute to the great Mors Kochanski

Mors was first and foremast an outdoorsman. A master of his craft and renowned throughout the world as the pre-eminent authority in Wilderness Living and Survival. All other prominent and well-known authorities deferred to Mors. From Les Hiddins in Australia (who popularized the term “Bushcraft”), to Ray Mears and Paul Kirtley in England, to Cody Lundin, Dave Canterbury, and Dave Westcott in the U.S., and to Les Straud and Kelly Harelton in Canada. Everyone tipped their hat to the master. But Mors was also immensely humble and never flaunted his knowledge or skills, or bragged about them. He just quietly and matter-of-factly went about his business of teaching others and making many friends along the way. He always had time for people and was genuinely interested in them, regardless of how much they knew.

Mors got his first big break into the world of Wilderness Survival in 1968 with Tom Roycraft, who was the senior civilian instructor at the time at the Royal Canadian Airforce Survival School, near Hinton, Alberta. Roy became Mors’s mentor and they would be close friends for life.

During the 1970s, Mors became an associate professor at the University of Alberta Faculty of Physical Education, editor of Alberta Wilderness Arts and Recreation magazine, and was a freelancer for various agencies. In 1986, he wrote the book, Northern Bushcraft (the title later shortened to simply Bushcraft), which became a Canadian bestseller. He was also involved with the Junior Forest Wardens for many years and was frequently a guest on TV shows and radio programs.

In later years he helped to establish Karamat Wilderness Ways, near Edson, Alberta and was the chief instructor there. It was there, while still serving in the military, that I finally met Mors after following him for many years and we got along famously. He provided training for my Canadian Rangers and I attended some of his summer and winter survival courses. Chatting for hours over pots of tea and tins of cookies at his home near Peers, AB was always a delight and perusing his immense collection of books was an awe-inspiring endeavor. He estimated that he had amassed around eight tons of books, most of which he had to keep in a separate outbuilding dubbed, the “Book Factory”. He often sent me home with a backpack full of his duplicate copies.

I had the pleasure, while still serving in the Canadian Army, of conferring upon Mors the title of Honorary Canadian Ranger. A couple of years later, just two months before he died, he blessed me with certification as a Wilderness Living Skills and Survival Instructor; an honour I will always cherish.

He touched many lives and made them better. While he may be gone, his memory lives on and the skills and knowledge he imparted to others is alive and well. May it ever be!

Mors Kochanski: Nov 11, 1940 - Dec 5, 2019

“The more you know, the less you carry!”

Two men smiling outdoors among tents and trees, one wearing a plaid shirt, jacket, and a knit cap, the other in a puffer jacket and a brown flat cap.

Mors Kochanski outdoors in a forest wearing a black hat with a red pom-pom, an olive green jacket, and holding a large tree branch tied with rope, with additional rope over his shoulders, surrounded by trees and some snow on the ground.

Mors Kochanski in a black hat and green jacket holding a large crawfish in a wooded area during daytime.

Tom Roycraft and Mors Kochanski in a mountainous, forested area with snow-capped mountains in the background.

Mors Kochanski in military camouflage uniform and black beret outdoors with trees in the background.

Mors Kochanski and Kelly Harelton are outside in a wooded area, sitting and talking. One is seated on a chair with a hat and jacket, the other is sitting on the ground with a cap and light-colored jacket. There are tools and a blanket nearby.

A course photograph of Canadian Rangers and instructors sitting with Mors Kochanski outdoors in a forest, with a dog, some seated and others standing.

Mors Kochanski outdoors in a forested area, smiling having received a certificate, with trees and some covered structures in the background.

Mors Kochanski and his wife Dianna, smiling at the camera. Mors is dressed in a red Canadian Ranger red hoodie and cap holding a certificate with military patches, and the Dianna is wearing sunglasses, a straw hat, and a light blue shirt.

Certificate of Acknowledgement awarded by L. Mors Kochanski, recognizing the status of Lieutenant Colonel Russ Meades as a fellow Wilderness Living Skills and Survival Instructor.