Bushcraft is a set of practical skills and knowledge that enable a person to live self-reliantly in the outdoors, often with minimal equipment. It is the art of living in the woods — not survival after a disaster, and not a short-term retreat, but a conscious and deliberate way of engaging with nature. It includes shelter building, water sourcing and purification, food awareness, navigation without GPS, and fire lighting — even without modern tools.

Although these skills have existed since the earliest human history, the term bushcraft appeared in nineteenth-century Australia. It described the knowledge required to live in remote environments, where settlers relied on their own abilities and on the resources of the land. Over time, the concept expanded to include traditions from indigenous cultures in North America, Scandinavia and Siberia. These regions remain important references for modern wilderness education across Europe.

Modern bushcraft developed mainly in the second half of the twentieth century. Much of its structure is associated with the Canadian instructor Mors Kochanski, who helped organise traditional field techniques and present them in a clear, practical way. He also popularised the principle: the more you know, the less you need to carry. Through this approach, bushcraft evolved from a survival skillset into a philosophy of thoughtful engagement with nature.

Today bushcraft is practised worldwide as recreation, self-development and a deliberate response to the pace of modern life. It combines respect for the environment, hands-on ability and simplicity. It encourages awareness, responsibility and independence — qualities that remain essential for a meaningful outdoor life.