Kermit
BUSHCRAFT & WILDERNESS LIVING
Kermit has always been drawn to the outdoors and has over 20 years experience practicing bushcraft and wilderness living skills. He has worked with a number of different schools throughout the years and is well respected in the community. He picked up numerous skills like greenwood work, leather work and traditional tool use and restoration. He enjoys the challenge of repairing, repurposing and reusing tools and equipment.
Kermit moved to the Forest of Dean in 2010, after leaving the Army with various mental health issues. His connection with nature and traditional skills helped him to heal. He became involved with the New Leaf Social Forestry Project becoming a volunteer.
Kermit spent 6 years as an Army Cadet Instructor; this is where he discovered his passion for working with challenging teenagers, becoming a key military instructor for Cadet Force Music. He took part in outreach programmes with the Metropolitan Police Force; working with youth offenders from Central London, helping them to experience the natural world and take part in outdoor activities such as wild camping and swimming, canoeing, climbing and navigation. Kermit went on to work for Priory Queenswood School, a boarding school for children with challenging behaviour.
Kermit spent 8 years as the primary caretaker of 80 acres of woodland; managing areas of Hazel coppice and pests using traditional management skills, wild cooking and forest edibles and building temporary timber structures, greenwood furniture, compost toilets and animal habitats.
Kermit was part of the chainsaw carving crew at the Dean Heritage Centre for 6 years.
Kermit wants to use his knowledge and experience to help teenagers who not fit into the conventional education system; showing them an alternative way of life based in nature and the outdoors, teaching them usable skills and coping mechanisms to better prepare them for adult life.