Thanks for visiting Rift Valley Bushcraft!
My outdoor adventures and knowledge started 50 years ago as child running through the woods of the Midwest, fishing in local ponds, and hunting fish and frogs with my bow. In the mid 90’s I attended several outdoor skills courses offered by Earth Knack and Boulder Outdoor Survival School. During that period I also learned to fly fish, increased my existing fishing skills in Rocky Mountain lakes and rivers, hunted mule deer and elk, and learned to make self bows and primitive arrows.
My goal with this school is to pass on the knowledge of that I have gained over many years of practicing wilderness living skills to increase the confidence of students abilities to be more self sufficient in wild places. The knowledge gained can also be applied in urban environments that are in a state of crisis.
I spent 25 years as an environmental consultant, logging thousands of hours of overtime attempting to improve the earth and basically clean up other people’s environmental disasters that contaminated millions of gallons of groundwater. Because of this effort, it is no surprise that we will include discussions and training of conservation of resources and our impact on the environment in my courses. It has nothing to do with hugging trees, it has everything to do with respecting the Earth and it’s resources that provide you with life on a daily basis. We live on this planet with a whole lot of other living things, we can only exploit what we have for so long before it is gone.
Please send me comments if you have a specific skill that you would like to learn. My email address is Mike@RiftValleyBushcraft.com. I will be uploading some how-to-videos so that you can see what you will be learning. Contact me if you would like to learn specific skills in a separate course of your own design.
Thanks!
Mike Meyer
Love of wilderness is more than a hunger for what is always beyond reach. It is also an expression of loyalty to the earth, the earth which bore us and sustains us, the only home we shall ever know, the only paradise we ever need if only we had the eyes to see. – Edward Abbey
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rift Valley Bushcraft?
We teach wilderness living and bushcraft skills with the goal of increasing your confidence to travel in remote places and increase your chances, if you should find yourself lost or somehow unable to make your way back to civilization. These skills are not new, they have been around for centuries and by the nature of their origin, teach self sufficiency. Living a self sufficient life in our modern world requires a sense of respect for the Earth and what it provides.
Does Rift Valley Bushcraft only teach desert skills?
Almost all of the skills we teach can be applied in multiple environments. We will be offering skills courses in the mountains soon. New Mexico has several mountainous areas that are vastly different from the desert. Multiple species of trees and plants, animals and sources of water exist in our mountains. At this time, we do not have property in the mountains, but hope to soon.
Does Rift Valley Bushcraft provide accommodations during the courses?
At the present time, we do not provide accommodations. There are several campgrounds and hotels within a short distance of our classes.
Do you have a formal school building?
We teach outdoor skills in the outdoors. At this time, there is no building or class room. Courses are taught in the mesa, west of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Smoking, alcohol, and drugs?
No – smoking, alcohol, and drugs are not allow at the courses.
Immerse yourself in the outdoor experience. It will cleanse your soul and make your a better person. – Fred Bear