Think of this as the tip of the iceberg. There are so many projects and activities that you can come up with to keep your bushcraft skills sharp. But today, we gave you a few categories to focus on:

Fire Pits and BBQ Grills!

Making fire is a critical skill many of us take for granted. In ideal conditions, fire may be easy. Just flick your Bic and, poof, you have flames. It’s wise to practice several ways to achieve a sustainable fire.
Fire is simple. All that’s needed is…

• Air
• Heat
• Fuel

Fire Project 1: Practice making fire using 3 different methods: friction(bow drill, hand drill, fire plow), heat (fresnel lens, lighter, matches, etc.), and sparks (ferro rod, flint and steel). You’ll need your homemade char material for the flint and steel.
Fire Project 2: Make a fire from one stick only.
If you’re neighborhood allows open fires in a fire pit, consider building or buying one. If not, practice inside a charcoal or gas grill. If grills aren’t allowed, call the moving van! Build fires directly on the grill grate or use a board or other flat object as a support.

Practice Your Knots

Do you remember how to tie that nifty knot you saw on YouTube? Probably not. Find two trees in the yard and practice tying out your tarp and hammock. Repetition is the mother of all learning.

Basic knots should become second-hand. You won’t need to know 41 knots to survive and thrive in a survival scenario. Knowing a few simple knots will save you time and cordage. The knots I use most while bushcrafting are the timber hitch, trucker’s hitch, Siberian hitch, bowline, clove hitch, and tension hitch. Learn knots with a specific purpose and tie them repeatedly until you’re able to do so even in the dark.

Sharpening Skills

The cutting tool is fundamental for bushcraft. Safe use of knives, saws, and axes should be learned before heading to the big boy woods. The backyard is the perfect classroom.
Wielding sharp tools has risks. You never really know your cutting tool personally until it bites you. Accidents happen to even the most skilled bushcrafter. Practicing in a controlled setting like your backyard builds confidence and skills for times when your life may one day depend upon sharp stuff. Plus, first aid is close by.
Sharp Skill 1: Make a feather stick for your backyard fire. Bracing your knife against your knee with the cutting edge facing away from your body, pull a piece of wood towards your body to curl shavings on the stick. You can also place the stick on another wooden surface (anvil) and slice curls using the full length of the blade.
Sharp Skill 2: Notches add stability when joining and lashing woodcraft items. They’re also essential for the hearth board on your bow drill fire set.

Make Your Own Stuff

Simple machines in bushcraft can be used to build stuff to aid in self-reliance and survivability. Here are three projects that are doable in the backyard.
Project 1: Build a simple cooking tripod for your backyard kitchen.
Project 2: Torches. Gotta have torches. Kid’s love them and they’re fun to build!
Project 3: Make a bow drill set from one piece of poplar or other suitable wood

See? No excuses! The people at Survival Sherpa provided us with loads of things you can practice from the convenience of your own backyard. So if you're unable to step into the great outdoors, don't stress. You've got options on your own. For even more ideas on what you can accomplish in your backyard, click here.

Do  You Practice Survival Techniques In Your Backyard?

If you have any tricks of the trade that you can complete near your home, we would love to hear from you! We feel its important to stay skilled, practice and remain resourceful. So all feedback and tips are appreciated. Not sure how to get your feedback to us? Leave a comment in the comments section below. We accept text, images, videos – you name it.