Essential Survival Skills and Gear from #WildcardJacks

Well... I did it. I've shared this story before, and I am not afraid nor ashamed to tell it.

[...] It didn't take long for the "main act" to shift and it became the better platform for Jaclyn.

The Role of Bushcraft in Trauma Recovery Jacks Genega, Founder of Wildcard Wilderness Survival Published in Issue 119 of Bushcraft Magazine The Impact of Being Uprooted When viewing the natural world around you, one may see that we are not so different from the trees that tower over us. There are times when we stand tall and are deeply rooted and steady, but there are times when we also feel strain. There are seasons where we feel bent, broken, or even uprooted entirely. These life disruptions may last seconds to years, but they all leave an imprint. They shape how we move through the world, how we see ourselves, and how we relate to others. In a culture that often avoids discomfort, trauma remains one of the most misunderstood parts of our living experience. It is often minimized, stigmatized, or ignored, yet it is not rare. It is not a weakness. It is human. Yet, like a tree that grows a new limb after injury, we can become stronger, more complex, and more grounded than before. In a world that often feels loud and disconnected, the quiet of the forest offers a powerful space for healing. Through the art of wilderness living, or bushcraft, we not only tend to the forest around us, but to the landscape of our own inner worlds. This inner forest is made of our thoughts, emotions, memories, and instincts. It holds both the tangled undergrowth of fear and doubt, and the steady roots of strength, curiosity, and resilience.  The practice of bushcraft can teach us how to ground ourselves, strengthen our foundation, and stand with confidence. For many, that healing may not happen within structured systems or all at once. It happens outside. It happens slowly. It happens not only through doing, but also through being. It can happen through bushcraft. Understanding the Nut Much like the forest around us, our society relies on structure to function. Our brains constantly interpret the world, forming predictions and rules that guide how we think, feel, and behave. Whether through political, religious, or familial systems, we build frameworks that help us make sense of life and hold accountability.  When trauma hits, it is like a storm tearing through that structure, snapping limbs, splitting trunks, and pulling roots from the soil.  But we are taught to push through.  Instead of processing our pain, many of us absorb and hold on to it, developing a longing for belonging in a world that tells us to get over it and move on. Just as a tree’s rings hold the memory of every drought and storm, we carry our experiences within our nervous systems.  In order for us to truly understand those with trauma, we need to stop asking each other what is wrong with them, and start asking what has happened as every moment in life is built on all the moments before.  The life of a tree is all contained within its seed, so in order for us to understand the hickory, we must try to understand the nut. It helps to look at the brain. Our brains are made up of interconnected systems that work together to shape how we experience the world. Some regions are responsible for basic survival functions like breathing and heart rate. Others are deeply involved in processing emotions such as fear, anger, joy, sadness, and even connection, while also helping us store and recall the memories tied to those experiences. The prefrontal cortex, which continues developing into our mid twenties, plays a key role in decision making, problem solving, and regulating how we respond to those emotions. This is why trauma can shape how we see ourselves and how we think, feel, and respond to the world, especially when it happens early in life, before those regulatory systems are fully developed. Research shows that trauma can physically impact the brain. The hippocampus, which plays a key role in memory formation and stress regulation, can shrink, making it difficult to process and organize experiences. The amygdala, responsible for detecting threat and triggering fight or flight responses, can become overactive, heightening fear and emotional reactivity. When we experience trauma, the systems involved in threat detection and emotional processing can become more reactive. Fear can feel heightened. Anger can surface more quickly. Sadness can feel heavier or harder to move through. At the same time, the parts of the brain responsible for regulation, reasoning, and perspective can become less effective. In response, people often reach for ways to soothe these symptoms, trying to quiet what feels overwhelming or out of place.  Those with trauma will struggle with what they deserve and instead might run away from their distress and turn to self sabotage as a means of coping. But masking the pain does not resolve it. If those experiences remain stored and unprocessed, the body can stay locked in a cycle of fear and stress. There are only so many trees that can fully grow in tainted soil. But just like soil can be restored, the brain can change. When we begin to safely release and process stored emotions, the brain can shift. The amygdala can calm. The hippocampus can regain function. New pathways can form. The question then becomes, how do we do that in a way that feels safe and sustainable? This is where bushcraft can intersect with recovery in a meaningful way. The Forest as a Place of Repair In a world driven by speed, noise, and constant input, the forest offers something radically different. It offers quiet. It offers rhythm. It offers a space to release. Instead of struggling to fit in, nature is where we belong. When someone is in a state of fight, flight, or freeze, the lower parts of the brain are in control. In that state, reasoning is not accessible. What the body needs is rhythm, safety, and sensory input that brings it back down. Nature provides this immediately through the movement of water, flowers swaying in the breeze, and the changing of light.  Spending time in nature has measurable effects on both the body and mind. It lowers cortisol, helping shift the nervous system and mood by reducing anxiety and depression, while also enhancing focus, memory, and problem solving through what’s known as attention restoration. Exposure to natural environments can support immune function, reduce inflammation, and improve cardiovascular health, while natural light helps regulate sleep cycles.  The forest becomes more than a setting. It becomes a participant in the healing process. Regulate, Relate, and Reason There is a well established approach to trauma recovery described by neuroscientist, Dr. Bruce Perry, as the 3 R’s: regulate, relate, and reason. It reminds us that healing does not start with logic. It starts with the body. Regulation comes first. Bushcraft, or the art of wilderness living, is more than a collection of skills. It is a way of engaging with the natural world that requires connection. Whether it’s tool construction, medicine procurement, food procurement, shelter building, fiber arts, or fire construction; bushcraft allows our relationship with the natural world to grow, effectively promoting our relationship to the self to grow in an environment rich in active and passive repetitions.  Whether building a fire, shaping wood, or navigating terrain, each of these rhythmic activities demands awareness and creates steady, predictable input that calms the body.  That repetition matters. The steady motion of shaping a wooden spoon. The patience required to foster a flame into existence. The observation needed to read the land. These are not just practical skills. They are regulating experiences. They slow the nervous system. They bring the body out of stress and into rhythm where our stored emotions are transfigured into brilliant masterpieces. Primitive skills repair the primitive brain. Without needing to force anything, the system begins to settle. Once we are regulated, we can begin to relate. This is where community comes in. The limbic system, which processes emotion and attachment, responds to safety, presence, and trust. Building a shelter, starting a fire, or preparing food together requires cooperation and shared experience.  There is no pressure to perform. No need to prove anything. Just a steady, non judgmental space where people can feel seen, understood, and supported. This connection is vital in trauma recovery, as strong relationships provide emotional safety, reduce feelings of isolation, and help reestablish a sense of belonging. It allows the body to fully come out of survival mode. It rebuilds trust not only with others, but with the world itself.  Now we can begin to reason. When the body is calm and connection is present, the higher brain becomes accessible again. This is where reflection and problem solving can take place. Bushcraft offers a natural entry into this stage through tangible experience whether it's a fire you build, a shelter you created, or a skill you developed through repetition. These are real, lived experiences that reinforce capability. Growing Confidence Through Skill Confidence is often discussed as something that can be built through mindset alone. But in the wilderness, confidence comes from experience. You either make the fire or you do not. This honesty and accomplishment are what makes skills so powerful. The warmth of a fire you built, the shelter you crafted, or a meal you foraged from the forest floor can all reignite a sense of achievement and purpose. You are not just gaining a skill, you are gaining proof. Proof you can learn.Proof you can adapt.Proof you can rely on yourself. And by proving to yourself that you are capable, gives you integrity, something that is often lost when navigating trauma. The reward isn’t just comfort, rather it’s identity. It’s the shift from “I am broken” to “I can do hard things.” Every spark you strike from steel becomes a spark of purpose. Every knot you tie, every bow you carve, is a vote for the person you are becoming. In this way, bushcraft is not just about survival. It is a pathway with regulation, connection, and growth. Because while fear may always exist, it does not have to control us. We do not move on from our trauma. We must move through it. And through that process, we begin to step back into a place of agency, where we are no longer defined by what has happened, but by how we choose to move forward. The confidence gained through skill does not stay in the forest. It carries into everyday life. Bushcraft Belongs to Everyone Around shared fires, during group builds, and through collective learning, people form connections that go beyond the skills themselves. There is a sense of belonging that emerges. Not from fitting into a predefined role, but from contributing to something shared. And for many, that sense of belonging is just as important as the skills they are learning. It provides support. It provides perspective. It provides a reminder that growth does not have to happen alone. Bushcraft is not reserved for a specific type of person. It does not require a certain background, identity, or level of experience. The wilderness does not judge. It does not exclude. It responds only to engagement. And for those willing to step into it, it offers something increasingly rare. A chance to slow down.A chance to reconnect.A chance to rebuild. And a chance to know that it is okay to be a total nut. Because from every nut, a mighty tree can grow. For more class reviews, gear reviews, trail stories, class updates and more! Follow Wildcard Wilderness on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube! #survival #wildernessskills #wilderness #outdoorlife #woodsman #wildcard #neverlost #womeninbushcraft #onthetrail #wildcardjacks #wildcardwilderness   

There is a profound sense of empowerment that comes from learning how to navigate the wild unknown without the use of technology. My personal journey into using a map and compass began when preparing for a solo expedition across Scotland’s West Highlands and Cairngorms in 2018. The right to roam and the ability to wander off trail allowed me to lean into curiosities about Scotland’s landscape and history that may not have happened without this knowledge in “lost-proofing.” I believe that the art of land navigation is a critical skill, along with a strong foundation in wilderness medicine, that every hunter, hiker, bushcrafter, or everyday explorer must be educated on before immersing themselves off the grid in the great outdoors.   When asked to teach the Navigation 101 course for Georgia Bushcraft, I was beyond elated as land navigation is one of the first skills I developed on my “rewilding” journey and affectionately described as going back to my “roots” when leading an intensive solely on this skill.  Navigation has become essential to who I am today as it allowed me to lessen my fear of getting lost and feed my “wanderlust,” or desire and courage to roam and roam freely. To solely immerse yourself in the beauty of nature without fears and limitations brings an indescribable sense of wonder and freedom that fosters resilience and agency beyond guided travels. It was a privilege to be able to share this passion with those with the same taste for adventure, ready to tackle insecurities. and dedicate themselves to proper skills training.   The course began early on Friday morning at the Georgia Bushcraft Basecamp, an outdoor classroom surrounded by multi-story Mulberries, Maples, and Sweet Gums whose leaves were barely holding on from Autumn’s abscission. Our group of ten, a mix of hikers, hunters, bushcrafters, and retired army veterans, gathered around hungry for knowledge but still with hints of nervous tension as this art can be intimidating for some. As their instructor, I aimed to set the tone with reassurance sharing my personal experiences hiking through the Alps and across the Arctic; and laying out an overview of the weekend’s agenda: parts of a compass, map reading, terrain association, grid plotting, self-mapping, navigating by the sun and stars, and various practical exercises.   We started with an in-depth overview of navigational concepts, compass anatomy, and then its multiple uses beyond finding and following azimuths. By the afternoon students were equipped with travel logs and ranger beads, ready to travel safely through the woods conquering numerous courses varying in difficulty from the number of checkpoints to difficulty in terrain. That evening, back at basecamp, we shared our experiences over a shared fire and students gained tips on how to find cardinal direction from observing certain celestial bodies. Saturday morning, I handed out topographic maps and protractors, explaining declination, how to read contour lines, identifying terrain features, and calculating distances. I emphasized the importance of understanding scale and orienting the map. For many of the students, it was a reminder of just how dependent we’ve all become on modern technology like GPS devices and various phone apps. "Technology can fail," I told them. "But knowledge weighs nothing and skills can last a lifetime as long as they are maintained much like your tools.” By mid-morning, they were practicing in pairs, plotting points and planning routes, to find specific trees or toys scattered across the forest floor. This newfound knowledge was not easy to digest for some, as they had to recalculate their distance and bearings; however, the dedication to the craft was strong and lessons from mistakes were learned. It wasn’t long until I could see their confidence growing and their curiosity for off-grid adventure begin. One student, Bowdier Sackett, said “Navigation 101 with Jacks was more than a class on navigating, it was a class on confidence building and applying it. Jacks is a very knowledgeable and patient teacher. She made every part of this class fun and interesting. I would not hesitate to recommend or even to take the course again.” On Sunday morning, the sun was shining allowing for a module in primitive navigation, or how to navigate by the sun and shadows. Simple methods in finding cardinal directions and advanced techniques to determine actual azimuths were discussed and practiced. Kenny Brunswig, Founder of Grumpy Bushcraft, and the resident medic for the weekend’s module, said, “Coming from a military background, this was the most comprehensive and easily understood land navigation course I've taken. The information provided was extremely easy to digest and also use. The primitive navigation module was very interesting. Despite carrying a compass or GPS, knowing that I could find cardinal directions with nothing if I had to brought a profound sense of comfort.” Other conversations around modern devices and signaling for rescue were had before students set out for further and more difficult exercises armed with maps, compasses, travel logs, and skills. The sense of accomplishment from these students was immeasurable and it didn’t go unnoticed how they blossomed into confident outdoorsmen, proving to themselves, others and myself that they could get their bearings and find their footing. Land navigation is more than a skill, it’s about mindset and trusting your training when it comes to troubleshooting. It’s this trust that builds confidence, a renewed sense of self-reliance, and a deeper connection to oneself and the wild. It’s been said before that if you prepare for the worst, then you can hope for the best and truthfully, I’ve never been a huge fan of this phrase because I believe that hope should never be a contingency. I prefer the phrase, if you prepare for the worst, then you can prepare for the best. As I said earlier, I truly believe that land navigation is crucial when preparing for venturing off the beaten path, and I encourage everyone to take the first step. Land Navigation Class Review byJacks Genega, Founder of Wildcard Wilderness Survival For more class reviews, gear reviews, trail stories, class updates and more! Follow Wildcard Wilderness on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube! #survival #survivalskills #navigation #survivaltips #suunto #wildernessskills #wilderness #outdoorlife #woodsman #wildcard #neverlost #womeninbushcraft #onthetrail #wildcardjacks #wildcardwilderness #LearntoNavigate #LandNavigationClassReview .