Tonight is the night! You may recognize Ryan from the hit YouTube channel Townsends as he has been a staple on there for years! He’s coming on tonight at 8:15 pm EST to talk to us about camping and coffee! You almost can’t have one without the other! We hope to see you on!

The 2024 Campcrafter’s Guild Squirrel Camp at the Pathfinder School was awesome and I share with you some of the pictures I took of the event. My video on the event will post tomorrow afternoon and I know Dave Canterbury, Sarge Vining, and Nathanael Logsdon has already posted theirs. We have a guest writer being showcased this month, the Guild’s own Wes Hubbart wrote a wonderful article of coffee and I asked if I could share it with all of you. He regularly writes well researched articles for the Guild and we invite you to jump on and try it out, we know you will benefit from it and learn.

Speaking of learning, November 13 at 8:15 PM EST we will have Ryan Kerr of Blue Lion Coffee and Townsends and Sons fame join us LIVE!

Lastly, if you are interested in me reproducing the incredibly rare Preston Mess kit, don’t forget to click on the link in this month’s newsletter.

I hope you have a wonderful November and a Happy Thanksgiving!

There is an incredible mess kit design which I would argue is the best ever made. It is called the Preston Mess kit named after the inventor, a military officer with an incredible story. I wrote an article about it which you can read here!

I have a quote from a stainless steel manufacturing plant in Ohio to reproduce the Preston Mess kit in 316L stainless steel. 316L stainless steel is a low carbon stainless steel and offers high corrosion and heat resistance making it perfect for the outdoors, maritime use, and cooking over the campfire. The reproduction kit would include the canteen, cup, skillet, and pan. Your total cost including shipment to the continental U.S. would be $175 (out of country shipment cost would be more). To make this project a reality and move it forward I would need a minimum of 500 confirmed buyers. If you are interested in getting one and want to help spread the word to get this project rolling, click the button below and leave your contact information to be kept aware of the progress. Getting on the list is not a commitment but please only sign up if you have serious interest.

This month I share with you the history of a prolific and interesting company from the Midwest that started with making furniture for the military and campers and now are more known for their contributions on the big screen!

I posted this in the Campcrafter’s Guild and would love to hear your thoughts!

What are your needs currently?

Is it gear?

Is it skill development?

Is it education?

Is it time and place to meet up with like minded folks?

Is it friendship and camaraderie?

Currently I am in need of events to meet up with like minded folks to share in the experience. I can’t wait for the squirrel camp in October I am hosting because of this. And next spring in March or April or perhaps September or November I think I am going to organize an event at a town park or historic village somewhere themed for 1920’s-1930’s. I am “all dressed up and no place to go.” I know traveling is hard and if it is more than 4 hours away I start questioning what I am doing. Gas, cost, time, and other miscellaneous things stack up and start making the teeter totter of desire go the other way. Nathanael Logsdon’s Sugar camp in February was a ton of fun and I would do it again in a heartbeat but it was on the end of 4 hours away from me too. If weather in February looks like a crappy cold and wet weekend in vintage gear, I start questioning my grit. Well, that’s where my mind is at currently. Where’s yours? Let us know!

I hope this finds you well as we head into August! What a crazy July it has been for my family and I, we hope August settles down a bit and we can enjoy the end of summer and an easy transition into the school year. I had to go to Florida on family business and somehow I left my beloved Grayl water bottle at the airport…I guess this gives me the excuse to save up and get the titanium version so I can let you all know my thought on it. This month’s newsletter is all about evaluating where you are at on your journey and where you would like to go. I won’t spoil it but I hope my personal reflection can help you go through a similar process so you can spend your precious resources, most importantly the resource of time.

Kindest Regards,

Shawn

The inaugural Campcrafters Squirrel camp registration is officially open. If you are interested in historic campcraft and hunting then come and take a step back in time with us. All you need is historic clothing between 1880 and 1939, a period firearm appropriate for squirrel hunting and the shooting competition, and if you choose to hunt, an Ohio small game hunting license! You don’t need to hunt to join us, you can come and enjoy the ambiance and company of friends and campers. Let me know if you have any questions that the form does not answer! https://forms.gle/TuW7WtLn8A113khm7

Did you know Nessmuk (George Washington Sears) has a living great grandson? Did you know he followed in his grandfather’s footsteps traversing North America’s wilderness? Did you know you can join us tomorrow (5/22) at 8:15 pm EDT on the Campcrafters Guild and learn about his travels and ask him questions? Join for 5 days free and check out what the Guild has to offer by going to honorableoutfitters.com/jointheguild! We hope to see you around our campfire!Show less

Don’t miss it, you will have an opportunity to ask him your burning questions and learn all about his origins, style, and he’ll share his camping and backpacking tips and tricks with us! Join us by clicking HERE