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During this outdoor, hands-on workshop, we’ll go through the steps of how to prepare a store-bought bundle of firewood into all of the components you need to successfully start a fire. Train with Firecraft Northwest instructors to learn how to safely use a knife, forest axe, splitting axe, and maul to prepare, process, and section wood into mixed sizes so you can quickly and easily get your fire started! We’ll also go over safety and practice with saws as an additional firewood-gathering skill in your toolkit. After successfully lighting our one-log fires, we’ll go over our favorite brands, resources, and more to continue practicing this camping season.
Course Objectives and Activities
Practice with many types of axes and learn how (and when) to use them
Splitting axes and mauls
Forest axes for limbing and general camp use
Hewing axes for shaping and crafting
Make and use wedges for splitting and freeing stuck tools
Mallets paired with axes for safe splitting
Use camp knives to process kindling into usable tinder and fire starting material
Troubleshoot challenging conditions by using cutting implements to access dry wood at the center of wood splits
Learn fire building foundations and core principles
Gain confidence in knowing how to get your fire started at parks and camps when handed a plastic-wrapped wood bundle!
Restrooms and Accessibility
Participants in this course may be exposed to rain and forested conditions, but will have a covered area to retreat to if needed.
Participants will be working with hand tools and motions like swinging an axe, carving, and hitting wood with a mallet.
Participants will build fires with the material they have processed, which may require bending over or kneeling on the ground. Please contact us if you would like to troubleshoot alternatives if this is inaccessible for you and you are interested in this course!
Parking
This event will be held at a state park. Please bring your discover pass.
Sunday, April 12, 2026
9:30 AM 12:30 PM
Millersylvania State Park
12245 Tilley Road Southwest
Olympia, WA, 98512
During this outdoor, hands-on workshop, we’ll go through the steps of how to prepare a store-bought bundle of firewood into all of the components you need to successfully start a fire. Train with Firecraft Northwest instructors to learn how to safely use a knife, forest axe, splitting axe, and maul to prepare, process, and section wood into mixed sizes so you can quickly and easily get your fire started! We’ll also go over safety and practice with saws as an additional firewood-gathering skill in your toolkit. After successfully lighting our one-log fires, we’ll go over our favorite brands, resources, and more to continue practicing this camping season.
Course Objectives and Activities
Practice with many types of axes and learn how (and when) to use them
Splitting axes and mauls
Forest axes for limbing and general camp use
Hewing axes for shaping and crafting
Make and use wedges for splitting and freeing stuck tools
Mallets paired with axes for safe splitting
Use camp knives to process kindling into usable tinder and fire starting material
Troubleshoot challenging conditions by using cutting implements to access dry wood at the center of wood splits
Learn fire building foundations and core principles
Gain confidence in knowing how to get your fire started at parks and camps when handed a plastic-wrapped wood bundle!
Restrooms and Accessibility
Participants in this course may be exposed to rain and forested conditions, but will have a covered area to retreat to if needed.
Participants will be working with hand tools and motions like swinging an axe, carving, and hitting wood with a mallet.
Participants will build fires with the material they have processed, which may require bending over or kneeling on the ground. Please contact us if you would like to troubleshoot alternatives if this is inaccessible for you and you are interested in this course!
Parking
This event will be held at a state park. Please bring your discover pass.
Sunday, April 12, 2026
9:30 AM 12:30 PM
Millersylvania State Park
12245 Tilley Road Southwest
Olympia, WA, 98512