Camouflage

Introduction

Our hunter gatherer ancestors lived lives that were more in tune with the natural world than we do. Their shelters were made from natural materials like sticks, leaves, bark, and mud.Their clothing was made from everything from animal skins, to grasses.

They knew how to blend in and disappear when necessary because their lives depended on it. Accounts of European explorers first contact with indigenous peoples of the new world report that native people blended in incredibly well and were able to disappear into thin air when needed.

To observe the best camouflage out there you need look no further than the animal kingdom. Mammals, birds, fish, and insects use camouflage! Some use it as a defense, others use it to be more effective predators. Camouflage in nature can be as simple as a pattern on the wings of a moth, and as complex as an octopus that can mimic the shape and colors of many different sea creatures.

Because of our modern lifestyle, the types and colors of clothing we wear, and the fact that we no longer live immersed in nature the way our ancestors did means we need the help of camouflage to blend in and become invisible. It can be as simple as wearing clothing in Earth tone shades and colors, or as complex as creating patterns using materials like charcoal, mud, and clay, and applying them to our clothing and bodies. We can even make custom camouflage clothing using paints and dyes.

How to Perform This Skill

Begin by studying the camouflage of objects and creatures around you in nature. Brainstorm methods for recreating these successful patterns.

When choosing a camouflage pattern I want the best pattern to suit the area in which I will be using it. The problem is that store-bought camouflage patterns are very generic and broad, meant to be used in specific types of environments. I can't walk into my local hunting store and say to the clerk "I'm looking for a camouflage pattern that is Oregon Temperate Rainforest, early summer, creek bed, from 2-7pm". The clerk would probably laugh you out of the store! If we want to truly camouflage ourselves to WHEREVER we may find ourselves, we need to get creative, and get dirty!

The beauty about primitive, natural camouflage is that it allows us to create extremely effective patterns with simple materials that we gather from the woods around us. Once we have materials we can then literally paint the custom camouflage directly onto our bodies or onto our clothing! Its as simple as that! For a little while here we will explore the world of primitive camouflage, later on we will talk about creating your own custom camouflage on garments of our choosing!

First off, what is the goal of camouflage? Obviously it is to hide or obscure our human form and to blend into wherever we may be. I would also add that we should be able to move freely. What do I mean by this? Anyone can go into the woods and completely cover themselves with leaves and be camouflaged, but that person is going to be stuck in that position unless they want to compromise their location. I want to pattern my camouflage in such away that I can move around to different spots on the landscape and be as hidden as possible. I need to move quietly and I also want to be able to effectively use a bow, throwing stick, or firearm. If I'm buried in the forest floor I wont be able to do these things.

Secondly, I want to take a look at the overall area I'm creating my pattern for. What are the colors and patterns I see? What is the terrain like? how is the position of the sun affecting the shadows? Pretty much any place we may be will have pools of shadow in different places as the day progresses.

I mentioned before that we need some materials if we want to create our custom camouflage patterns. Please keep in mind that you do not need to have all these things in order to create an effective camouflage pattern. Oftentimes we can get away with just having one of these things. The more materials we have the more detail, depth, and variations we can create. Here is the list:

• Charcoal
• Mud
• Clay
• Loam
• Soil
• Wood ash

Once I have gathered my materials and made my decision as to how I am going to camouflage myself its time to start the process of applying my "makeup!" My first step is to dull myself down. Because most of us are not covered completely with hair and because we clean ourselves regularly, we have a shiny complexion. To get rid of the shine we apply DRY wood ash. The reason we use DRY wood ash is because wet wood ash makes lye which can give us a chemical burn. I once had a student who was obviously not paying attention when I spoke of this and immediately went to the fire pit which was wet because of a recent thunderstorm. He began to smear the paste all over his arms. Chemical burns on both your arms is not fun! As long as you apply it while it is dry and dusty it will be fine. Don't worry about your sweat or rain turning it to lye. if you just dust yourself down it wont be concentrated enough to do so. You really want to dust everything down, especially your hair. This will help to absorb light and not reflect it. One of the problems with modern camouflage clothing is that regardless of the pattern it is often printed on a shiny fabric.

After we are done dulling its time to start creating our camouflage pattern based on our assessment of the landscape. For instance, if I am in a young forest with a lot of saplings I may go with vertical stripe pattern. If there are a lot of terrain and rocks, I may make my splotches in a round shape.

Now I will take my mud and clay and start to apply my overall pattern. One thing about clay that is great is we can change its color and shade by adding soil, charcoal, or any other natural pigments to it.

In-between the layers of mud I will use clay and charcoal to accent the main pattern. One thing to keep in mind is that typically mud and clay will be a different shade or color when they dry. It can be a subtle change or very drastic depending on the mud or clay. Its always a good idea to do a test on your arm to see how it dries. When applying charcoal, you can use it in chunks to apply to your skin or you can crush it up and apply it that way. The crushed charcoal can be added to mud or clay to change or alter the colors.

Be sure to camouflage everywhere! It is easy to forget the back of your neck, arms, and legs. If the rest of your body is camouflaged those missed areas will stand out like a sore thumb! Get it everywhere!

After I have applied my pattern all over I will go back and blend the edges of the different colors to soften the edges. Sharp edges in your camouflage pattern will be dead give away!

Next I will collect some leaves, ferns, and a pinecone if I can find them. I will use them as stencils with the mud and clay to fill in the lighter colored areas to add depth and details.

Once i am satisfied with with my overall pattern I will then do what is known as the "final fuzz." I will take handfuls of debris and press them all over my body. The goal is to get some of the debris to stick to you. This further helps break up the human outline and helps diffuse light. I may even gather a decent sized pile on the ground and gently roll in it. Please keep in mind to not roll aggressively because you don't want to wreck your new look!

After the final fuzz I am ready to set out on my journey. Moving through the forest this way, especially when combined with stalking and movement skills will allow you to blend in and be part of the natural world. The other beautiful thing about this natural camouflage is it helps to control our human odor which many animals find offensive. It also helps protect against biting insects.

If you have camouflaged to sit in a specific spot for a long time, when choosing your resting position there are several factors to consider. How easy is it for me to see what's going on around me? Can I easily draw and shoot my bow from this position with minimal movements? If I plan on sitting here all day, how will the position of the sun cast light on this spot as the day goes on? It's also a good idea to bring a little extra charcoal and clay with you for any touch ups you may need to do. The one draw back with natural camouflage is it will wear off over time. There are more permanent solutions with natural camouflage such as mixing colors and pigments with rendered fat and applying them to your body. These will not wear off as quickly.

As with any skill the only way to get good at this lost art is to practice! Gather as many different shades of mud and clay as you can. Observe what colors they are when wet and what color shade they take on as the dry.

Creating Custom Camouflage Clothing
We can take things a step further by creating our own custom camouflage clothing. A quick trip to the arts and crafts store can supply you with many different shades and colors of dyes and paints that we can then apply to any piece of clothing that we see fit. Typically it's good to use older garments that have some wear to them as they are not as shiny as new garments. Once again, experimentation is crucial. Buy dyes and paints that mimic the earth tones in your area and start out by dying the whole garment in whatever base color you choose. Try all different methods of application.Try everything from squirt bottles to sponges cut into the shape of leaves. Use a pine cone to roll colors on. When using these methods the sky truly is the limit.

Hazards and Staging

Staging
When working with groups and teaching camouflage, discussing your stage is important. Different areas will provide different natural materials to build into your camouflage.

Hazards

• Be on the lookout for toxic or irritating plants, especially when working with children
• Make sure participants do not use soaking wet wood ash to avoid chemical burns
• Make sure participants are comfortable getting their clothes and equipment dirty

Working with Students

Most students will love the idea of getting dirty, they just need a little inspiration. It is very powerful for them to see you as a teacher demonstrating camouflage techniques, and diving right in to the activity. If you hold back, they likely will do.

Some children (and adults too) will feel uncomfortable getting dirty. It is okay to encourage them and make them feel comfortable, but if they demonstrate they are absolutely not comfortable with the activity, let them know they are welcome to watch. Often times, once they see you and other students getting dirty they will want to join in. Other times, they simply may want to observe from a distance, and that's okay. Do not force anyone to apply camouflage if they are not comfortable.

Learning Outcomes & Objectives

• Creating camouflage and blending into a landscape
• Recognizing natural patterns
• Learning more about natural materials and pigments
• Predator and prey relationships
• How camouflage impacts hunting
• How to pair hunting with camouflage
• Awareness

Activities & Games

Camo Up - After teaching your groups the principles of camouflage, give them a set time to "camo up." It could be a scenario or mission, and it could be set on a timer to see how fast they can blend in.

Stealth Missions - Use your creativity as an instructor. Create a task or mission that students have to complete wearing full camouflage.

Gear Camouflage - Create a gear line or area to store equipment and challenge the students to cover it up and make it blend in to the landscape.

Shelter Camouflage - Build a shelter or camouflage an existing shelter with natural materials.

Competitive Games - Games like capture the flag, foam archery, and other classics can be paired with a story line and camouflage to create powerful experiences that connect students with nature. Be creative!

Team vs. Team - Make sure all teams are willingly involved and create team battles that include camouflage and deception. Story lines are very important for these activities.