The Red Hook Public Library presents
Randy German
The 2026 Ascienzo Naturalist-in-Residence
Hello Red Hook!
My name is Randall (Randy) German Jr., and I am honored to serve as the 2026 Naturalist in Residence at the Red Hook Public Library. Many in our community may know me as a fly-fishing guide and expert fly tyer, but my interests and passions extend well beyond the river. I am also a proud Special Education educator at Red Hook High School, local historian, and a lifelong bushcraft practitioner. It is this final passion that brings us together and that I’m excited to explore with you.
But what is bushcraft?
Bushcraft is the art of thriving in the woods with primitive tools and skills that have been passed down through generations. It includes understanding how to build shelter, start fire, navigate, forage, track wildlife, and use natural materials effectively. Bushcraft is about cultivating awareness, resilience, and a respectful relationship with the land.
For my ancestors, bushcraft was not a hobby. They relied on the land not for leisure, but to provide food, shelter, and opportunity for their children and grandchildren. It is because of their blood, sweat, and perseverance that I can now share the knowledge they passed down to me.
So, I hope you will join me at the Library and around Red Hook for hands-on experiences as we explore the techniques, gear, science, and the history of bushcraft.
📅 Program Schedule (click to register as spaces are limited):
📍 April 11, Intro to Bushcraft: Elmendorph Inn
📍 April 15, Bushcraft tools and materials: Library
📍 April 22, The many ways to cut wood: Vlei Marsh
📍 April 29, Knot your normal knot class part 1: Library
📍 April 30, Knot your normal knot class part 2: Red Hook Rec Park Pavilions
📍 May 2, fire part 1: Lasting Joy
📍 May 13, Functional uses of modern steel tools part 1: Library
📍 May 20, Functional uses of modern steel tools part 2: Library
📍 May 30, final party: Rose Hill
Whether you are an experienced outdoorsperson or simply curious, you will leave more knowledgeable, more confident, and better prepared to explore our beautiful Hudson Valley safely and respectfully. Most importantly, you may discover what I have learned in my own journey through the woods: that nature has no master. We are not conquerors of the wild, but wanderers within it.
And perhaps you will come to understand what so many before us have known:
Not all those who wander are lost.