BONNERS FERRY — From lovers of the outdoors, to those who enjoy crafting things such as making knives, leatherworking, or a variety of other hobbies, a little gem of a shop — the Woodsman’s Shop — brings information and a variety of tools and toys.

About a month ago, the Woodsman’s Shop changed hands from Lance Echt to Boundary Search and Dive Rescue Team member Evan Phillips.

Echt offered Phillips the opportunity to purchase the business, and Phillips decided to go for it.

“There is a lot of learning to be done,” said Phillips. “I am building up to where he was.”

Phillips and his family moved to Idaho from Texas about five years ago, sight unseen.

“Texas was just hot, and the bugs were the size of small birds,” said Phillips. “So my family moved up here and started camping, starting in Coeur d’Alene, then Ponderay, and then up at Smith Lake. The further north we got, the more we liked it. So we finally settled down here, bought some property, and began to do the homesteading thing.”

After working in construction for a while, Phillips decided the trade was not what he wanted to do as a career. Then Phillips met Echt, and finding that they shared common interests, Phillips took the opportunity to purchase the business and expand it into a knowledge center for homesteaders, outdoorsmen and community members.

With the uprising popularity of self supported living, these classes could help those both experienced and new to that style of living, come together and share knowledge and experiences.

The Woodsman’s Shop is getting the retail portion of the business up and running, and introducing knife sharpening to the shop. Phillips is also expanding his horizons with the implementation of teaching programs.

“I believe that this area attracts larger than life regulars, skilled people on top of that,” said Phillips. “So if those people are willing to teach or can be coaxed into teaching, I would like to give them an audience. I would like to revitalize the trades, for instance, I know a local blacksmith who will be putting on sharpening and blacksmithing classes.”

Another teaching course Phillips wishes to implement is teaching bleeding control, with the assistance of someone who works with the ambulance service. With first aid and CPR having their own individual certification classes, Phillips wants to bring bleeding control to the same level.

“My love of search and rescue started when I was 12,” said Phillips about why he joined Boundary Search and Dive Rescue. “Being an unpaid professional is quite rewarding and I always enjoy the training. It was the most high intensity, high speed training that I could find. It still satisfies.”

The medical classes could save a life in the event of an accident or emergency when visiting the wilderness, or living a long way from the hospital.

“Tourniquets and pressure dressings would especially apply around here because of the way that we live,” said Phillips. “There is a lot of potential for us to get hurt and things that can be easily solved with a tourniquet and some basic schooling.”

With a variety of outdoor tools such as axes and bows, cast iron cookware, and a plethora of books and information, the Woodsman’s Shop brings Boundary County the tools needed to be successful in outdoor activities.

For more information, visit The Woodsman’s Shop on Facebook, 6389 Bonner St., or call 936-494-9732.