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Discover Fire

Do you know how to build a campfire? Setting things up for a campfire can be easy if you have everything you need close by. Even with all the right stuff, you have to build your fire the right way in order to burn well.

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Plan

  • When will you share this adventure?
  • Where can you have a campfire in your community?
  • Has anyone in your Colony built a fire before? Can they share some tips with the others?
  • What help do you need from your Scouters for this adventure?
  • How will you put out your campfire when you are done with it? 

Do

  • In a fire ring, start by laying sticks out like a raft on the ground. This will keep your fire away from the cold, wet dirt.
  • Crumple birch bark (gathered from the ground) or paper on the raft.
  • Put sticks that are no thicker than a pencil on and around the birch bark.
  • Then put sticks that are about as thick as your fingers around the first sticks.
  • Put sticks as thick as a broom handle around all the sticks in the pile, leaning them against each other for stability.
  • If you have plenty more wood on hand, then you have a fire that’s ready for your Scouter to light!

Review

  • What do you know now that you did not know before?
  • How did you and your friends work together on this adventure?
  • Who deserves a special pat on the back? How come?
  • How did you enjoy your fire after it was lit?
  • What would you do differently next time?
  • Remember to submit your activities on our Scouts for Sustainability Take Action Map to the Review section.

Keep it Simple

  • Try lighting matches safely and using the match to light a small candle.

Take it Further

  • Learn about why fire is sacred to our Indigenous Communities.  Build a campfire and watch and see what images you can find in the flames. Discuss how sitting around a campfire makes you feel. Does this have a calming effect on your mind and body?