Fire Building

[Cubmaster-Fred]

I am planning our next pack overnighter and want to teach the Webelos about the different types of fires. Need help in locating the information. Been a long time since I have taught this.

 

Thanks in advance

 

CMF

[scoutldr]

Try this:

 

http://www.scouttroop.org/stl/bsa/58/Firebuilding.html

[ScoutNut]

Have them build "edible" campfires. This hands on excersise is fun, tasty & helps them remember the whys & ways of a campfire & campfire safety.

 

Here is one version from Girl Scouts - You can change the materials around to suit your boys tastes :

 

EDIBLE FIRE

 

Materials:

 

Napkins

 

Paper cups to fill with water

 

Cheerios

 

Shredded coconut

 

Potato sticks

 

Pretzel logs

 

Cinnamon hearts (red hots)

 

One toothpick/girl

 

Method:

 

1. Each girl should unfold her napkin and lay it nice and smooth to represent the clearing that has to be done in an area to make it safe to build a fire. Here you may go into as much detail as you feel your girls are ready for. Discuss safe places to build fires.

 

2. Clean your fire site with a rake. Fill the fire bucket and place nearby

 

3. Make a fire ring of cheerios. Again you may pause and talk about safety circle. It's a circle 5' out from the fire circle and kids aren't allowed to play or move faster than a walk while inside this circle.

 

4. Next you make three piles of firewood: coconut for the tinder, potato sticks for the kindling and pretzels for logs

 

5. Now you are ready to lay your fire: Lay an A or V of logs after you decide what direction the wind is blowing. Place the open end of the "A" facing the wind so the flame can get oxygen

 

6. Lay your tinder against the crossbar of the A or in the cross of V. As each girl is ready, she gets a toothpick for a match to hold in under the largest pile of tinder and you drop a few red hots on top to show that the fire is burning brightly, using just one match!

 

7. Then she places on more kindling and logs as the fire burns brighter.

 

8. Discuss

 

How to put out clothing if it catches on fire,

 

Stop, Drop and Roll

 

How to put out a fire: Sprinkle water, not pouring the whole bucket on it.

 

9. After her fire has been approved by the leader she eats it all, leaving a clean fire site.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[starwolfmom]

I've seen that recipe, too, except with a tortilla for the base instead of a napkin. That way, it's completely edible!

 

Elizabeth

[Lynda J]

Show them how to start a fire using a magnifing glass and dry grass. Also if you will take real cotton balls and rub a little vasiline on then they make great fire starters.

Which ever way you do it make sure to go over the fire safety rules several times before you start.

 

Had a boy at our last camp out lost the corner of his firem'n chip. He cried. But guess what. This camping trip is was one of the safest ones around the fire.

 

Also be aware that the big push now is of the "leave no trace" rule on fire building.

 

 

[9muckraker7]

Try inquiry.net That has always proven to be a good source of information. Here's a great site regarding firestarting and tinder: http://lynx.dac.neu.edu/m/mbennett/tinder_thoughts.html

 

There's plenty of resources out there, and i hope you find the right one.