There's fellowship around the campfire.
Most of the following information has been secured from
Scouting Magazine, Boy Scout Handbook, and past grading
experience. As a Firecrafter Candidate you will give a campfire at
least once during your candidacy. This report has been prepared to
help you to plan a successful campfire. Let us now start to discuss
some keys to a good campfire.
Physical Arrangements
- Choose a dry site; keep away from swampy places.
- Arrange campfire circle with reference to the prevailing
winds; nobody likes to eat smoke.
- Select a level or gently sloping site.
- Light the fire in a scout-like manner (definitely no gasoline
or gunpowder, etc.)
- Consider fire hazard - overhead and underneath. Have an area
of 10' radius around your fire for safety. Have an ample number of
fire buckets.
- Provide comfort and protection against ground chill.
- Hold the campfire a short distance from the campsite, but
prevent from holding it by busy roads or trails.
Type of Fire
Top-Lighter -- most popular. Build up in a log cabin
style, but with no tinder at the bottom. Lay tinder on solid split
wood about the fifth level. Lay several layers of split wood over
the tinder. Hardwood is most favorable. As the hardwood burns to
embers, the fire burns downward instead of burning the whole layout
form the bottom in a few minutes.
Bottom-Lighter. Lay the familiar log cabin frame and then
CRAM the inside with tinder in such a manner that when you
light the bottom tinder it will in turn ignite the wood about and so
on. You will need varying sizes of tinder for the fire to be a
success, starting from pencil lead thickness for the bottom, and
increasing upward through the fire to wood the size of a silver
dollar and larger.
Ways of Fire Lighting
The lighting of the campfire is an important aspect of all
campfires. While it is necessary for you as the candidate to lead
the campfire, you should leave this task to a responsible boy or
adult from your troop that is proficient at lighting fires. Try to
incorporate the fire lighting into a skit or ceremony. While others
are lighting the fire, continue with your program. If by chance the
fire does not light GO ON WITH YOUR PROGRAM. You should not
stop the program to help light the fire. Also be sure to have
adequate fire protection. This includes ample fire buckets, a clean
fire area, and tools such as shovels and rakes.
Candle-Light -- Place a shielded candle inside of the
campfire just before starting. Have a string on the candle so that
it can be pulled into the tinder.
Matchboard and Sandpaper -- Pull the sandpapered piece of
wood across the piece of wood that is covered with kitchen
matches.
Fire by Friction -- Have one boy or adult who is
proficient in Fire by Friction to start the fire with their spark
and tinder.
The options for lighting the fire are endless, but be sure to
have a back up method just in case. DO NOT USE things such as
flammable fluids or paper to start your fire.
Program
The quality of the campfire program can make or break the
campfire. It should be centered around a THEME. This theme
can be anything from "A Day at Ransburg" to "Christmas in July".
However, it should not be to general like "Scouting". You need to
find different skits, songs, and stories that relate to or involve
your theme. A Scoutmaster's Minute is another way of working in the
theme. Be sure to have your program written out. You will need a
copy of it for yourself, one for your Scoutmaster, and two copies
for the grading team, making four total. While it isn't necessary to
have the program memorized, don't take it with you when you are in
front of the audience. Look at it off to the side to see what is
next then go out and introduce the next thing. It is also a good
idea to plan an extra song or skit, just in case the program doesn't
last the necessary 20 minutes.
Leadership
The point of leadership is the most important of all of the six
grading points. The point of leadership is not just to see how well
you can lead a song, it requires you to have control at all times.
It is as easy to be a leader from the sidelines as it is from the
front. Below are some hints on how to do well.
- Come out and introduce yourself, and lead the first song.
- Try to include a song that you can teach the audience.
- Know all the songs and skits in your program, and if a problem
occurs be prepared to lead the activity.
- Invite other troops to both come to and do something in your
program.
- Make sure that all those in your program know what they are to
do and that they have all necessary props.
- Don't be shy. Use hand motions and enthusiasm when you are in
front of the crowd.
- DO YOUR BEST!!
Webmaster Note: This information provided courtesy of Matt
Baldwin
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