DIY CAMPFIRE

If your solar oven hasn’t worked for you perhaps you will need to learn how to build a campfire.  I learned this fine skill while at my first Brownie camp (I won’t tell you how long ago that was, a lady has to keep some dignity!)  But the process still works in this digital age, I’m sure!

cardboard roll campfire practice

Tristan started off by painting the base of the fire pit. While that was drying he cut some paper towel/kitchen roll tubes into quarters lengthwise (this is also a good way to introduce beginning fractions!).  We then rolled them tight again into little logs.  He also cut a toilet paper tube into long strips for use as kindling. We gathered some scrap tissue paper in yellow and red, some orange cellophane previously used for another project, and a little LED tea-light and we set to work. Tristan placed the ‘flame’ in the centre of the firepit and then added his crumpled paper around it. Next it’s time to add some kindling.  To make this bit a little easier, I glued a few strips of kindling together to form a dome over the flame. We then built a ‘log cabin’ out of logs to contain the fire and keep it going once it establishes itself. Finally we formed a ‘tipi’ around the kindling and inside the log cabin.  Usually you would do this step prior to the log cabin, but by doing it in this order it was easier to have the tipi stand. All that’s needed now are some campfire songs and some S’mores! This little campfire breaks down easily for storage so that you may bring it out again in the future to practice again. Next year we will teach the children how to build a real fire on the beach so that they will learn to be respectful of fire and the power and force it holds.

Hike on over to our indoor camping or summer fun pages for more ideas to keep the kids busy this summer.