Top 30 Scouting Skills
1. How to start a campfire
To build a typical campfire, you need three types of fuel: tinder, kindling and logs. The first rule of fire-making is to always have twice as much of each as you think you’ll need. Have these ready before you even strike a match. Adam Plowden
1. Carefully remove the turf from an area about a metre square and push a twig in the ground in the middle. Store the turf out of the way and water regularly.
2. Surround the central twig with kindling and tinder – lots of small dry twigs, pine needles and strips of bark.
3. Using progressively thicker twigs, build a wigwam shape but leave a gap on the windward side so you can place a match right into the kindling.
4. Light the kindling – blow very gently if the fire does not take hold on its own.
5. Add more tiny twigs to each flame; as your fire begins to grow, use larger and larger twigs and then sticks.
6. When firmly established, lay a log parallel with the wind direction on either side. Abandon the wigwam shape by adding sticks, split logs and so on. Place a fire grill across the logs and within a few minutes you will be ready to start cooking!
Always ask permission of the landowner first before building your fire or use a designated area if on a campsite.
2. How to find dry kindling in the rain
In wet weather if you have no dry kindling, go to the nearest hedge. You can always find dry dead wood for starting a fire in the thickest part of the hedge, but take care not to damage the hedge itself.
The September/October 2006 issue of ‘Scouting’ magazine has a great article with tips from various people in scouting. Read the rest of the article here.
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