CAMP FIRES

Campfires

Campfire is the best part of any camping a scout attends. It is the time for the scouts to relax and refresh. It is the time for the scouts to bring out their latent talents . It is the time for the scouts to get rid of their stage fear and grow their team spirit and co-operation along with their leadership traits.

The Purpose of Conducting Campfires

• Playacting, stories, songs and music can all be used effectively in a campfire program
• The campfire circle can be a very memorable experience for your youth and a place to create memories and dreams
• It’s a great way for youth to learn to express themselves, and have a feeling of togetherness with other youth.

Types of Campfires

• Formal – very structured, follows a traditional outline; may be too rigid for younger youth
• Informal – less structured, but still follows a traditional outline
• Singsong – an unstructured gathering that doesn’t necessarily use a set outline
• Campfires can also be held indoors using an artificial campfire.

Campfire Etiquette

Before a formal campfire, discuss the rules of good campfire etiquette:

• Enter the campfire circle silently
• Sit in a circle around the fire. Running around and horseplay are not permitted
• Do not poke sticks or throw garbage into the fire
• Be courteous to others; do not talk during a song or skit
• Cheer all contributors for doing their best
• Keep flashlights turned off after entering the campfire circle
• Leave the campfire circle in silence.

Encourage members to wear their campfire blankets if they have them.

Building a Campfire

• Check with local authorities to see if you need a fire permit, and how to obtain it
• Keep campfires small and use existing fire pits wherever possible
• Gather dead wood only, and have a sufficient supply for the length of your campfire
• Never leave a fire/live coals unattended
• Make sure your campfire is extinguished and cold before moving on
• Follow “leave no trace” rule if using a new site.

Types of fires

You can use several types of fire styles for a campfire:

• As a Pyramid style burns, the coals fall into the middle, helping the fire burn downward
• A Log Cabin style is one often used for campfires. The idea is to let the fire burn slowly and die down as the campfire program nears its end.

Fire Clean Up

• When the fire has burned itself out, sprinkle water over the ashes, stirring them occasionally to ensure that they are completely extinguished
• If you’ve developed a new campfire site, scatter the ashes and replace the sod or decomposing material from the forest floor, returning the site to its original condition.

Fire Pits (1)

“Leave no trace” rule for building a campfire in a new site:

• Gather enough sand or gravel to build a base at least 7-9 cm deep and about 60 cm in diameter
• Scatter the sand/gravel after the fire has completely burned out and has been extinguished with water
• When sand isn’t available, locate a grassy area where you can carefully cut out a section of sod or remove the decomposing materials.

Fire Pits (2)

• Never build directly on the forest floor, exposed rocks, roots or near low hanging branches or trees
• Dig a shallow pit down to the mineral soils or gravel
• Now, build your fire in the hole
• Afterwards, when your fire has completely burned out and all ashes have been extinguished with water, replace the sod and soil
• If you must build it on a rock, find one big and flat enough to contain it; once the fire is completely extinguished, turn the rock over to hide the blackened scar.

Environmental Issues

• Campfires today are a luxury in many places
• Scouting is committed to the principles of land stewardship, wise use of natural resources and no-trace camping techniques
• Uncontrolled burning in campsites can leave many unsightly fire scars over time
• Use guidelines to minimize your campfire’s impact on the environment
• The saying “take only pictures, leave only footprints” applies to campfires and other camping activities.

How to make the campfire programme effective and impressive?

The campfire program should have a definite, planned structure. It should happen similarly to how a fire burns – starting small, building to a bright excitement, and then tapering off to glowing embers. Moreover, the best campfires are well planned, yet look spontaneous. They are planned and rehearsed in advance of the campfire program. There are typically three parts to a typical campfire. They are:

Part 1: Opening – The opening includes parading to the formal circle, introductions, the fire lighting, and a short, upbeat opening verse that sets the mood and guidelines for the fire and welcomes people to the magic of the experience

Part 2: Campfire Program –The Campfire Program is the main portion containing skits songs, stories, stuns or games

Part 3: Closing – The closing of the camp fire is even more important than the opening. A solemn, quiet, impressive closing is an excellent preparation for a quiet, orderly end of the program

Planning a Successful Event Campfire

Planning Process

Ideally the patrol responsible for the Campfire Program (the Program Patrol) and Master of Ceremonies for the campfire program are assigned at the monthly PLC meeting along with the already established monthly educational themes. The Master of Ceremonies and Program Patrol works with all Patrol Leaders in the troop to create a successful campfire.

1. The Program Patrol responsible for a specific campfire’s planning form
2. All Patrol Leaders or assigned patrol member determine (in advance) what skit, riddle, and mystery the Patrol will perform and report to the Program Patrol.
3. The Patrol Leader or assigned patrol member is responsible for scheduling and practicing skit prior to the campfire program
4. The Program Patrol turns the Campfire Planner into the Senior Patrol Leader for approval the week prior to the campout.

The Program Patrol and Master of Ceremonies should follow several common-sense rules:

 Complete the Campfire Planner

 Preview new or unfamiliar skits

 Reserve the right to edit or veto Patrol skits, within reason of course.

o No inappropriate language or ethnic humor is allowed.

 Be respectful and affirming of everyone.

 Remind participants to bring whatever properties they need.

 Remind everyone to speak loudly, so all can hear.

Guidelines for Planning

Some general guidelines for planning the campfire program are:

 Keep the program short

o 40 to 50 minutes being about right for Scouts and Venturers

 Skits are usually never longer than 3 to 5 minutes and are ideally somewhere around 90 seconds.

 Get skits in place quickly; otherwise all the momentum gained in the evening is disrupted.

 Avoid ad-hoc or unplanned skits from Patrols, because they usually aren’t funny, are too long and don’t make any sense, not to mention the Scouts forget what they’re supposed to say and do

 Rehearse the skit beforehand. It will increase the Scouts confidence and can help to avoid whispering, fumbling, amnesia, arguing about who says what, and all sorts of problems.

 Campfire Material must pass Appropriateness Test

o Consistent with Scout Law

 friendly, courteous, kind

 Song, Stunts, Skits, and Cheers should not embarrass or demean any person or group.

 Gray areas to stay away from:

 Underwear

 Inside jokes

 Cross-gender impersonation

 Use of alcohol, tobacco, drugs

 Water

 Watch out for using or modifying skits that touch on sensitive topics

 Skits that are based on Ethnic or handicapped targets are not acceptable

Campfire Etiquette

The Campfire Master of Ceremonies makes sure Scouts follow proper campfire etiquette including the following:

 Prohibit flashlights from the circle.

 No unwanted Clapping or Booing – that’s why we have ‘cheers/regulated scout claps’

 No Talking – unless you’re involved in an activity, talking spoils the mood and detracts from whatever is going on.

o Make a no-talking rule.

 The campfire circle is sacred and always quiet before and after the fire.

 If wood needs to be added to the fire during the campfire, only the Keeper of the Flame may do it.

 No booing.

 Crowd control is easier if you insist on silence as the group enters the campfire ring. Make sure there is sufficient light so they can find their seats.

 Discipline is important. Squelch any horseplay immediately. Encourage enthusiasm, but maintain control.

 Get everyone involved in songs or stunts.

 Recognition should be a part of every campfire program. Have a number of cheers planned; be prepared to explain and show them, then let the group cheer each group of performers.

 Inspiration contributes to showmanship and is essential to a successful campfire.

 Quiet as the embers die. Ask everyone to leave the campfire circle quietly.

Campfire Discipline

The Master of Ceremonies is the leader of the campfire program and needs to maintain control. Below are some guidelines:

 Be tough but tactful when someone may be interrupting the campfire

 Address problems immediately – Scouts can get out of hand easily & quickly

 When friendly requests fail:

o Follow patrol method

 Ask Patrol Leader for assistance, if that fails

 Ask Assistant Senior Patrol Leader or Senior Patrol Leader for assistance, if that fails

 Ask Assistant Scout Master or Scout Master for assistance

The Campfire Program Planner

Be sure that every feature of this campfire program upholds Scouting’s highest traditions.

1. In a campfire planning meeting, fill in the top of the “Campfire Program” sheet (over)
2. On the “Campfire Program Planner”, list all units and individuals who will participate in the program
3. From each get and write down the name, description, and type of song, stunt or story they have planned.
4. The master-of-the-campfire organizes songs, stunts, and stories in a good sequence, considering timing, variety, smoothness, and showmanship.
5. M.C. makes out the campfire program sheet.
6. Copies of the program are given to all participants.

Kind of programs to include in the Campfire

Songs

Yarns

Spinning the yarn

Stunts0

Sketches

Parodies

Yells

Games

Individual items

Mine

Skits

Mimikery

Group Song

Group Dance

Solo Song

Solo Dance

Dumb Charade

Kitchen Music

Yells by the scoutmasters

Program by the chief guest

Get the Feedback

Ask the participants both the scouts and the scoutmasters to give a feedback on the quantity and quality of programs and the way by which the whole campfire program was conducted. This true feedback ( oral or written) has guided me on the reshaping and redesigning the campfire in the forthcoming days.

SOUREC ; https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8478497352397064095#editor/target=post;postID=363995650611992211