Activity Description: Youth collect natural materials and work together to practice building a pretend teepee‑style campfire.
Items Needed:
- Area with dry wood pieces: small twigs, medium sticks, large branches
- Either existing fire ring OR rocks and a cleared safe area
- (Optional) Labeled cards for “Tinder,” “Kindling,” and “Fuel”
- (Optional) Leave No Trace Principles:
Instructions (Estimated Total Time: 30–40 min):
- Divide into fire teams. (8–10 min)
- Split Youth into three small groups:
- Team Tinder: Collect small, dry items like twigs, leaves, or wood shavings.
- Team Kindling: Find medium dry sticks about thumb‑thick and arm‑length.
- Team Fuel: Gather large dry branches about wrist‑thick and arm‑length.
- Youth should only collect items from the ground and never break branches off trees.
- Split Youth into three small groups:
- Learn about fire safety. (5–7 min)
- Review Leave No Trace rules for gathering firewood.
- Explain how tinder lights easily, kindling helps the fire grow, and fuel keeps it going.
- Practice building a teepee fire. (10–12 min)
- Use rocks to make a safe fire ring or use one already in place.
- Stack tinder in the center.
- Lean kindling around the tinder to form a teepee shape.
- Add fuel logs in a second ring outside the kindling.
- Leave a small open space facing the wind where the fire could be lit.
- Prepare for future use. (No time listed)
- The teepee fire can be used later when a fire is needed at camp, or the tinder, kindling, and fuel can be stacked nearby for a future camper to use.
Step-by-Step Tutorials:
- Alternative Instructions: Build a Teepee Fire by GSUSA
- Video: Introduction to Fire Building by GSUSA
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Click Here -> See what GSUSA Requirements could be met
Leaders – please be aware of double dipping and make your own informed choice.
- Fulfills Step 3 of GSUSA Daisy Buddy Camper badge requirements.
- Fulfills Step 4 of GSUSA Brownie Cabin Camper badge requirements.
- Fulfills Step 3 of GSUSA Brownie Eco Friend badge requirements.
- Fulfills Step 2 of GSUSA Junior Camper badge requirements.
- Fulfills Step 1 of GSUSA Junior Eco Camper badge requirements.
- Fulfills Step 4 of GSUSA Cadette Primitive Camper badge requirements.
- Fulfills Step 4 of GSUSA Cadette Trailblazing badge requirements.
- Fulfills Step 1 of GSUSA Cadette Eco Trekker badge requirements.
- Fulfills Step 4 of GSUSA Senior Adventure Camper badge requirements.
- Fulfills Step 4 of GSUSA Ambassador Survival Camper badge requirements.
Click Here -> See what Scouting America Requirements could be met
Leaders – please be aware of double dipping and make your own informed choice.
Info Needed: Read the Scout Law AND show how you can be friendly.
- Fulfills Step 1 of Tiger Let’s Camp Tiger requirements.
- Fulfills Step 1 of Wolf Let’s Camp Wolf requirements.
- Fulfills part of Steps 6 & 7 of Webelos Let’s Camp Webelos requirements.
- Fulfills part of Step 6 of Arrow of Light Outdoor Adventurer requirements.
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