Difference between revisions of "Fire Games & Challenges"
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*Scout playing area for hazards: tripping objects, stinging insects, trash, and much more. | *Scout playing area for hazards: tripping objects, stinging insects, trash, and much more. | ||
− | === | + | === Fire fundamentals === |
+ | |||
+ | # '''Fire fundamentals lesson.''' Teach/demonstrate/discuss safety, fuel gathering and sorting, fire structure, lighting strategies, fire triangle (fuel, oxygen, heat), etc. | ||
+ | # '''Match lighting practice (how to light, how to hold).''' Everyone circles up around an empty firepit, is given a box of matches, and is asked to light six to ten matches to practice the technique of lighting a match AND to practice how to hold a match to get the biggest, most useful flame (try angling it 45 degrees downward!) Spent matches are discarded into the fire pit. | ||
+ | # '''Firesteel and fireball lesson.''' Demonstrate how to use a firesteel (ferrocerium rod) to make sparks, and how to use a "fireball" (cotton ball covered in petroleum jelly) to catch the sparks and make a small fire that will burn for 3 - 4 minutes. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===Fire Challenges=== | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====== Notes about fire challenges ====== | ||
+ | |||
+ | * Several of the games below involve a "fire challenge," meaning that a small group must make a fire according to certain criteria or restrictions. | ||
+ | * For fire challenges, small groups of 3 to 4 people work well. All these challenges can, of course, be done by 1 or 2 people, but having 3 or 4 people in each group divides up the labor AND challenges the participant's use of teamwork, leadership, and communication skills. But, if the groups are too large (more than 5 people), it's easy for certain members to "fade into the background" and not get involved. | ||
+ | * It's best to divide a large group into groups of 3 or 4 people using the [[Ideas for Splitting a Group into Subgroups|"line up by skill and count off"]] method so as to distribute skill among the various groups. | ||
+ | * Because each one of multiple groups is building a fire, you'll need to have multiple fire pits. Make sure each fire pit is in a safe location and has a bucket of water nearby in case a fire starts burning out of control. | ||
+ | * One measure of success is to have the group build an “adult” fire, meaning a mature fire that can burn on its own for several minutes without the group adding or moving wood in the fire or blowing on it. In contrast, a "baby" fire is a small fire that needs constant feeding and attention or it will go out. A "teenage" fire is somewhere between the two. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====== Specific fire challenges ====== | ||
+ | <br /> | ||
+ | |||
+ | === Missions === | ||
Fire fundamentals (the S's of fire) | Fire fundamentals (the S's of fire) | ||
Revision as of 14:02, 15 July 2021
back to: Game Library
Requirements
- Age 7+
- Players 8-12
- Time 3-5 min rounds
- Location Small clear area Large clear area Forest
- Energy Low (sitting, standing) Medium (walking, stalking) High (running) Extreme (sprinting)
- Materials Bands
- Lead by Pathfinder Whiskers Cloak
- Guides 1
Story
What is the essence of this game?
Action Call
Compelling questions / challenges to get kids excited to play.
Game
Safety
- Many of our program areas don't allow fires or have very restrictive rules about fire. Check with your program coordinator or site director about fire rules for your site.
- In areas where fires ARE allowed, consider the following before choosing...
- LINK to a separate page that lists all fire rules? These could be fire rules from the SQM.
- Scout playing area for hazards: tripping objects, stinging insects, trash, and much more.
Fire fundamentals
- Fire fundamentals lesson. Teach/demonstrate/discuss safety, fuel gathering and sorting, fire structure, lighting strategies, fire triangle (fuel, oxygen, heat), etc.
- Match lighting practice (how to light, how to hold). Everyone circles up around an empty firepit, is given a box of matches, and is asked to light six to ten matches to practice the technique of lighting a match AND to practice how to hold a match to get the biggest, most useful flame (try angling it 45 degrees downward!) Spent matches are discarded into the fire pit.
- Firesteel and fireball lesson. Demonstrate how to use a firesteel (ferrocerium rod) to make sparks, and how to use a "fireball" (cotton ball covered in petroleum jelly) to catch the sparks and make a small fire that will burn for 3 - 4 minutes.
Fire Challenges
Notes about fire challenges
- Several of the games below involve a "fire challenge," meaning that a small group must make a fire according to certain criteria or restrictions.
- For fire challenges, small groups of 3 to 4 people work well. All these challenges can, of course, be done by 1 or 2 people, but having 3 or 4 people in each group divides up the labor AND challenges the participant's use of teamwork, leadership, and communication skills. But, if the groups are too large (more than 5 people), it's easy for certain members to "fade into the background" and not get involved.
- It's best to divide a large group into groups of 3 or 4 people using the "line up by skill and count off" method so as to distribute skill among the various groups.
- Because each one of multiple groups is building a fire, you'll need to have multiple fire pits. Make sure each fire pit is in a safe location and has a bucket of water nearby in case a fire starts burning out of control.
- One measure of success is to have the group build an “adult” fire, meaning a mature fire that can burn on its own for several minutes without the group adding or moving wood in the fire or blowing on it. In contrast, a "baby" fire is a small fire that needs constant feeding and attention or it will go out. A "teenage" fire is somewhere between the two.
Specific fire challenges
Missions
Fire fundamentals (the S's of fire)
Match lighting practice (how to light, how to hold)
Firesteel and fireball lesson
One-match fire
String burn fire
Silent fire
Five minute fire
Blindfolded fire
No-metal water boil challenge (gourds, hot rocks)
One wet stick fire
Intro to bow drill
Intro to hand drill
Bow drill / hand drill practice time
Straighten hand drill drills over a fire
Make fire starters (roll up cardboard and dryer lint; dip in wax)
Make a fuzz stick
Make a coal carrier tube
Intro to flint and steel fire making
Practice flint and steel fire making
Make char cloth
Fire fuel lesson: wet wood, “ultraflammables”
Pirate's Cursed Treasure challenge
Make fire in uncommon ways: lenses, batteries, etc.
Intro to banking a fire (DANGER - unattended fire overnight!)
Modify
Variations of the game.