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Construct a campfire

It wouldn’t be a camp without a campfire! Collect and sort wood, then learn how to safely build and light a fire.
Plan a session with this activity

You will need

  • Kindling (for example, small sticks)
  • Firewood
  • Matches
  • Fire bucket filled with sand
  • Space to collect a variety of wood and build a fire
Fire examples
PDF – 105.3KB
Download Fire examples

Before you begin

  • Decide where you’ll build your campfire. Choose somewhere where groups will be able to collect a variety of woods – they'll need twigs, sticks, and small branches or logs of various sizes.
  • Make sure the place you choose is safe, and that you're able and allowed to build fires there.
  • You may want to bring a selection of different size wood along to supplement what everyone finds.
  • Invite parents or carers (or older young people) to help.

Build your fire

  1. Everyone should split into a small group. An adult should join each small group. 
  2. Each small group should get into an area far enough from the other groups – at least five metres away is a good guide. They should clear their area so it’s free from debris and ready to build a fire.
  3. Each small group should collect wood. They should collect a variety of sizes from small twigs to big logs. They should look for dry wood that snaps and breaks easily, as this burns best. 
  4. Once a small group has a big enough pile of wood, they should sort it into four piles. The first pile should be wood about as thick as spaghetti. The second should be wood about as wide as a finger. The third should be wood about as thick as a wrist. Finally, the fourth should be wood wider than a wrist. 
  5. Each group should look at the ‘Fire example’ sheet and decide which fire they’ll build, and how their sticks, twigs, and logs will work best.
  6. Each group should build their fire in their clear space. They should make sure there’s plenty of scrunched up fire in the heart of the structure. 
  7. Once a group is happy with their structure, they should get ready to light the fire. They should make sure the area is clear and that no one’s wearing anything that could dangle into the flames. 
  8. An adult should safely light the newspaper. The adult could invite people to help blow on the flame, fan the flame or add more sticks. 
  9. Everyone should watch their fire carefully, keeping an eye out for which twigs and sticks burn first and burn best, and how the fire catches. Everyone should beware of any stray sparks.
  10. An adult should make sure the fire is completely out before it’s left unattended.

Reflection

This activity was a chance for everyone to find out about and develop the skills to build a fire. Everyone should sit around the fires and talk about the different steps of building a fire – don’t forget to keep an eye on the fires, and add more wood as needed. The person leading the reflection should ask everyone how you make a fire – do you just pile wood in a heap and hope it works? No – building and lighting a fire is a skill that takes practice. Can anyone remember a name of a common type of fire?

Fires are also a great way for us to enjoy the outdoors. Does anyone know why fires were important in the past? They used to be a source of heat and light – people would use them to cook or heat food and drink. Now we just plug a kettle in. Can anyone think of another household task we use equipment for? People could think about washing clothes with a washing machine, or taking a shower. How would people do these things in the outdoors without equipment? Now is a great chance for everyone to enjoy watching the flames or singing a campfire song together, before putting the fire out safely with sand, soil, or water, then raking the area clean. Don’t forget to save any partly burnt logs to use again next time.

Safety

Outdoor activities

You must have permission to use the location. Always check the weather forecast and inform parents and carers of any change in venue.

Poles and long objects

Be careful when moving poles or long items. Take care if the ends are sharp. Have appropriate supervision for this activity.

Gardening and nature

Everyone must wash their hands after the activity has finished. Wear gloves if needed. Explain how to safely use equipment and set clear boundaries so everyone knows what’s allowed.

Fires and stoves

Make sure anyone using fires and stoves is doing so safely. Check that the equipment and area are suitable and have plenty of ventilation. Follow the gas safety guidance. Have a safe way to extinguish the fire in an emergency.

All activities must be safely managed. Do a risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Always get approval for the activity and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.