by "Auntie Beans"
This is abso-freaking-lutely failproof, works in damp weather. I have NEVER
had this fail. Boys who see it, do it. Then THEY never fail. And there's nothing
like having your fire lay fail to make you feel embarrassed.
First, set your new Scouts to whittling you about a half a (coffee) cupful of
wood shavings. Have your Tenderfoot or 2nd Class Scouts use the contact method to
split a bunch of pieces between matchstick and pencil size when gathered
together upright would fill an other coffee cup, and more of bigger fuel, the
size of rulers and larger.
Then: The secret ingredient is an 8" or so length of half-inch hemp rope,
that crappy stuff that is so miserable to teach lashing with because it's stiff.
You can usually find gobs of it littering the ground at the Scoutcraft area at
camp, or you can really strike the jackpot if you get a length of
tar-impregnated hempen hawser.
Pull it apart into its component fibers-- you will have a golden fluff-ball
about the size of a toddler's head. You can point out to the Scouts that this is
what their handbooks mean when they say, "A cap full of tinder."
Dump the shavings into the fuzz-ball, and pull and knead it like taffy until
you have a big fluff-ball full of wood shavings suspended in it like raisins in
a cake. (Like the food references?)
OK. Stack 'em up. Fluff-ball, then smaller bits, then bigger ones. Surround by
teepee that actually contacts the pile, plus-or-minus log cabin or your other
favorite firelay. Lights with ONE match. Feed.
Did I mention this never fails?
Auntie Beans
Cape Cod & Islands Council, MA
Training Chair
I useta be an eagle, NE-I-188
and a staffer, NE-I-209, 234
Nat'l Scout Jambo H&S service, 97, 01, 05