Spring Break Camp Fire Making!

The Rangers Guild presents an opportunity to go in depth into the ancient wilderness survival skill of firemaking.

Ancient Widsom & Wilderness Survival

Fire is at the heart of survival. Rangers Guild instructors take students though the widsom vital to safely and intelligently use this incredible resource. We address how to build a proper fire pit, different fire structures, sustainable harvest of materials, simple and safe wood chopping techniques and tending to and fully extinguishing the fire.

We also train key methods of starting the flame. From ancient methods of lighting fires with no matches: bow drill, hand drill and more. To more modern tools such as flint and steel (not that modern) and we even explore the science behind how a match lights.

This class is centered around the ancient campfire pit, yet it also finds us exploring the woods to learn about the very trees that give us their warmth. Students gain firsthand knowledge of Western Red Cedar, Hemlock, Douglas Fir, Alder and more. They learn which trees offer tinder that lights under any weather conditions and which are best for long term fire tending.

Fire Safety

Safety is the foundation of this course. Along with the skills of fire making we also take students through our House Safety Certification of Campfire Safety 1 (other House Safety Certs included). Parents can feel confident and proud that their children learn and adhere to core routines of safety for the building, tending and extinguishing of fire.

Location

The Trackers Homestead is located in one of the most epic landscapes on Earth. Adjacent to a private 100 acre wildlife refuge on the south end of the Bull Run, campers have a chance to explore and play in a forest seemingly untouched by time.