n, the company of happy
boys, and great, dark background of piney woods, the weird light over all,
the singing, the yells, the stories, the fun, then the serious word at the
close, is a happy experience long to be remembered.

[Footnote 1: Dr. G. Stanley Hall, "Camp Conference Report," p. 40.]

To Build a Fire

There are ways and ways of building camp fires. An old Indian saying runs,
"White man heap fool, make um big fire--can't git near! Injun make um
little fire--git close! Uh! good!" Make it a service privilege for a tent
of boys to gather wood and build the fire. This should be done during the
afternoon. Two things are essential in the building of a fire--kindling
and air. A fire must be built systematically. First, get dry, small dead
branches, twigs, fir branches and other inflammable material. Place these
upon the ground. Be sure that air can draw under the pile and up through
it. Next place some heavier branches in tripod form over the kindling,
then good-sized sticks, and so on until you have built the camp fire the
required size. In many camps it is considered an honor to light the fire.

Kerosene oil may be poured upon the kindling, or old newspapers used in
lighting the fire.

Caution

An interesting account of "How to Build a Fire by Rubbing Sticks," by
Ernest Thompson-Seton, will be found in "Boy Scouts of America," page 84.

Be sure to use every precaution to prevent the spreading of fire. This may
be done by building a circle of stone around the fire, or by digging up
the earth, or by wetting a space around the fire. Always have buckets of
water near at hand.

Things to remember:

First, It is criminal to leave a burning fire;

Second, Always put out the fire with water or earth.

State Laws

Be sure to get a copy of the law of your State regarding Forest Fires, and
if a permit is necessary, secure it before building a fire.

To Light a Match

Kephart, in his book on "Camping and Woodcraft" (page 88), says, "When
there is nothing dry to strike it on, jerk the head of the match forward
through the teeth. Face the wind. Cup your hands, backs toward wind.
Remove right hand just long enough to strike match on something very close
by, then instantly resume former position. Flame of match will run up the
stick instead of blowing away from it."

Story-Telling

The camp fire is a golden opportunity for the telling of stories--good
stories told well. Indian legends, war stories, ghost sto