It took me years to learn this super SIMPLE thing!

Hey, Play Advocate.

Summer is here. Campouts are in full effect. You might be up to your ears in s’mores and ready to change it up. Good news- I got you!

During July, I will share some of my go-to fire tips, tricks, and most delicious recipes for fireside snacks. I’m a simple lady, so all of this is straightforward info - I’ll save the fluff for your toasted PB&J sammies!

I'll walk you through my setup, safety protocol, and tools, and share our cohort's most loved recipes. So hang in there, and take note. But first- Let’s get set up first, on the HOW.

All-In-One Fire Kits: Keep ‘em stocked and keep the fire stoked.

• Fire Buckets- These are the best. All you need is a five-gallon pail with a lid. Not only will it house what you need to start a fire, every time -but it can also be filled with water while the fire is live in an emergency. (Always have a pail of water nearby!)

  Below are the supplies I keep in my fire bucket. This is a bucket that's for the fire tender only. The children know this is not a place to poke around or play in. They usually have lots of questions about what's inside. I take my time to show them each thing and answer whatever questions they may have. There has never been any danger in the children knowing where the matches are.... just sayin'.

  Tip: Many of these supplies are donated throughout the programming year, families are always asking what we need - and kindling and newspapers are things we can always use more of that are easy to find within the community.

1. Five Gallon Bucket/Pail with Lid

2. Pair of Fire Gloves

3. Newspaper

4. Gulf Wax / Dried Pine Cones

5. Matches

6. Kindling

7. Boundary Rope - this is a bundle of brightly colored 550 cord or rope that is laid all around the fire circle as a visual marker so children remember that they are entering the fire circle and must proceed with caution. This takes practice, patience, and lots of loving reminders. Stick with it... (not pictured)

8. Copy of fire-tending protocol; laminated (not pictured).

We keep many of these items in a large ziplock bag for extra precaution against moisture. The fire bucket lives with the firewood, undercover, year-round.

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