10 Things to do around a Campfire

Even though a lot of people have fond memories ofsong and then everybody else joins in. My 9 year old
campfires from their youth and they enjoy campingson still requests "Itsy Bitsy Spider" every single time
not many people know how to give their childrenwe go camping.
those same fond memories from their camping trips.6. Scary Story - This item depends on the age and
Having a fun campfire, having something that willmentality of the children that are with you. If you
leave a very positive mark in the memory of a youthhave little ones or if you have kids that get scared
is actually pretty easy but it is something you havereally easily then you should skip this item. If your
to practice a little and plan for a little.kids are older or they can handle it, go around the
Can you leave that positive memory without planningcampfire and let each child that wants to tell a scary
it and without a little prep work and practice? Yesstory. We don't usually have any of the parents tell
you can but it's an iffy proposition at best.stories because the kids do a better job of it
See it's like this: if you want to make a lastingthemselves.
impression, if you want to have your kids look back7. Add a Story - This one you can do regardless of
at (at least part) of their childhood and have it put athe age of the children, you just tailor the storyline
smile on their face then it takes work. Believe it orto the age of the children present. One adult will start
not but implanting those memories of warm andthe story and kind of get it going and then you just
happy campfire experiences is just like any othergo around the campfire one at a time adding a
part of raising a childe in my opinion. What thatsentence or two onto the story. You can go around
means is it takes a little work and a whole lot of love.the campfire a couple of times and then if it starts
So let's get into the list of what to do and how togetting really out of hand you start another story
plan a "spontanaeous" campfire:and reverse the direction of the story. If you have
1. Dusk - The time of the evening you do it at isan adult in the group who is pretty sharp you can
very key to a successful campfire. Having a campfireask them ahead of time to keep track of the story
in the middle of a sunny afternoon just doesn't haveas it develops and then recap it at the end. You
the same impact that having one as it is getting darkwould be amazed at how interesting the story gets
does.when one person retells it beginning to end.
2. S'Mores - I say s'mores but it doesn't have to be8. Thankful For - Ask the kids to tell everybody what
that treat, you just need to have some sort ofthey are thankful for in their lives. It could be
snack that the kids really like and that they don't getsomething on the trip or it could be something else in
very often. This makes the campfire somethingtheir lives. Always start this off by asking an adult
special. With my kids the only time they havefirst especially if you have little ones in the group.
s'mores is when we are at a campfire. AnotherYou kind of have to show them by example. If you
"bonus" to having the s'mores is that they get tostart doing this on a fairly regular basis and the kids
play with the fire. Boys especially, are really, reallyget comfortable talking about this stuff in front of
attracted to the fire and if you give them another kids and adults you will be shocked (in a good
opportunity to play in it then they will remember it.way) at the very interesting answers you will start
Do use some safety precautions and make sure toto get.
have at least one parent who just keeps an eye on9. Dreams - Ask the kids to tell the group their
the kids around the fire and the marshmallowsbiggest Dream in life. I don't mean the dream they
themselves.had last night while they were sleeping. I mean like
3. Best Part - This is something that a friend of minewhat do they want to do when they grow up,
came up with. Once you have eaten some sort ofwhere do they want to live and what kind of life
treat you all get your camping chairs and sit aroundthey want. That kind of Dream. Little ones (under 4
the fire. You then ask everybody in your groupor 5) might be a little young to understand and/or
something like: what was your most favorite part ofhave an answer to this question but once they get
the whole day? And you go around the campfire untilto be a little older then that you can bet that they
each person has had a chance to talk about whathave started to think about that. My 7 year old has
the most fun part of the day was for them.already had three different careers in his life!
4. Wish List - This is basically the same things as the10. TAPS - We always end the campfire and the day
Best Part but you ask them what one thing they(for the kids at least) by singing the words to Taps.
really want to do tomorrow? If you are leaving theYou can very easily find them on the web if you
campground and heading home really early in thedon't know them. The words are absolutely beautiful
morning the next day then you probably shouldn'tand the melody is so calming and serene it is the
ask this question. But if you get the chance, you willperfect ending to a very memorable and fun
be amazed at some of the answers the kids will give.campfire.
5. Songs - A lot of people kind of scoff at this oneI hope this list and the explanations were helpful to
but most kids really love this part of a campfire onceyou. Some of my fondest memories of growing up
you start doing it. You will be amazed at the varietyand of spending time with my kids center around a
of songs that the kids all seem to know. What wecampfire. If you take the time to do a little bit of
usually do is go around the campfire at least once ifprep work thinking about how to get this together
not twice and let the kids one at a time choose theyou will not regret it and your kids will thank you for
song they want to sing and let them lead into theit down the road.