Camp Fires                                 

Why have them?

·       Fun Fun Fun                                                    

·        They are part of Scouting tradition

·        Taking part can boost the self confidence of the leader and participants

·        As a group activity, they promote team spirit

What do I do to start off?

·      Decide what your aim is. Is it to get your troop to enjoy singing a few songs, or is it to be able to lead a campfire for a large group?                                                             

·      For most people, the hardest step to take is the first one into the campfire circle where you are the centre of attention. So ease yourself in by perhaps helping someone else out with their campfire and just leading 1 song. If you find that you enjoy it, then do another.

·      Ask someone to come and teach your group a few songs so you can see how its done.

·      To help them over any initial embarrassment take your group to a big campfire event so they can see other Beavers/Cubs/Scouts/Venture Scouts enjoying themselves and joining in.

Above all, don't worry about looking silly and have a good time cos if you don't, they won't. 

Where do I find my material? (songs/sketches)

·      At campfires. Borrow other peoples. Imitation is a form of flattery

·      Other leaders

·      Books try the Scout shop they usually have some in stock.

·      Scouting Magazine

·      The Internet

·      The Camp Fire Leaders Club

Always keep a look out for new songs so you can introduce a few into each fire while still singing old favourites.

 Getting it going

1)    Get someone else to build and look after the   campfire itself.                                 

2)    Write down, in order, a list of the songs 
        you want to do. Include the items by other
        people. Spread them out to give yourself     
        a break from leading songs.

3)     Check the content of their item in advance
   so you know whats coming and can edit
   anything unsuitable.

4)     Gain the audience's attention and establish 
   your role as LEADER OF THE
   CAMPFIRE but be nice about it.

5)     Make introductions and welcome visitors.

 6)    Light the fire dramatically if possibl. Use a
  flaming arrow or torches (remember safety)

7)    Start them clapping and singing and leaping 
  around as soon as you can.

8)   Make sure that anyone who performs an     
  item, gets a positive response no matter how 
  bad they really are

9)    Limit the number of songs of the same type.

10)  Action songs keep the audience awake.

11)  Allow 12 to 14 songs per hour. ( roughly)

12)   Be flexible and have a few too many songs
   on your list.

13)   Don't go on too long.

14)   Cheat, and plant singers in the audience to
   help it along. Give them a verse each for
   songs like The QM stores.   

15)   Try not to go too mad at the start so that you
   lose your voice, pace yourself a bit.

The Programme

 Traditionally the campfire runs like this

• Opening Ceremony
• Build up to peak exitement
• Gradually slow down
• Quiet close, everybody troops off to bed
                                                             

Very nice but I like