once again the nature center in Maplewood Minnesota that my Wife and i do some volunteer work at held their winter Trappers and Traders workshop for fourth and fifth graders.inside they got a run down of the life of a canoe Voyager and a chance to see and touch some of the items that would have been found in a trading post in the seventeen and eighteen hundreds.flintlock rifles and knives were among the items along with clay pipes,steel needles,brick tea,copper pots and cloth.



then it was outside to see how these would be used to make a life in the Minnesota wilderness,trapping animals to trade and use as clothing and food.the staff member in full Voyager gear is showing how to use a bow drill.



my part was fire tender and teacher.i kept a pot of wild rice warm so the kids could try a local wild food that was a staple in those days.when it came to the teaching part i told them that there would be no pretending but we would make real fires using one match.the kids loved this part of the program as much as the chance to get out on snowshoes and hike around the frozen lake our camp was next to.



then came the big moment when they were let loose with bags of tinder and birch bark to make their own fires after my lession.
we gave them the materials so they would have a good chance to really make a one match fire with the snow a couple feet deep and nothing around for them to gather.i also had them try flint and steel to see how hard that was and did a demo of a fire bow.



we had about two hundred children over five days.most were able to get a fire going with at least two matches.if one failed another in the group of two of three got a chance to try.many had never struck a match before so i gave lots of "show and tell" on how to hold and strike it and apply it to the birch bark.some of the kids were naturals and some just dropped the blazing match into the wood pile but they all got the idea of how it was done.i enjoy myself every year and between groups make cups of tea over my open fire and enjoy being outside--rather than fool around on this computer--

GOOD JOB!


Pete

It's great that you very able to introduce them to this very essential skill. I ech PP's sentiments...

Bravo! Very generous of you to share your time and expertise in this way. Several decades from now some of these kids will still be talking about the first time they made a fire.

It is GREAT of you to share your time and knowledge with the children. There is no doubt that some of the children came away with a new found apreciation for the comforts that they have now, and the hard work that the trappers had to do just to survive.

Brilliant work, Canoedogs. These are the seeds we need to plant.

Really nice job, CANOEDOGS. It's very rare to find a kid nowdays who knows how to light a match. The very idea seems horrifying to many parents. Hmm, no knives, no fire...basically kids are supposed to be less advanced than cavemen!

Blast family rule #12: Starting at age 4 you have to light the candles on your own birthday cake. The look on other parents' faces are worth it.

-Blast

I'd love to see a list of these rules.

Excellent! I know that the kids loved it.

Great job! I wish I could take my kids some place like this - they'd love it!





In my house, we celebrate Hanukkah. This year, I handed my four year old a lit candle and let him light all the others. My wife nearly had a heart attack, but knew enough to keep her mouth shut. She admitted to me later that she almost grabbed the candle away from him, but decided to trust that I knew what I was doing in giving it to him. Thankfully, it turned out OK and my son was immensely proud. . .