ATTABOY Climberslacker,

In every group I teach I always have a few kids that have no problem lighting matches or a fire and are toasting marshmellows before you know it. You can quickly tell which kids have had exposure to outdoor activities and who have not. But with hands-on direction within a short time even the inexperienced ones get quite good at lighting fires.

I sometimes worry or have people comment that teaching kids to light a fire is only encouraging them to "play with fire". I do not know what the correct answer is here. My friends and I were all involved in Scouting when I was young and were required to carry matches (also knives) and light fires; we never played with it or burnt our houses down. Fire was just like a tool and you were still responsible for your actions when you used it.

Good to hear that you are getting lots of outdoor practice Climbslacker, it does not make you "crazy", just an experienced member of this Forum.

Mike