I have 3 kids who love to go camping. My 9 year old son has been bugging me lately to teach him to make a fire without matches. My other two, both girls, were interested as well. So we headed out back with just what was in my pocket and some extra cotton balls. I spent about 15 minutes talking about simple survival with them: rule of 3's, importance or fire, shelter, water, and safety. We also talked about what to do if they do get separated or lost: Hug-a-tree and blow that whistle 3 times in a row, many times. They seemed to grasp it and were having fun at the same time. When ever we go out they have a necklace that has a dog tag and a whistle on it. I will add a pocket light at some point.

Anyway, back to the fire. I had them gather up small tinder and little branches. We found a log that the bark pulled off easily, not sure what type it was was. The bark shredded nicely and provided most of the tinder. I pulled out my key chain and took off the BSA Hot Spark and out came my Fallkniven F1.

Here is my fire kit and our pile of tinder:



Here is my son's first attempt to light the pile of tinder:



The pile of tinder was not catching his small sparks so I added a regular cotton ball.



On his first attempt to light that he got it!



Each one of my kids, were able to light the cotton balls with out a problem. OK so my 4 year old, needed a little help holding the knife and the ferro rod, but she seemed happy to see a fire! I was able to light the shredded bark without the aid of a cotton ball on the first attempt. For it's size the BSA Hot Spark does a great job, and it can be with you always. I have carried the one we used on my key chain (un-protected) for about 3 years. The Fallkniven F1 throws some mean sparks and is a great out doors knife.

Then I demonstrated how to batton the F1 and get dry wood with just a knife. Let me say that the F1 was great for battoning small branches and takes a beating. They had seen me do this with a hatchet but were amazed that it could be done with a knife. My son is now the official camp firewood splitter.



My 7 year daughter even wanted to give it a try. Notice her survival attire (so we have some things to work on.)



All in all, we had a great time and can't wait to go camping in a few weeks to try our our new skills. God has blessed me with kids who would rather be outdoors than watching TV! I have lots to teach them and they are eager to learn. I couldn't ask for anything more.

Ready

Good job getting your kids involved; I enjoyed your images.

Ready,

I have a similar situation; I have 4 sons. They are 21, 14, and 11 year old twins. The oldest is an Eagle Scout and an engineering student at ASU. The 14 year old is a Life Scout. The twins have just crossed over to Boy Scouts. The three youngest are very interested in camping and outdoor skills.

I started with Coghlan’s Emergency Tinder and BSA Hot Sparks. They got Leatherman P4s and Cold Steel Voyagers for Christmas a few years ago. If they are not headed to school they do not like to leave home without a knife. We then moved on to scraped fatwood. We are now trying pine that has been shaved to thin strips and starting them with a ferro rod. We have switched to the County Comm Metal Match. I have pulled the ferro rod out of a Strike Force. For about $12.00 it is the best deal in ferro rods I have found.

One of the twins did a school science experiment on PJ cotton balls. The test was to see how long they burn. It was plain, surface coat, and saturated.

I also had my boys split some store bought firewood with a fixed blade. We used a Cold Steel Master Hunter, a Mora, a Cold Steel SRK, a Cold Steel True Flight Thrower, and a Cold Steel Trail Hawk. They all worked well except the Trail Hawk.

Its great to see parents teaching their childern important skills.

Thanks for all the nice comments everyone!

I too, wish more parents would get involved with their kids. My father in law spends time with my kds as well and calls it teaching them "life lessons"

I am blessed that they enjoy the outdoors as much as I do, and can't wait for them to get a little older to do more serious survival skills. Each time we go camping we spend a little bit of time doing this.

Ready

There's a ton of stuff they can learn right now, you don't have to wait. They are at the age when they absorb stuff without even trying. Unless it's too physically taxing, they can probably learn it now... and retain it.

Good job! <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Sue

My son is 3 (actually about 2 3/4) and he's already learning the outdoor essential skills for his age group. He picks up sticks and has several methods of destroying them. Making kindling? He is also becoming very proficient at digging up rocks out of the dirt and throwing them in the streams, lakes, and ponds along our trails. That's his favorite outdoor activity at the moment. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Seriously though even at his age I see him learning very basic but important woodsman's skills. He can walk through the brush and not trip over roots, he can avoid plants with thorns, etc. Lots of basic stuff that old folks (older than 3) probably take for granted. Okay so he hasn't mastered the hand drill or shelter building, but I think he sets the example that it's never really too soon. I started him in the woods when he could barely walk and it has been a very positive experience for both of us.

If I understand correctly, "batoning" consists in splitting wood, driving a knife into a piece of wood by holding it firmly with one hand, and hitting the edge of the knife with another piece of wood?

You are correct.

As SgtMikeRet pointed out to me (on another forum) that the blade needs to remain parallel to the ground, so as to no put undue stress on the blade.

Ready

You are correct.

As SgtMike88Ret pointed out to me (on another forum) that the blade needs to remain parallel to the ground, so as to no put undue stress on the blade.

Ready