I heard recently of a rather telling incident at a family barbecue. Some visiting school-age children displayed amazement at the sight of the fire. The reason, it seemed, was that this was the first open fire they had seen. I hope that this does not turn out to be a one-off experience for these children, rather that they will have many further opportunities to enjoy the pleasure and comfort of an outdoor fire, especially a campfire.
A campfire – or most open fires for that matter – has a unique appeal. It is easy to be mesmerised by a campfire’s dancing colours – yellow, orange, red, blue, violet and even green at times; and by its ever changing character – from energetically youthful flames to glowing and mellowing coals. And then there is the fun of tending the fire – adding a stick or two to fading coals and watching with satisfaction as flames return.
Gazing at the dancing flames or the glowing coals of a campfire is a special delight. For me, it is one of the highlights of a bushwalk, a reward for a day well spent. With my tent up, sleeping gear organised, the meal cooked, eaten and enjoyed, and the washing up done, I am ready to fall under the campfire’s spell.
While the fire is warming my body, its yellow-red glow is quietly increasing the level of melatonin in my brain and readying me for sleep. Drowsiness descends and I become increasingly contemplative as my mind switches to free-wheeling and reverie mode. A campfire enjoyed alone is one thing, but a campfire shared is something else again. A communal fire has a remarkable socialising power. As well as providing an attractive physical space of warmth and light, it also creates a space for reflection and conversation. As notable Canadian outdoor skills teacher, Kevin Callan, says
Campfires do give us a great sense of community. Whether there are two or ten people circling it, the ones involved in this simple act are able to connect and discuss issues of the world more easily than at a coffee shop or sitting on a bar stool back home.
Apart from bringing people together, a campfire encourages conversation because it is a “primal” experience. In a bush or forest setting especially, it takes us back psychologically (at least part way) to the natural world of our ancestors. The communal fire was an integral and key part of that world. This is probably why we innately associate a shared fire with kinship and security. Around a campfire we feel that little bit more “at home” with others. Rapport seems to come easier – a fact that has not been lost on organisers of outdoor therapy and rehabilitation programs.
Where children are concerned, campfires are winners. Lighting and tending a fire are usually tasks they embrace with enormous pleasure and enthusiasm. Add some marshmallow toasting or chocolate banana cooking and their joy is complete.
And there are ways of giving children and ourselves campfire experiences without having to be on an actual camp. There may be suitable spots (i.e., with a built or designated fireplace) near you where a couple of hours can be spent having a “picnic tea” plus campfire, for example. A call to local government offices in your region might turn up sites as well as guidance concerning regulations and restrictions that might apply. You can even consider having campfires in your own back garden or on your own patio. All you need is a suitable container to serve as a fire-bowl. An old wok would serve the purpose, for example. You will find directions for making a simple fire-bowl using a planter box at this website. A fire-pit or bowl could always be built as a more substantial and attractive landscape features. Here are a couple of examples to inspire you. I think I should add “have an outdoor fireplace” to the list of easy ways for connecting with nature that I provided in a previous post (Getting together with nature is “dead easy”).
A group of us from work had a weekend away recently, intended as an escape from all the busy-ness! Our one prerequisite for the house we rented was that it had to have an open fire. We arrived on the Friday night after work and spent the evening unwinding in front of the fire. Great conversation combined with moments of simply watching the flames and relaxing. Such bliss!
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Bek, I am delighted but not surprised that the open fire added such pleasure to your weekend.
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