Firemaking
FIRE BY FRICTION: The benefits of fire are endless. It cooks our food, purifies our water, dries our clothes, keeps us company, shapes cookware and other tools. Many of the tasks in a survival situation could not be accomplished without fire. Today we depend on matches and lighters for fire. These modern devices are beyond the comprehension of most us. It's highly unlikely that we would be able to make them, even with the aid of our technology.

  So how do we make fire with out man made assistance? The skeptics often say sarcastically "are you going to rub two sticks together." Well, yes we are. Actually we will start with three sticks and a bow and move on to just two sticks in the more advanced lessons. No matches, lighters, flint, magnifying glasses, electric tricks, magnesium blocks etc. You will learn how to make fire using string that you make, a knife and ordinary sticks.

Activity: Learning how to make a fire using a bow drill set (rubbing three sticks together using a bow) You will learn, - How to build a tipi fire, - Basic carving, - Constructing of the apparatus, -Techniques and use of the bow drill on a pre-made set or one you make yourself. - Troubleshooting.

Age: 10 & up
Time: 1/2 - 1 day
Difficulty: Medium
Location: Anywhere fire is permitted
Physical Labor: High


Firemaking 2
Activity: Learning more advanced fire techniques like the hand drill method and how to make a bow drill set using only materials you have gathered. You will learn: How to identify trees and plants that you will need for your set -more tips and tricks for carving and your technique as well as carving a set using rocks instead of a knife.

Time: 1/2-1 day
Ages: 15 & up
Difficulty: High
Location: Semi-wild area
Physical Labor: High