Colorful Campfire

This fire was at Lake Powell in Southern Utah/Northern Arizona.  All there was to burn on the vast shore line was sand and tumbleweeds.  The kids (the cousins) in this picture got stuck a few times gathering up the tumbleweeds, but they make a tremendous blaze.  For fires on a smaller scale, there are different ways to add color and sparkle.  You can toss a pinch of sugar into the fire for a crazy effect. A bit of flour or powdered creamer will add pizzaz to a campfire program or story.  There are so many ideas that can be found online.  

For adding fun to the fire, check out these links:  

http://guidezone.e-guiding.com/bvfmagic.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trzDg-ZqFM0 
http://www.campfiredude.com/

I love quiet moments around a campfire, listening to the crackle, with the cool air and night sounds at my back.  I love to talk and sing with family and friends and cook something on a stick; a marshmallow, or starburst or even just the stick.  But I am also aware of the destructive power of fire if it is not respected.  

Our neighborhood won't recover for many years from the devastation caused by a wild fire that blew through our little canyon two years ago. Homes were gone in a few minutes and in a few hours 66 homes were destroyed.  Even the cement foundations were cooked into dust.  Metal was melted into puddles.  There were some narrow escapes, but it was a miracle that no one died.  Many animals died.  

The smell was incredible as the trucks loaded with remains drove down the road to dispose of horses, goats, cats and dogs.  I suspect there were wild animals too.  We have many deer that wander through the yard.  Our house was spared due to a change in wind direction.  Others were saved by firefighters.  It was hard to feel happy that our house was still standing when so many neighbors were homeless.  

 So love the fire and always use caution.  

This picture is just one section of the fire. It looks like a burned hillside, but there used to be homes.  Many have been rebuilt now but the hillside is still burned sticks that used to be cedars and junipers.

Picture This

Picture This

Supplies: Paper and Pencils (with working erasers is a plus), Paper cutter, Stapler.

Ages:  From old enough to read and write to ancient.

Number of Players: 6-16.  You can play with more or less, but the more players, the longer the game.  8-12 are ideal.  You can break into smaller groups if you've got a large crowd.

Prep: Cut typing paper into 4th s or something comparable.  Cut plenty.  Your are making booklets for each player.  If 10 are playing you need to cut 25 sheets of typing paper into 4th s, or 100 paper squares total.  Small note pads would work.

Everyone sits around a table.  Have each player count enough papers to equal the number of people playing.  For example: 10 players = 10 sheets of paper.  Each person stacks their papers neatly, staples their booklet in the top left corner and writes their name on the top right corner.

Playing the game: As fun as putting the booklets together was, the real fun is about to start.  Everyone thinks up a phrase, saying, quote, or jingle.  It needs to be one short sentence.  This can be the hard part. Just think of the lyrics to a song or something, nursery rhymes are always good.  

Everyone then writes the phrase on the front page.

Players pass their booklet to the player to the right. 

Players read the phrase that was passed to them, flip that page over to the back of the booklet so no one can see it, and draw a picture of that phrase.  It might help to set a time limit on the picture drawing, but when everyone is ready, pass booklets to the right.

Players look at the picture on the newly passed booklet, flip the page and write a phrase that you think would match that picture.  Pass the booklet to the right.

Repeat the process until the booklets have made it back to the starting spot. 

Players then share their booklet with the rest of the players.  Pick someone to start.  They read the phrase, then show the picture that was drawn to illustrate it.  When they have finished sharing their booklet another player will share, until all players have a turn.  You will find that the original phrase will take twists and turns and misinterpretations. It is a visual version of the "Telephone" game, but appeals to all ages and is bound to have laughs galore.