8 yr old wet weather firestarting practice...

bladz

bladz

Joined
Feb 12, 2008
Messages
432
My son and I had the day free because of all the rain we've had. Can't have baseball practice when the fields are under water. We decided that since it's rained so much we would hike out to our favorite waterfall and see it at peak flow.
Falls from above
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Falls from below
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We hiked along the creek looking for some dry tinder and we found a small fatwood stump..
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We cut a few pieces off to take with.
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My son wanted to make the fire by himself so he started gathering some small sticks. We looked around and he found a good spot to set up. He used his pocket knife to shave some small pieces of the fatwood to put on his cotton ball. Here he is scraping a bit of mag...
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It's very wet because we are right by the creek and it is misting. Everything is soaked because of the 2-3 inches that fell last night. It took him a few minues and several striks, but he finally got a flame.
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Stoking the fire and boiling some water for our snack..
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Here's the prize. Hot chocolate and MRE wheat bread..
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It's great, I don't have to do much any more when we go out...... Time for us to watch the DVR'd Survivorman marathon...
 
:thumbup:

It's always great to see a parent take an active role in their childrens outdoor education.



Kind regards
Mick
 
Good looking boy you got there :thumbup: thats great that he wanted to start the fire by himself - did a nice job.

Good of you to pass those skills on.
 
I could not see the picture of the fatwood stump properly - and it looked like you just were cutting a standing tree. I was like WTF!? ;)

Then I read... Looks like you had a great day. It is cool passing down stuff you know how to do to your kids.

BTW - what kind of pack is your son wearing?

TF
 
Cute kid, glad to see he is out enjoying himself, and has some mad skillz!:thumbup:

Good job Dad!:thumbup::thumbup:
 
Talfuchre said:
I could not see the picture of the fatwood stump properly - and it looked like you just were cutting a standing tree. I was like WTF!? ;)

Then I read... Looks like you had a great day. It is cool passing down stuff you know how to do to your kids.

BTW - what kind of pack is your son wearing?
TF
Click to expand...

Oh no, we teach conservation above most else. He knows not to damage living trees, unless of course it was required in a real survival situation.. He hates to see graffiti/carvings on trees and trash on the trail.

The pack is a Camelbak Mini Mule. 50oz bladder with enough room for his survival kit, snacks, and a rain jacket.
 
Excellent outing!

I can't wait for the weather to warm up so my lil girl will want to join me!
 
Looks like you both had a great time .... good to see young ones gaining skills!
 
Rock on, Dad :) My 9-year old girl has little patience for bad weather, but she's chompin' at the bit to go camping and fishing as soon as it warms up a bit.
 
James_Terrio said:
Rock on, Dad :) My 9-year old girl has little patience for bad weather, but she's chompin' at the bit to go camping and fishing as soon as it warms up a bit.
Click to expand...

Spend as much time with her now as you can, her desire for outdoor life my not last... My 13 year old who used to do everything with me decided she wanted to be a girl... Forunately for me, my son came along. She still enjoys family camping(in the camper), where my son and I much prefer the primative life..
 
Nice point that you taught your son about conservation while out. I saw that you mentioned only taking enough fatwood for your needs; and left the tree stump where your son now knows it is. It would be nice to hike him back every so often to get some more, and keep reminding him that it's there if he needs it, but not if he takes it all at once. What good would it all do him if it were at the house while he was in the woods trying to light a fire, I'd teach him. Young minds in training breed the best future woodsman IME.
 
bladz said:
Spend as much time with her now as you can, her desire for outdoor life my not last...
Click to expand...

Heck yes! We spend as much time together as we can, whether it's homework or cookin dinner or doin dishes or thumpin' around in the park... but I definitely want to keep instilling that love of nature in her, like my folks did for me.

I like to think this is called "parenting" :)
 
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