Before the meeting:

1. Find an appropriate location for the fire, in an already established fire ring.
2. Provide enough time to have fires built, lit, and completely burn out.
3. Check the Fire Danger Rating for the day of the activity to ensure the rating is Green / Low.
4. Check that open fires are permitted in the area you are conducting the activity.

During the meeting:

1. Explain to Cub Scouts that they will be learning how to start a fire by building the teepee method.
2. Explain to the Cub Scouts that there are three things that are needed to start and keep a fire going.
   • Fuel – Fire needs something to burn but it is best for it to start with a small fuel called tinder. Tinder is things like paper, dried leaves, very small sticks, and even dryer lint can be used as tinder. Over the tinder you place kindling. Kindling are small dry sticks no thicker than your pinky finger. Over the kindling, you place fuel that is dry wood that is larger than kindling but no larger than the width of your wrist. Placing too much fuel on a fire will put the fire out so you must gather all the fuel you need before starting the fire and slowly add to it as the fire grows.
   • Air – Fire needs air, provide space between fuel to allow air to flow.
   • Spark – To get started the fire needs a spark or extreme heat. We can achieve this with a match.
   • To put out a fire all you have to do is remove one of these three things. The fire will die out when there is no more fuel to burn. The fire will also die out if we take away air, we can do this by using water. The fire will not get started without the spark.
3. Ask Cub Scouts to gather all the tinder, kindling and fuel wood. Keep the amount of fuel low as time permits, you want the fire to burn out completely.
4. Have Cub Scouts build a tepee out of kindling in the fire ring and put some tinder inside it. Remind them to have some fuel wood nearby to add when the kindling is burning.
5. Tell Cub Scouts to light the tinder using a match and blow or fan gently, if necessary, to supply oxygen to the fire.
6. As the kindling burns and with the help of an adult, have Cub Scouts add the fuel wood.
7. Allow the fire to burn completely out with all the fuel wood turned to ash. Spread the ash out around the fire pit with the shovel.
8. Now the fire is ready to extinguish. Start with a bucket of water and scoop a handful of water onto the ash. There will be a lot of steam so keep a safe distance and do not pour the water directly above the fire.
9. Keep splashing water onto the smoldering ash until it no longer creates steam.
10. Slowly pour some water onto the ash and mix it around with the shovel.
11. Continue to add water and mix the ash until the fire pit is completely cold.
12. Remind Cub Scouts that they should never build a fire without adult supervision and that they should keep fires small enough for what they need and to give time for the fire to burn out.