Meeting Idea – Fire-Building Relay Competition
Scout Meeting Plan: Fire Building Relay Competition
Theme: Fire Building and Outdoor Skills
Age Group: Scouts
Duration: 75–90 minutes
Objective: Practise safe fire building techniques, teamwork, and communication through a relay-style competition
Opening (10 minutes)
- Opening ceremony or flag break
- Scout Promise or Law
- Introduction to the purpose of the activity and expected behaviour
- Detailed safety briefing:
- Fire safety circle and boundaries
- Proper clothing and hair safety
- Fire ban check and emergency procedures
Fire Building Skills Review (15 minutes)
Leader-led demonstration and discussion:
- Fire triangle: heat, fuel, and oxygen
- Types of fire lays (teepee, log cabin)
- Tinder, kindling, and fuel selection
- Safe use of matches or fire starters
- Keeping fires small and controlled
No fires are lit during this portion.
Relay Competition Setup (10 minutes)
- Divide scouts into patrols
- Assign each patrol a fire pit or fire pan
- Provide identical sets of materials to each patrol
- Review competition rules and scoring criteria
Fire Building Relay Competition (25–30 minutes)
Relay Format Example:
Each patrol member completes one task before tagging the next scout:
- Prepare the fire base and lay out tinder
- Add kindling in the correct structure
- Add fuel and check airflow
- Safely light the fire under supervision
Fires must be kept small and controlled at all times.
Judging Criteria:
- Safety practices followed
- Correct fire lay structure
- Team communication
- Successful ignition
Speed should be secondary to safety and technique.
Fire Management and Extinguishing (10–15 minutes)
- Demonstrate how to safely maintain a small fire
- Proper extinguishing using water, stirring, and checking for heat
- Leave No Trace fire practices
All fires must be fully extinguished before moving on.
Reflection and Debrief (10 minutes)
Group discussion:
- What worked well for your patrol?
- What challenges did you face?
- How would you improve your fire-building process next time?
Closing (5 minutes)
- Announcements and reminders
- Scout closing or friendship circle
Materials Needed
- Fire pits or fire pans
- Matches or fire starters
- Water buckets and shovels
- Tinder, kindling, and fuel
- Heat-resistant gloves
Leader Notes
- Strictly follow local fire regulations
- Cancel or adapt the activity if fire conditions are unsafe
- Keep leader-to-scout ratios appropriate for fire activities
- Consider a no-flame relay if fire bans are in effect
Variations
- No-flame relay using fire lay models
- Winter fire building challenge
- Fire lighting using alternative ignition methods
