Campfire Tricks

Perhaps the image of a campfire conjures up memories of s'mores and sing-alongs, camping under the stars or smoky, mouth-watering meals cooked over the open flame. Learn a few tricks to having a successful campfire every time, whether you are in the woods or your own back yard. Basic supplies are readily available, so you can always be prepared to build the best campfire yet.

  1. Fire Starter

    • Matches are an easy-to-find fire starter.

      Have a dependable fire starter. You can purchase long fireplace matches that will help reach into the center of the fire and yield a longer burning time. Waterproof and windproof matches are also available, and simplify igniting a fire out in the elements. Flint and steel are classic fire starters that are weatherproof and long lasting. Magnifying glasses, a clear, plastic bag of water used as a magnifying lens or even a piece of ice can be used to redirect sunlight to a focal point and start a flame. Backpackers coat cotton balls with petroleum jelly to use as long-burning, lightweight fire starters.

    Structure

    • The tepee structure is the simplest to start.

      The simplest campfire structure to build and light is the tepee fire. Lay a small pile of tinder on the ground, including dry grass, shavings or pine needles, and prop up a few sticks around it, forming a tepee. Push the ends of the sticks into the ground to keep them secure. Light the fire, and continue to lay sticks on the tepee structure. Begin with small twigs and build up to larger pieces of fuel wood. After the wood collapses onto itself while burning, you can stack larger pieces on top in a log-cabin shape.

    Cooking

    • Kids love roasting marshmallows with a stick.

      The real trick to campfire cooking is making delicious food without ruining it. Instead of roasting food with a stick or on a traditional grill, try cooking with heavy duty aluminum foil. Vegetarians and meat-eaters alike will enjoy the simple ease of foil cooking. Combine meat, vegetables and your favorite seasonings on top of a large piece of foil and seal it tight in a pouch. Add some butter or olive oil, if you like, to keep the food moist. Make individual pouches for each camper. Place the foil packet near the heat of the fire, but not directly in the flames, and let it cook until done.

    Magic Tricks

    • Toss in copper chloride to make a blue flame in your campfire.

      Add a little extra pizazz to your campfire with a few different chemical tricks. After finishing all cooking, toss in a small amount of copper chloride for a blue flame or copper sulfate (tree root killer) to yield a green flame. Throwing in some table salt will change the flame to orange and Epsom salts will make a white flame. Adding a sprinkle of sugar will create tiny sparks, and flour makes a flash flame. For longer-lasting color, melt some candle wax and mix it with a small amount of chemical in a paper cup. Peel off the sides of the paper cup and put it into the hottest part of the campfire for a long, colorful flame.