Firecraft I: The Science of Fire

Date: Wednesday, October 28th Rain Date: Wednesday, November 4th Time: 1:00–3:00 PM Ages: 9+ Location: Pembroke, NH Fire has been one of humanity’s most important tools for thousands of years. But what does it actually take to build a fire, and how can we use it safely and responsibly in the wilderness? Join us in the woods for an afternoon of hands-on exploration as we discover the science and skills behind firecraft! We’ll begin by investigating the fire triangle and learning what a fire needs to ignite and continue burning. Then we’ll head into the forest to identify natural tinder, explore the differences between tinder, kindling, and fuel, and experiment with different fire-building techniques. Throughout the workshop, participants will: Discover the science of fire and the three elements necessary for combustion. Search for and identify natural tinder materials in the forest. Learn how to construct different fire lays Practice traditional flint and steel and modern ferro rod fire-starting techniques. Put their new knowledge to the test in a supervised fire-building challenge. Learn how to safely manage, extinguish, and leave no trace of a campfire. This workshop emphasizes experimentation, problem-solving, and practical wilderness skills. Participants will have opportunities to work independently and collaboratively as they discover what makes a successful fire. Looking for more? This is the first workshop in our Firecraft series! We’ll be offering Firecraft II: The Art of Firemaking in the future, where participants will explore primitive fire-starting techniques, including the bow drill, and assemble their own firemaking kits to take home. Firecraft I is designed as an introduction and will be a prerequisite for Firecraft II. Please note: This is an outdoor, drop-off workshop. Participants should dress appropriately for the weather and wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes. All fire-related activities will be closely supervised and are subject to weather conditions and local fire restrictions.