One Match Fire Making

Rookie Storyteller:
Robert Saggers
Saggers & Associates
Quebec, Candada

Every fall in schoolyards, wood lots, or campgrounds around the country, you'll see groups of young boys in Boy Scout uniforms practicing fire making skills. One of the tests that new Scouts must pass is to light a fire using only one match.

You might ask why, especially in this day and age where BIC lighters, propane stoves, and lanterns are plentiful? Is this a skill that is needed today, and by extension, is Scouting still relevant in the 21^st century?

Listen closely as the Scoutmaster explains what the young Scouts must do, and watch closely as they go about putting into practice his teachings. You just might find out.

You'll see them first pick the right spot for their fires. It will be a protected area, sheltered from the wind. They'll then start gathering the materials; dry paper that they may have in their pockets or they see lying around, or dry birch bark. Next will come dead branches found at the bottom of cedar, spruce or pine trees. They are very dry, even when it is raining heavily. Finally, larger pieces of wood will be gathered.

Once all the materials are gathered, you'll see them breaking the wood and starting to build their fires. Paper or birch bark goes in the middle, then the kindling (small cedar/ spruce/ pine twigs) will be placed on top, and then the larger branches. In arranging the wood, care is taken to allow space for airflow. Remaining larger pieces will be kept on the side to be added once the fire has been started.        

The moment of truth has arrived for each Scout to light their fire using one match. Before doing so however, he makes sure there is no wind, and if there is, he'll rig up a little shelter. Next, he'll determine what piece of paper or birch bark he wants to light first. Then he strikes the match and lights the fire, kneeling close to the fire to blow a little to get the wood going. Then, he adds more twigs where the flame is and places large pieces of wood on top of the fire.

You'll finally see the smile of success on his face as he basks in the glow of the fire he just made - using only one match.

The Moral of the Story

1. To succeed at anything we need to plan...
   Whether it be lighting a fire with one match, or going for a job interview, or making an important presentation to a prospective customer.
2. We learn best when we are involved, i.e., learning by doing. If you are a leader follow this moral when training employees.
3. Lessons learned in childhood last a lifetime.  Do you use them at work?

©2002 Chief Storytelling Officer