I LOVE teaching camp crafts! As a pyro myself, it is natural that I would want to hang out in the woods all day and teach girls to “play with fire” (as I like to tell people). The highlight of my summer last year was our first ever fire building competition which the girls will get to enjoy again this summer. Any activity with fire I very much enjoy, whether that be bonfires on the beach (with an occasional s’mores snack) or Council Fire that we have every Sunday night.

As a camp crafts counselor, the woods is my domain. I feel absolutely blessed to be able to teach my activity in such a beautiful pine forest. We learn how to build fires, set up tents, tie knots and learn a variety of other camping skills. It absolutely warms my heart to see girls of all ages building beautiful fires.

This past week, I offered an afternoon activity of fire building. We had lots of fun collecting our tinder, kindling and fuel and building teepee and lean-to fires. Every Kohahna girl was able to successfully build, light and feed their own fire. And there were some awesome fires! Lots of one match fires as well.

I also was able to spend time helping Breezeway prepare for their overnight. After a short game of “Hug a Tree” and a review of the basics of low-impact camping, we had our own fire building competition between those born in 1992 and those in ’91 and ’93. Needless to say, two incredible fires were built.

Any time I get to play in the pine forest is an absolute treat. Teaching girls how to build fires and become better woodswomen is thrilling and getting to outside in nature all day is an absolute treat. Clark often asks us, “Does it get any better than this?” Well, with my activity, I’d have to say, “Absolutely not!”