Tonight was our district camp fire.
I, however, thought it was a leaders only affair so didn’t invite any of our Scouts…
Enjoyed two hours of singing and skits. Our camp fire leader was an older Explorer Scout.
I was invited to do some songs - I picked Down In The Jungle and BP Spirit - and I learnt a bunch more songs.
Had a shower and still have a faint whiff of smoke!
@hischeekiness it’s not something I’ve come across before either.
Apparently it’s something that used to happen, but hasn’t happened for at least the last two years.
Some of the leaders are hoping to bring it back, which is great! I love district events.
@forquare I would worry about turnout for a campfire-only event. I get the impression the performance campfires, don’t appeal to the young folk. We described it to our dorm at the camp and many weren’t interested in going based on the description we gave them. I vaguely recall most/all hadn’t experienced one of them, they were only interested in food, & there wasn’t going to be any.
So I usually don’t emphasise the performance campfire elements, or songs at any other time, no advance warning.
It’s not very cool, but I find most YP have fun if they experience it.
I’ve also found a rough correlation between those that sing often will be happier to join in more immediately than those who don’t sing regularly.
Down here, YP that go to Welsh medium schools tend to happier to sing.
Growing up CofE school kids were the same.
If I find a group of YP that don’t like singing/campfires I’ve found there to be a good chance that their leader doesn’t like/enjoy them.
Ben Lavery-Griffiths
CheekyMcB