The 3 match challenge: The Cave Dwellers learn about fire at N. Lake Samish 1/6/18

Change…or, more accurately, changes. This post is about changes. 

I don’t need to tell you that your Explorers are on the cusp of significant personal changes as they enter adolescence. My personal experience guiding 3 daughters through adolescence has taught me that, despite having read many articles and a book or two, when she or he acts like the kid in the Zits comic, it’s difficult to see past your child’s immediate behavior to the underlying changes he is navigating. So, I hope you’ll pardon my presumption as I offer another quick review of adolescence in this article. 

When Tim and I plan Cave Dweller outings, we try to remain aware of the possibilities this age offers and stretch their edge (motto) in ways both fun and in their learning zone. This year, that has meant getting away from the comfy confines of close-in parks to learn and practice wilderness travel skills. To that end, we’ve used topographical maps and a compass to find our way in the north Chuckanuts; we’ve used backcountry stoves to make tea and hot chocolate; we’ve harvested water and discussed how to purify it for safe consumption.

And last Saturday, with a capable assist from our Explorers Mentor's Apprentice (EMA) Lucas,

the Cave Dwellers started to learn about building and managing fires safely. 

After a heart-pumping ascent from the N. Lake Samish trailhead, we settled in among second-growth forest to learn about fires, play some games, and share hot chocolate. Mentor Tim rocked it with a thoughtful explanation of fire-starting tools (matches, flint-and-steel, Ferrocerium rod, lighter and more), gathering fuel to burn and cautions about safety. He then split the group into teams and challenged them to collect fuel for the “3-match challenge”.

After searching for dry kindling for 15 minutes, each group attempted, with 3 matches, to start a small fire. Given the very damp conditions, no one was surprised that a burning match was the biggest flame for each group. Then Tim set his kindling bundle, which he had carefully dried inside his coat since harvesting it on the hike up the hill, aflame. Lesson learned - in the wilderness, careful forethought can be the difference between a warm fire and a cold damp experience!

We’ll incorporate these skills into future Cave Dweller outings as a way to help your Explorers internalize learnings such as this one for their own hiking/camping/backpacking adventures.

We next head up to Mt. Baker to build snow caves (Sunday, Jan. 29). Look for the usual reminder in the preceding week. In the meantime, check out the rest of the photos from Saturday’s outing.