A campfire program primarily for Scouting leaders (youth or adult), parents, older Scouts. It can be modified to fit nearly any occasion, however- even made inot an indoor program if needed. Please feel free to modify or customize it to fit your needs. (Actions are indicated in parenthesis).
YIS,
Mark Adkins
Pack 3
Omaha NE
Mid-America Council
Props:
A small candle, match or twig to burn (possibly one for everyone in the teaching group)
A well- burning campfire
Other people to mime the various spoken parts, if desired
(Leader walks on stage, holding a small burning candle, long match or burning twig. He cups it carefully in his hand as he walks. Upon reaching center stage, he ever-so-carefully removes his hand and holds the small flame, staring at it intently. He begins to speak in an awed stage whisper)
This... is a newly lit Scout Spirit. It may be the spirit of a new Tiger Cub, a new Cub Scout or Webelos, maybe that of a new Boy Scout or even an Explorer. His age, his circumstances do not matter. All that is important at this point is that he has a newly sparked Scout Spirit.
At this stage, this new Spirit is still tender, delicate. It needs to be nourished, cherished, protected from the harsh winds of the world, lest it be snuffed, just like this (Leader shakes the candle out, or puffs on it just enough to extinguish it.)
It is ever so easy to quench a new spirit- all it takes is a mocking word from a peer or elder, a poorly-planned event, a bit of hazing from the older Scouts, a lack of support at home or school. Even something as minor as a lack of deserved recognition during a meeting can kill the spark.
Sometimes, we can reignite the Spirit (Leader re-lights candle with a match or lighter), and sometimes we cannot. It is usually a lot better to keep it from going out than to risk loosing it forever.
As leaders (or whatever the group is), it is our job to give this new little Scout Spirit a fighting chance to grow, to develop into something bigger, brighter (Leader begins to step aside, gesturing to campfire). Something that can warm us, enlighten us. Something that can withstand the wind and storms of the world better. Something that can grow and mature on its own.
When a Scout Spirit reaches this point in its development, it will grow and spread- it is Spirits like this that sparked this little Spirit (holding candle out again). So how do you get from this (gesturing at candle) to this (gesturing to campfire)?
First, we, as leaders (or whatever), need to work together to protect the small flame from the winds. In fact, we can work with the worst of the winds and try to bring them around to working with us. It will take all of us, and more, to provide a good windscreen, since the attacks can come from any direction.
Next, we can bring several of these small flames together in a safe, protected place. Together, they will be brighter, stronger, hotter than any one alone. (If desired, have several others come up, bringing their own candles)
We can feed the flames. We all know that a key to firebuilding is feeding the fire with the right fuel, at the right time, at the right speed. Teaching our new Spirits new skills, and helping them try new things, and providing new opportunities to learn is the fuel a new Spirit thrives on, but we have to make sure that we neither smother nor starve the tender Spirit.
Finally, we can use it. A fire burning without purpose is a threat, a danger that can run away doing untold damage. By giving our Scout Spirits direction and purpose, we can direct their growth and development into a bonfire that we can be warmed by,
One that will light even more Scout Spirits as it burns.
(During the last few paragraphs, an aide may be passing out small candles to the crowd. The aide should then lead everyone up to light their candle and stand in a circle around the fire. This should lead into a couple closing songs and a prayer. The tone at the end can be either upbeat and empowering, or respectful and solemn, depending on the Leader's voice tones and the mood of the occasion.)
