Campfires are the highlight of every summer camp experience and the glow of a warm fire provides the perfect opportunity for kids to enjoy time-honored traditions like roasting marshmallows and telling ghost stories. Along with traditional campfire stories, science and history lessons can be learned that take on new meaning when taught outdoors. This season, arm your little camper with some fascinating campfire facts that they can share with their fellow campers.
1. Campfires reach extreme temperatures
While everyone knows that fire is hot, campers are often surprised by the extreme temperatures a campfire can reach. It only takes a few hours for a campfire to reach 900 degrees Fahrenheit, which is hot enough to melt lead.
2. The coals continue to burn underground
Many people bury their fire when they come to believe that it will put out the flames. However, the embers that remain below the ground can continue to burn. If they are near tree roots or other flammable materials, they can reignite and cause a forest fire. Coals can burn underground for a long time. In Australia, Burning Mountain contains underground coal that has been burning for more than 6,000 years.
3. Campfires have a long history
Evidence for what is believed to be the first known fire has been discovered in Swartkrans, South Africa. There, charred antelope bones suggest humans were cooking their meat over a fire for 1.9 million years. Interestingly, it appears that the dried grass and leaves were used as firewood instead of wood.
4. A campfire has many purposes
Although campfires tend to be seen as a gathering place for socializing, they serve multiple purposes. For example, a fire can be lit to indicate that help is needed when a person gets lost in the woods. It can also be used to dry clothes, deter wildlife, and burn trash when a trash can is not available.
5. Holland holds the record for the largest bonfire in the world
There are many different ways to build a campfire and some people pride themselves on building the best. The largest campfire in the world had a total volume of 151,288 cubic feet. It was lit on New Years Day 2014 and burned for a total of five days.
6. Campfires are color-coded
Those colorful, dancing flames are more than fun to watch as the colors can tell you a lot about the temperature of the fire. The red light emitted comes from the coldest parts of the fire, and the bluish-white flames indicate where the highest heat exists.
7. Most wildfires are due to human error
Humans start about nine out of ten wildfires, and bonfires are the biggest culprits. For this reason, it is best to use existing fire rings when available and always make sure the fire is completely extinguished before leaving the site.
Using a campfire for warmth, food, and survival is a tradition that dates back to the earliest humans. Today, the kids at summer camp can also gather around the campfire to enjoy a sense of camaraderie as they sing songs and tell stories. With these trivia in your pocket, your child will be the star of the next campfire gathering.
