Creating Campfires

Creating Campfires


Section 1 - All About Campfires
Section 2 - Pre-Made Campfire Ideas

Section 1

New to Campfires?

If you grew up with Guiding, you've probably been asked at some point along to way to lead a campfire, or have been a part of a structured campfire before. Maybe your leader's asked you to lead a campfire for the first time. No worries. If you've never lead campfire before, then here's a helpful guide to get you started.

Now, as Guides, we LOVE to sing, and campfire has traditionally been the place to meet for this type of  activity. Much like a story, campfires begin with an opening, then build to the climax, reach the climax, then fade to the closing and end. Using the correct terms, this is the structure for a campfire:

1. Opening Song
2. Buidling Songs
3. Middle Songs
4. Closing Songs
5. Ending Song

Let's take a look at what type of songs go in each section.

Campfires usually begin with a slow, quiet song calling everyone together around the fire. We call this song the opening song. I don't believe I've ever attended a campfire where the opening song wasn't Fire's Burning, but if you want to choose something else, go right ahead! This is your fire! Just remember that opening songs usually call everyone together.

The next few songs are called building songs. Building songs lead up to the climax, so you start with a few slow, pretty songs, and gradually turn to more energetic, loud, silly songs. Some examples of common building songs are Land of the Silver Birch, It's a Small World, Lu-La, or one of the World Centre Songs.

Next are the Middle Songs. This is usually the  longest part of the campfire, because this section often contains songs everyone knows. They're usually loud, crazy, participation songs with actions or clapping. Favourite songs of your unit or group are usually sung in this section, they're the songs you sing all the time. Some examples of Middle Songs are If I were not a Girl Guide, 40 Days on an Iceberg, Poor Little Bug on the Wall, or Three Little Angels.

Once you're sung out and it's time to start wrapping things up, then the closing songs come in. Closing songs work like the Building Songs section, only in reverse. You start with loud songs and fade out to slow, quiet songs. Closing songs  typically are the songs that are about friendship and guiding values, or songs about the essense of Guiding itself like On My Honour. Some examples of Closing songs are One Tin Soldier, Softly Falls the Light of Day, Linger, Make New Friends, or Ira Congo.

Finally, when the coals begin to twinkle out and it's time to douse the fire, you sing the Ending Song. Usually the ending song is Taps, but really, you could sing any song of leaving, such as Say Why, or Go Well and Safely.

And that's you campfire! Campfires are wonderful places to come together and aren't too difficult to plan. Some tips for first time campfire leaders:

1. Create songbooks for everyone with all the songs you're going to sing in them. Not only can you teach the girls new songs (and remind yourself of the lyrics!) but you'll get greater participation as everyone will try to sing along.
2. Try and learn as best as you can the songs you're going to sing. It's easier to lead when you know what you're doing. It's awesome to learn new songs, but makes sure someone at campfire knows the actual version!
3. Keep in mind the age of the girls you're doing campfire with. If you're singing with younger girls, you'll want to reach the climax as soon as possible, and keep campfire short. Whereas, if you're working with older girls, you can take more time building up to the climax, and stretch the campfire over as much time as you have.

Good luck and have fun! :)

Section 2 - Pre-made Campfire Ideas by Branch

Sparks

Fire's Burning
Tall Trees
Join in The Game
Pink Pajamas
Sparks Jump Up!
Black Socks
The Banana Song
Pizza Hut
The Other Day...
Make New Friends
Taps or Go Well and Safely

Brownies

Fire's Burning
Tall Trees
Brownie Smile Song
Land of the Silver Birch
My Paddle
40 Days on an Iceberg
Pink Pajamas
Jelly Bean Song
Black Socks
My Dog Bean
The Window
Poor Little Bug on the Wall
The Other Day...
Everywhere Around the World
Make New Friends
Taps or Say Why

Guides

Fire's Burning
Guide Marching Song
Tall Trees
We Who have Come here
Lu-La
Land of the Silver Birch
My Paddle
It's a Small World
Barges
Guiders
My Ship Sailed from China
The Fishie Song
An Old Austrian
Three Little Angels
Three Little Girl Guides
If I were not a Girl Guide
My Dog Bean
Tzena
Make New Friends
One Tin Soldier
On My Honour
Linger
Say Why
Taps

Pathfinders/Rangers/Leaders

Fire's Burning
Tall Trees
We Who Have come Here
The World Song
Sangam
Pax Lodge Song
Pathfinders or Rangers
They Call it Canada
Land of the Silver Birch
My Paddle
Barges
Guiders
My Ship Sailed from China
Black Socks
Poor little Bug on the Wall
An Old Austrian
The Tree song
The Window
Humpty Dumpty
Three little Girl Guides
If I were not a Girl Guide
Once a Girl Guide went to camp
Everywhere we Go or Thunderation
Guide Marching Song
Quarter Master Store
Join in the Game
On the Loose
On My Honour
One Tin Soldier
Make New Friends
Linger
Softly Falls the Light of Day
Say Why
Taps