I always enjoy sharing my passion with others and having the fathers accompany these young boys was a throw-back to home-schooling my own sons. The boys ranged from approximately 12-8 years old and holding a class for two and a half hours went quite well with participation by all. The class was joined by some TIP staff and one of their fathers so it spanned several generations.

After discussing the priorities of survival I began to construct a campfire showing the progression of tinder-to-kindling-to-fuel. As I batoned some wood to create kindling the boys were able to practice using ferro rods to light cattail fluff. After some coals were established I used two cans of different sizes to clam-shell over a yam and let it bake. Then I passed around some edible flora that I had collected earlier in the morning for hands-on inspection and tasting.

We spent some time learning different ways to create fire by using solar, electrical, and percussion methods. Everyone had a chance to try flint and steel firecraft and I demonstrated how to make “Quickie Charcloth” with which to catch a spark. We had numerous victories of making fire!

As the class was held in the late afternoon I was able to stay for dinner at the famous “Nacho Mama” cafe which is the TIP dining area. The meals there are always great and varied. It was a great time with wonderful folks and made my father’s day weekend that much more special.

The day began with a tour led by Desere, the office manager of TIP. She has been there for eight years now and is a walking plethora of information. We as a group walked past many structures built throughout the years with differing materials and for different purposes usually with reclaimed materials or timber from the land. There is a saw mill on the premises that produces lumber, and on this particular day there was a separate volunteer crew led by Eustace Conway and Preston Roberts who were busy constructing a massive lumber storage building.

The focus of our group was the up-coming Families Learning Together (FLT) event being held on April 26th where folks can purchase tickets for a day to learn more about heritage skills and crafts. You can find more information and purchase tickets by visiting the TIP FaceBook EVENT PAGE or CONTACT them through their website.

The photo above shows the volunteers and interns as they gathered at “Nacho Mama’s” kitchen area where great food and fellowship was shared. I have been privileged to participate in various classes and demonstrations over the last several years and can attest to the awesome events, opportunities and experiences available to visitors. I am planning to demonstrate both primitive and survival skills at FLT and would love to see you there.

After breakfast we began discussing survival basics such as the rule of 3s and survival priorities. Then we discussed edible plants, finding direction and shelters. Of course, we ended up with firecraft and we discussed the fire making categories of friction, percussion, optical and electrical. I used a broken headlamp to start a fire by the solar method. Then I showed how to use fine steel wool with a 9 volt battery to start a fire and everyone had a chance to try it for themselves. Then I showed how to use steel wool instead of charcloth to catch a spark using flint and steel, and in the end I demonstrated fire by friction using the bow and spindle method.

Recently I acquired some basswood and it is now my new best friend for fire by friction. In the last couple of weeks I’ve been able to guide several folks in accomplishing their first successful fire by friction by bow and spindle. It is such a delight to see the joy of their success. Such was the case this morning where 4 guys made their first bow and spindle fires and a young lad made his first flint and steel fire.

The program director, Matthew McNiel showed me a fire piston that he had made out of inexpensive hardware, so now it’s on my “to-do” list to accomplish. As we concluded our time, Matthew began to envision next year’s programs in which I may be able to participate. It was a great day with prospects of a great future.

I began to speak about fire as it relates to survival as well as the philosophy of it’s use… how “the White Man builds a fire and steps back from it” and how “the Indian builds a fire and hovers over it”. Being judicious with resources in a survival situation can be crucial. Next, I shared “Ken’s 5 fire categories” – friction, percussion, optical, electrical and chemical as the “ways” to make fire with various combinations or “means” to start a fire within these categories.

Having introduced these concepts I began to demonstrate some the these methods: reflective mirrors and refractive lens – solar; flint & steel using charcloth, then steel wool – percussion; steel wool and a 9 volt battery – electrical; bow & spindle – friction.

The girls were great – attentive and polite. I asked one volunteer among them who had a ferro-rod to come up and use it to ignite some cattail fluff. I received warm affirmations in the end which made the whole event a delightful experience.