There are three parts to a great campfire experience; sing, eat and tell stories. If you plan ahead for these three things, you’ll be much more assured of an amazing campfire experience.

camp fire chant

We’ve already talked a bit about how to have a successful campfire singing. You can read more about this part of the campfire in my other articles:

• Introduction to Singing Camp Songs
• Choosing the best songs for camping
• Get the most out of your campfire singing, and
• How to choose the best songs for camping

Don’t be fooled by the similarity of some of the above titles. Although some of the articles have similar titles, the content is different.

camp fire food

The most popular campfire food is the tube steak. Have you never heard of him? It is more commonly known as the hot dog; the wiener sausage, frank or salchichón. It has to be the easiest meal to cook at camp. All you need is a stick to put it on. It’s best if you can find a willow or other thin but strong stick. It is better if it is green; so it won’t catch fire so easily. Carve the tip so you can slide the hot dog in. Cook it over the fire. Some like it still pink and some like it darker. I know some people who like black!

Now all you need are some buns and seasonings. You can get by with just ketchup and mustard, but I also like mayonnaise and relish. You can also include chili, cheese, jalapeños and onions. A drink and some chips are a nice addition. You can get by without plates if you have to. If you are serving potato salad, cole slaw, pork and beans or something similar, then you will need plates.

A tradition for most American campfires is s’mores. S’mores is basically a baked marshmallow sandwich, with a piece of chocolate served between graham crackers. Cook the marshmallow in a roasting pan. when sticky and hot, put it on a graham cracker. On top of that, put a piece of chocolate, then put another graham cracker on top.

There are plenty of comfort foods besides s’mores that you can use. Chips, M&M’s, nuts, candy or chex mix are easy to make. In cooler weather, hot cider or hot chocolate fit the bill. Remember, however, that drinking beverages so close to bedtime will likely trigger a need to use the bathroom during the night. It is not the same as at home; you have to get out of a sleeping bag and find your way to the latrine or outhouse. It’s just something to keep in mind.

Campfire Stories

Tales is the third part of a good campfire. Growing up, whenever my dad’s family got together, my uncles would tell all kinds of stories about when they were kids. It was very entertaining. Of course, some of the stories were the same every year, but there were always some new ones that we had never heard before. One of my uncles is almost 90 years old and still has new stories to tell.

Family stories can be great, but you don’t always camp with the family. Even if you do, you may want to tell other stories. There are tons of campfire storybooks out there. I like Patrick McMannus stories. He is an author specializing in outdoor stories, hunting, fishing, and camping. They are usually quite funny.

Ghost stories and scary stories are good for campfires. Most young people like scary stories. If you have very young children, you should be careful; You don’t want them so scared, they can’t go to sleep.

Another route to take is the stories of history. If the area you are going to has a historical background, you can research and find stories about the area. My older brother is a history buff and is good at telling stories. One of my favorites is the John Colter story. He traveled with Lewis and Clark and is credited as the first white man to visit Yellowstone National Park.

You can also hire a good storyteller, if you know one. A friend of mine is very talented at making up funny stories. He’s told me stories around campfires a couple of times.

What kind of atmosphere do you want around your campfire? You may want to end with an inspiring thought or story, especially if it involves a church campout. You can find stories at the library, on the Internet, and in the books you own. If your minister, priest, or church leader is going to be there, you can ask them to speak last. You can add a nice touch.

Sometimes a good campfire experience will happen on its own without any planning. But most of the time, if you want a certain attitude, feeling, or spirit to be a part of your campfire, you have to plan for it.

Good luck with your campfire and may all your songs be happy!