This is the first part of planning the fire. The program is the back bone of the entire thing. This is where you set the mood for the fire and decide what kind of skits and songs you want. Some of scouting's best moments are captured at a campfire. Every fire I have been to or put on had had a different effect on me and the participants. Some fires were very boring, some were hysterical or energetic, and other were serious.

Before anything else, I would like to remind you that there are many different styles of fires. There is the standard skit & song fire that is very common. There is the Scouting Values fire which is extremely serious and it is an opportunity for scouts to stand up and say what they wish. There can be a historical fire where actors dress up and act out an event, usually something about the area. You could also have a story campfire where people get up and tell ghost stories...

The program idea on this page is for the skit & song style of fire which is the most universal. You first start by getting all the skits and songs from the people that are doing them. Write them down! Put them into order from the most energetic to the least. This type of campfirefire usually starts with lots of energy and dies down with the fire. The lighting section contains ideas for starting your fires. After the fire is lit, the program begins. The best way to start it off is to have a loud and energetic song that requires group participation. This gets the crowd excited and also makes some time to take down anything that was used for the lighting.

Then have you first skit ready to go. If you are planning to have the crowd preform skits or songs, have the MC call out who is next and who is on deck so that is runs smoother and it also allows time for the next group to prepare.

The ideal program has a song, a skit, then a cheer. I find that doesn't work. Mix it up and have two skits, a song, a skit, cheer, two songs... Also, don't forget to add in run-ons. Run-ons should be done whenever appropriate. Don't interrupt a skit unless you have asked. Do them between skits and songs.

When you get towards the endof the program your fire should be dying down and the tone of the skits should be melowing out with it. This is a good time to put in a story. Usually one of the adults will have something they can tell. After the story have everyone stand up and make a circle around the fire (if this is possible) and sing Scout Vespers. Everyone should be calm and ready for bed.

That is just an idea to help plan it. The best thing is to make sure you even have a plan. Pick someone that is enthusiastic to be your MC. Everything should turn out all right.