Campfire Ashes Tradition

Troop 439 Campfire Ashes

Scoutmaster Larry Ross and ASM David Reis were introduced to the tradition of campfire ashes in 2007 during the Wood Badge course WE1-611-07. This was before Troop 439 was even founded, but Larry and David knew that this was an important tradition they wanted to include in Troop 439's culture.

Legend has it that Lord Baden-Powell would always take a small amount of ashes from a ceremonial campfire and then spread these ashes into the next campfire. He explained the practice, "We carry our friendships with us in these ashes from other campfires with other comrades in other lands. May the joining of the dead fires with the leaping flames symbolize once more the unbroken chain that binds Scouts and Guides around the world. With greetings from our brothers and sisters around the world, I add these ashes, and the fellowship therein, to our campfire."The main purpose of these ashes is to share with everyone present the memories of past campfires and to bring to all Scouts and Scouters the international aspect of the world brotherhood of Scouting.

Ashes taken from a campfire are sprinkled into the flames of the next campfire. The next morning, when the ashes are cold, they are stirred, and each Scout takes some along to mix with his next campfire. If more than one Scout brings ashes to the same campfire, the lists are pooled, with the dates and places of all campfires recorded and passed on. It is traditional that only those present at the ceremony carry ashes from that ceremony.

Troop 439's ashes carry memories of past campfires dating back to the 2nd World Jamboree in Ermelunden, Denmark, in 1924. They have been carried around the world to over 1000 Scouting campfires in 35 countries where Scouting fellowship has been shared.

Below is the ash history specific to Troop 439 and its members: