Wilderness ABC - Learn to Use Fire Strikers!
Duration: 1 hour
Capacity: 15 participants
Availability: During autumn holiday weeks on October 19th at 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM, as well as on October 26th at 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM
Languages: Finnish, English
Departure and Return: Koli Nature Center Ukko, from where we will move to the Prime Minister's fire site
Price: 15 EUR per person
Price includes: Guide's instruction, loaned fire strikers and accessories for lighting the fire, firewood, sausage + juice.
Participant's own equipment: Weather-appropriate outdoor clothing
Fire strikers are a traditional method of making fire that was commonly used until the late 1800s. Matches replaced traditional fire strikers because they were faster to use. However, in wilderness conditions, matches may not be the most reliable method; in rainy weather, matches can get wet or damp. Modern fire strikers, based on magnesium, are easy to use and reliable in all conditions. If you learn to use fire strikers correctly, you won't need matches for making open fires or lighting camp stoves anymore.
For the fire striker instruction, we will gather in front of Koli Nature Center Ukko's main doors, from where we will move together to the nearby Prime Minister's fire site for the actual instruction. With the guidance of a wilderness guide, you will get to learn the technique of using fire strikers and try lighting a fire with different materials. You can also bring your own tinder if you want to test how it ignites with fire strikers. Finally, we'll enjoy sausages and juice by the campfire if the fire-making succeeds ;)