Good evening fellow toastmasters & guests. 

For 16 years I was an Irish Girl Guide Leader and over that time I have run a lot of campfire sessions with Brownies, Guides, Senior Branch and Leaders.  We all know that campfires are an essential part of camping trips. They are a place where we can gather around, enjoy the warmth of the fire, and tell stories. But, what many people don’t realize is that campfires are also the perfect place to sing songs.

Singing around a campfire is not only fun, but it also has many benefits. Singing together can bring people closer together, create a sense of community, and provide a sense of relaxation and stress relief.

Tonight I am going to give you a small introduction on some ideal campfire songs. This is an Audience participation session and I encourage everyone to take part. It is not hard and you won’t need handouts as the songs are ‘‘repeat after me’ songs. This means I will sing a line and you repeat it. 

Once you have your group settled It is time to start your singing, it is important to pick a fun song that the group will enjoy and also an easy one to follow.  Listen to me sing a line and then repeat. 

(start singing)

I said Boom

I said Boom chicka Boom

I said Boom chicka rocka chicka rocka chicka boom

Woah 

Yeah

One more time now, this time a little quieter

(repeat with a whisper)

…

One more time now this time a little louder

(repeat Louder)

End no more times now.

That is a nice warm up song, to keep your group entertained, introduce an Action Song

For this song I will sing a line with actions, please repeat and do your best with the action

We are going to sing the same verse twice, once with the repeat after me and the second time all together 

(singing) 

Swimming, swimming, in a swimming pool

Some days are hot, some days are cold

In a swimming pool.

Breaststroke, sidestroke, fancy diving too

Don’t you wish that you had nothing else to do, but

(repeat once more)

After you have gone through one or two more action or lively songs your group needs to start winding down and getting a little calmer for heading off to bed. 

For the end of a campfire it is nice to select a Quiet song , I have selected one of my favourites to teach you. 

Norwegian Echo

We have campfired here

By the deep blue sea

And the slender trees

On a lonesome isle

All that we hold dear

In the north and south

Can be seen so clear

in the golden glow

As the sun goes down

Everything is still

Then our camp-fire song

Echoes o’er the hill.

We have campfired here,

By the deep deep fjord.

And the slender trees,

On Norwegian soil.

This is only a small idea of different songs that can be sung at a campfire, the format is always start off with a fun song that is easy to do, then there would be 2 or more action songs and then about 1 or 2 quiet songs depending on the group size and time of the night. It is important to prep before hosting a campfire and have a running order of what songs you will do. 

Our Campfire has come to an end,  thank you for your time and participation. If anyone is interested in the songs we just learned I do have printouts. If you want to take one, please ask me at the break.