The classic magnifying glass, a steel rod and flint, and a 9 volt battery and steel wool.

Leif Hamilton, 10, of Fort Dodge, was working with the magnifying lens and pile of dried grass, leaves and small sticks.

“I got smoke on one leaf but other one won’t start,” he said.

He was finding out that using survival methods to start a fire isn’t that easy.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Mina DeJong, 10, of Fort Dodge, concentrates on her lunch Wednesday as some of her fellow Nature Day campers manage to create a bit of smoke in the cooking fire at Camp WaNoKi.

“It’s way harder than I thought,” he said.

He was learning an appreciation for the modern match.

“And lighters,” he said.

Karen Hansen, Webster County Conservation naturalist, said the campers learn a variety of things during the three-day camp but each day has a common thread.

“Each day we do some stewardship work,” she said. “We just got done clearing some autumn olive, buckthorn and honeysuckle.”

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Leif Hamilton, 10, of Fort Dodge, uses a magnifying lens to focus the sun’s rays on a few leaves Wednesday as her learns how to start a campfire the Nature Day Camp sponsored by Webster County Conservation at the Camp WaNoKi site.

The goal is for the campers to take away an appreciation for the land that can transition into their lives and futures, she said.

There’s also a common theme.

“The theme is primitive,” she said. “We cover the basics. How to pack for survival, how to make a shelter and also for fun, primitive hunting with archery, atlatl and tomahawks.”

Sam Myer, 10, of Fort Dodge, was also working hard on getting his campfire going.

He was using a different technique.

“I’ve used the magnifying glass,” he said. “Now I’m using the battery and steel wool.”

He wasn’t having much luck with that one, either. He didn’t give up though, he ignored lunch and kept at it.

Mina DeJong, 10, of Fort Dodge, was having trouble getting her fire going, too.

“Not yet,” she said. “But I was getting sparks.”

She didn’t think too much of her fellow campers last fire-starting tactic. They put sticks in the charcoal cooking fire and then transferred them to their own fire site.

“That’s cheating,” she said.

The campers had all enjoyed the morning of brush clearing and were looking forward to the afternoon session where they would build a shelter and then explore the nearby creek.

“We’re going to look for stuff in the creek,” DeJong said.

What might lurk there?

“I don’t know.” she said.

Another Nature Day Camp is scheduled for Aug. 7- 9 at Camp WaNoKi. The cost is $30 per participant. Registration is online through www.mycountyparks.com