Share this scenario with the group. Imagine you are camping in the mountains. The air is a bit chilly as the group prepares the evening meal. You plan to build a fire to cook hot dogs and heat cans of chili. The fire will also take the chill out of the night air. As you begin to pile sticks inside the fire ring, a ranger approaches your group and informs you that there is a ban on fires because of dry weather. You will not be able to build a fire.
How will your group solve this problem? What will you do about dinner? How will you deal with the chilly air? How will not having a fire affect your nighttime activities? How could you have better planned this outing?
It is recommended that all visitors to natural areas minimize their use of fires, even when there is no fire ban. Create a plan for your next outing that does not include fires. You may want to discuss different types of food, food repackaging, and the value of using lightweight foods instead of canned goods. Discuss the value of contacting land managers in advance to learn about local restrictions. Refer to the Background on the Principles of Leave No Trace for details to assist your discussion.