Campfires create community. We are having our campfire night this Saturday (you’re invited!), and it has me thinking about the magic that happens when people gather around a fire.
I’ve experienced people coming together in ways that were truly not possible otherwise around a fire. I often talk about how something deep within us is brought to the surface when we watch a dancing flame and feel the warmth of burning wood. We return to a place where we found food for our bodies, minds, and souls, as people have for thousands of years.
Televisions, and now our phones, are the substitutes we have come up with to make us feel as though we are listening to stories while watching the flickering flames. However, we all know something is missing in this experience.
When we sit shoulder to shoulder around the fire, sometimes leaning in a little closer to hear a story or feel a bit more of the heat, we find each other in deeper ways. We find that the young man who sits in class silently loves to tell jokes in front of a crowd. We find that the new friend to our left loves reading the same books, or that they could use a little help, too. We find we see ourselves in a new light as we silently study the yellow, orange, and blue flames together. A campfire can be fun with singing, dancing, and laughter – carrying on late into the night, and it can be something completely different. A place where people explore the depths of existence, contemplating the connection between the stars and stardust they are made of. At their best, they are a combination of both that lead people to connect in ways that lead to love and kindness, and a brighter world.
Campfires also help us tell the story of how Rochester Ecology Partners has approached our efforts to help all people find nature. It takes a spark to start a fire, and for us, that spark was our First Day Hike in 2022. This was our first public event, and 60 people showed up to get a fresh start as they emerged from COVID. From that day on, we have been adding fuel to the fire, finding oxygen in the positive response to our work. Like any fire, growth requires a careful balance of what is needed and what is available. We found our community needs what we are offering, and keeping up with that need has been a continuous process of gathering and tending. The essential element is the people who make it happen and the diverse roles we play. With our organization, as with a campfire, we need someone to get the stuff for s’mores just as much as we need someone to sing a song or start the fire. We all contribute to creating the community we seek.
We have campfire night in the fall to remind ourselves that while cold and darkness are coming, we can bring warmth and light into each other’s lives. Now more than ever, we need to come together to imagine a hopeful future. Now more than ever, we need nature and each other. Now more than ever, we need campfires.
