In 1907, on Brownsea Island in England, he conducted the first Scout Camp for boys.  At the end of that camp, he gave some the ashes from the camp fire to each of the boys and kept some for himself.

Legend says he did this at all ceremonial camp fires.

The ashes have been passed from one to another now for 100 years.

Imagine.

100 Years of campfires, friends and fellowship.

I am very fortunate to live what some can only imagine.

I received my Camp Fire ashes from "Bo" Aldrige at Wood Badge course NE-II-139 in Kandersteg International Scout Center in Switzerland in June 2003.

Here is the list as of that date.

Here is the list as it stands now.

For my fellow foxes:

"We are the Foxes,

We are very clever,

Once you are a Fox,

you are a Fox forever."

Camp Fire Ashes Ceremony

LEGEND HAS IT THAT BADEN-POWELL WOULD ALWAYS TAKE A SMALL AMOUNT OF ASHES FROM A CEREMONIAL CAMPFIRE AND THEN SPREAD THESE ASHES INTO THE NEXT CAMPFIRE. THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THESE ASHES IS TO SHARE WITH YOU THE MEMORIES OF PAST CAMPFIRES AND TO BRING TO ALL SCOUTS AND SCOUTERS THE INTERNATIONAL ASPECT OF THE WORLD BROTHERHOOD OF SCOUTING.

WILL ANYONE WITH CAMPFIRE ASHES PLEASE COME FORWARD AND JOIN ME.

 THE ASHES I SPREAD INTO THIS CAMPFIRE CARRY MEMORIES OF PAST CAMPFIRES DATING BACK TO BROWNSEA ISLAND IN JULY OF 1907, THE FIRST BOY SCOUT CAMP. THEY HAVE BEEN CARRIED AROUND THE WORLD TO ALMOST 400 SCOUTING CAMPFIRES IN MANY COUNTRIES WHERE SCOUTING FELLOWSHIP HAS BEEN SHARED.

 I WILL NOW CHARGE THESE ASHES TO THIS
CAMPFIRE.

LORD BADEN-POWELL SAID:

"WE CARRY OUR FRIENDSHIPS WITH US IN THESE ASHES FROM OTHER CAMPFIRES WITH COMRADES IN OTHER LANDS. MAY THE JOINING OF THE PAST FIRES WITH THE LEAPING FLAMES OF THIS CAMPFIRE, SYMBOLIZE ONCE MORE THE UNBROKEN CHAIN THAT BINDS SCOUTS AND GUIDES OF ALL NATIONS TOGETHER . WITH GREETINGS FROM OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS AROUND THE WORLD, I ADD THESE ASHES, AND THE FELLOWSHIP THEREIN, TO OUR CAMPFIRE."