Cornell Cooperative Extension

Tompkins County
A person building a fire outdoors using a bow drill.

Bring home own bow drill kit and skills to master matchless fire!

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Primitive Pursuits: Matchless Fire Magic

  • Saturday, February 28, 2026, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

What lights your fire? Come with us to learn the ancient art of friction fire. In this workshop we will use the bow drill to light our maple boiler and kick off the first harvest of the season. While the sweet sap bubbles, our mentors will guide you through the fundamental human skill of friction fire. Each participant will go home with their own bow drill kit and the skills to master matchless fire magic!

Step by step instruction from experienced mentors will make the practice of friction fire accessible and fun! Use provided bow drill kits to learn the skill then dive deeper by carving your own kit and learning how to identify and harvest local natural materials to reproduce this craft or teach others in your community.

Skills Covered:

  • Identifying and harvesting local natural materials to build a bow drill set.
  • General Carving skills and safety. Specific wood working techniques to complete the bow drill project.
  • Bow drill friction fire techniques.
  • Tinder selection and preparation.
  • Basic fire building skills.
  • Tool use including carving knives, saws, hatchets and batoning.

Fee

$100 ($103.00 with credit card)

Learn More

https://primitivepursuits.com/earth-skills-for-adults/?et_fb=1&PageSpeed=off#winter-camp

Register

https://www.ultracamp.com/info/sessiondetail.aspx?idCamp=1259&campCode=PPC&idSession=554389

Contact

Miranda Sundquist
4-H Senior Administrative Assistant
ms3425@cornell.edu
607-272-2292 ext. 261

Location

4-H Acres
418 Lower Creek Road
Ithaca, NY 14850

Last updated February 3, 2026

 

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