INTRODUCTION 



J. HE campfire appeals to an instinct which is 

 common to man and which can be traced back 

 to antiquity. Fires will always be in demand by 

 those who are seeking recreation in its different 

 forms in the national forests and in other areas. 

 They provide a means of creating warmth, of 

 cooking, of lighting, of exchanging signals, and 

 of fostering a community interest among those 

 who are gathered in the campfire circle. 



There are two types of areas in the national 

 forests, and in other parks and forests, on which 

 camp stoves and fireplaces are used. These 

 areas are ordinarily designated as forest camp 

 or campground (primarily for overnight camp- 

 ing use), and picnic area (primarily for daytime 

 picnic use and seldom for overnight use). The 

 term "forest camp" is generally applicable to 

 any area in the national forests used for camp- 

 ing or picnicking or both. The term "picnic 

 area" is generally applicable only to areas 

 used for picnicking. On the other hand, the two 

 areas have a distinct use, one for camping pur- 

 poses and one for picnicking purposes, and in 

 this bulletin the differentiation is made accord- 

 ingly. Camp stoves and fireplaces are used on 

 other areas in the national forest, known as 

 special-use areas, which are particularly 

 adapted for summer residences, and for 

 summer hotel sites with overnight cabins. 



The forest camp and forest picnic area are 

 set aside for this particular type of recreation 

 use. Many of the forest camps are occupied for 

 periods extending from 1 or 2 days to periods 

 extending over a number of weeks, while picnic 

 areas are in most instances used for one and 

 not more than two meals during any one trip. 

 Both of these areas serve as centers of activity 

 from which the occupants may take long or 

 short trips for hiking, fishing, hunting, etc. 



In the forest camp and in the picnic area, it is 

 essential that cooking facilities be constructed 

 in order to provide the conveniences so neces- 

 sary for the majority of people. Those who use 

 the forest camps, especially for camping use, 



require a more complete and convenient cook- 

 ing unit than those who use the picnic areas. 



The problems of convenience and adaptation 

 to use, appearance, protection against the fire 

 hazard, and maintenance must be discussed in 

 any adequate consideration of this subject. 



It is frequently observed in the national 

 forests that forest camps and picnic areas are 

 used so intensively and in such a manner 

 that the forest ground-cover is unnecessarily 

 destroyed. There is a "saturation point" be- 

 yond which these areas should not be inten- 

 sively used. This point is in direct relation to 

 the kind of vegetation and soil conditions which 

 prevail upon any specific area and which 

 must be considered in determining the type of 

 development for any area. 



Any man-made feature, however well de- 

 signed, when introduced into the natural forest 

 is an artificial note and an intrusion. It is 

 granted that the ideal forest recreation area is 

 one in which these features are absent. Unfor- 

 tunately, man's use of these recreation areas, 

 and nature's requirement that vegetation be 

 protected, make certain facilities and regula- 

 tions for their use entirely necessary. It is very 

 essential that there be an intelligent conser- 

 vation of the existing growth on all camp- 

 grounds and picnic areas if continued pleasure 

 is to be derived from the use of these areas. 



The attitude of the public toward the use and 

 protection of the facilities which are provided 

 in forest camps and picnic areas varies widely 

 in different sections of the country. There are 

 those individuals who seem intuitively to ap- 

 preciate the effort which is made to increase 

 their comfort and enjoyment by providing 

 adequate and convenient facilities. On the 

 other hand, there are those who are critical 

 of these facilities, even though they evidence a 

 certain respect for the use of these facilities. 

 There is, however, another group (fortunately, 

 in the minority) who are inclined to be careless 

 and destructive. In some localities throughout 



