Stoves and fuel
Canister and liquid fuel basics under adult supervision.
Skill 3.12 · About 25 minutes to begin
Stoves cook dinner when fire bans are on and boil water fast. Treat fuel with respect — it is not a toy.
Before you begin
Bring along
- Exact equipment manual
- Adult-approved practice area
- Fire control supplies
Support & boundaries
An adult approves the task and supervises heat, sharp tools, and equipment. Follow the exact equipment instructions. Stop if the task exceeds your training or permission.
01 / Learn
Understand the skill
- Fuel stays outside tents and away from heat sources.
- Use stoves outdoors on stable, non-flammable surfaces with manufacturer-specified clearances. Use a windscreen only if that stove manufacturer permits it; enclosing a canister can overheat it.
- Use only the fuel and connection procedure specified for the exact stove. An adult checks the equipment before use.
- Liquid fuel stoves need priming — youth use only after leader training.
- Carbon monoxide risk means stoves run only in open air.
02 / Practice
Try it, step by step
- 1
Set up the cold stove according to its manual, outdoors away from tents and vestibules. Have an adult confirm stability and clearances before lighting.
- 2
Light with face and body clear of flare-up path.
- 3
Turn off fuel at the source when finished; let cool before packing.
- 4
Store fuel in marked containers away from food.
- 5
Report empty canisters to leaders for proper disposal.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Inside the tent vestibule for shelter.
- Treating a successful practice attempt as permission to skip the supervision or checks for a real task.
Your call
Rain starts while you are using a stove. Where can it go?
03 / Demonstrate
Show what you can do
Use these prompts with a mentor. This practice checklist resets when you leave; record your overall stage below in the signed-in manual.
0 of 3 reviewed together
Mentor notes & sources
Help someone learn
- Run a stove clinic at a parking lot before backcountry trips.
- Keep a spare lighter and repair kit in the group bin.
- Log which stoves are due for maintenance.
Start together, then let the learner take responsibility at an appropriate level. Offer a shorter task, a different role, or more practice time when useful. Review the demonstration criteria together; advanced practice never removes supervision requirements.
Reference shelf
Original program lessons informed by these references. Equipment manuals, current local rules, and qualified instruction govern technical practice.
- National Park Service: cooking in camp ↗
Camp cooking and storage
- Leave No Trace: outdoor ethics ↗
Low-impact outdoor decisions
Edition updated 2026-09-28. Program learning material; not a professional qualification.
04 / Apply · In Action
Know this stove
Read the exact stove's manual with an adult. Rehearse setup and shutdown cold; operate only under approved supervision.
What success looks like
Identify fuel compatibility, clearances, stability, and shutdown steps for that model.
Talk it through
Which instruction is specific to this stove?
05 / Teach · Take it further
Help build a model-specific equipment checklist.