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Here are some nifty little chemical additions you can use to add a little magic to your next campfire.   Please remember! Adults only should be handling these materials!  Colorful Flames There are several chemicals that can be placed in a fire to make the flame different colors. They are as follows: Calcium - red flame Copper - green flame Sodium- orange flame Lithium - pink flame Potassium - purple flame Barium - light green flame Lean - blue flame   Some of you may know about a cool effect  with copper and a garden hose The copper is fine. However the Garden hose-because of the plastic, it may give toxic fumes when burned.  Word has come down to the effect that garden hoses have been banned from all campfires because of the toxins given off.   We were turned on to this cool effect from some neighboring campers one year and I must admit it is very remarkably mesmerizing.  However, it will not be in our camping list anymore! Try this instead! Magic Wishing Powder Thanks to Deb Strathdee  "It is tradition in our unit to use Magic Wishing Powder to close a special campfire. I have a special container and we stand and pass it around the campfire circle. Everyone takes a small handful and holds it until everyone is ready. We make a wish, and on the count of 3, we all throw our powder into the fire. If there is magic present, we will see a sign. The wishing powder is just white granulated sugar. It creates many beautiful sparks for just a few seconds. We make sure everyone is standing back from the fire when we toss!"    Road Flare Magic   Road flares are quite stable and relatively safe  (these are the ones people are supposed to carry in their cars in case of an accident). The yellow powder inside can be broken down and spread on the fire in strategic places, (on top of the teepee for instance). Until it gets hot enough, it will not burn.  If you set up your fire before the group gets there, it is a wonderful surprise, (it takes 2-4 minutes before it ignites in a brilliant pink glow).  Experimentation is the best way to find out all the options available with this tool.  Have fun, but watch your eyes; too big a pile in one place is almost as bright as the sun! 1/4 inch wide lines are better than piles in one area.  It also sparkles nicely when thrown on the fire.  Spell Fire  When telling a particularly ghostly or magical story, throw a handful of powdered coffee creamer over the fire as a "spell" is being cast in the story. The particles are very fine, and being an "edible oil product" the powder catches fire in a myriad of sparkly bits that are quickly gone. Kinda cool . . . neato special effect.    Wenceles Cakes  Get some `blue stone', also known as copper sulfate  (which can probably be obtained from a pharmacist). Mix a spoonful of powdered blue stone  (*powder carefully, it is slightly toxic, wash hands after)  in with enough melted wax to half fill a small wax paper muffin baking cup.  If the baking cup containing wax is then thrown into a fire, beautiful blue-green flames are seen. Should have same effect as pipe and hose, but would be better for environment and people alike!   Wint-o-green Lifesavers  If you crunch down hard on a Wint-o-green Lifesaver after dark, your friends will see blue sparks jumping around in your mouth.  (Note: they *MUST* be Wint-o-green Lifesavers, as opposed to another brand name of candy . . . the sparks are made by an ingredient which are only found in the Lifesavers.) This could be incorporated into campfire as part of a skit, or just as a silly thing for everyone to do.   Please note . . . Finding some of the chemicals mentioned above can be hard!  There are crystals made specifically for wood fires at some fireplace stores. T They were copper, so the flames were blue, green and purple.  This is an easy, safe and inexpensive method of adding a little extra "spark" to your campfire.         Copyright © 2000 Jon's Images, Inc. All rights reserved      DISCLAIMER: PLEASE READ - By printing, downloading, or using  any info from this site, you agree to our full terms. Review the full terms by clicking here. Below is a summary of some of the terms. If you do not agree to the full terms, do not use the information. All information on this web site is provided as a free service. Under no conditions does it constitute professional advice. No representations are made as to the completeness, accuracy, comprehensiveness or otherwise of the information provided. This site is considered publishers of this material, not authors. Information may have errors or be outdated. Some information is from historical sources or represents opinions of the author. It is for research purposes only. The information is "AS  IS", "WITH ALL FAULTS". User assumes all risk of use, damage, or injury. You agree that we have no liability for any damages. We are not liable for any consequential, incidental, indirect, or special damages. You indemnify us for claims caused by you.