SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/scout-kindling-pencil-size

About how thick should easy-to-find kindling twigs be?

Choose twigs no thicker than a pencil.

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  1. No thicker than a pencil ✔
  2. As thick as your thigh
  3. Only bark sheets

Why: Kindling must catch after the tinder. The Scouting pamphlet says twigs no thicker than a pencil are easiest to find for this job.

Huh, didn't know that: The pamphlet suggests gathering a small armload of kindling before lighting the fire.

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Why did the pencil join the fire lesson? It was the write size.
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References

Answer: No thicker than a pencil. Kindling must catch after the tinder. The Scouting pamphlet says twigs no thicker than a pencil are easiest to find for this job.

  1. Scouting America Wilderness Survival Pamphlet filestore.scouting.org/filestore/Merit_Badge_ReqandRes/Pamphlets/Wilderness%20Survival.pdf
    Twigs no thicker than a pencil are the easiest to find.
    Checked 2026-10-09.

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