Quick Camp Craft Makes Great Lighting

Everyone’s all about solar lights these days, but wow, are they expensive! Although they look great, and lend a soft glow to your homestead, they’re not very practical for camping. Sure, your campfire gives you some light, but wouldn’t it be nice to brighten up the campground at night, with lights that lead the way to the bathroom area, down to the fishing hole, or just here and there around the camp? There’s a quick craft you can make that will give you plenty of lighting at your campsite without a great expense.

Bring a little jug of kerosene with you on your camping trip and you’ll have all the light you could possibly want. One thing there’s plenty of at a campground is sand or dirt, another component of your makeshift light. One other thing you generally have during a camping trip is pop or beer cans, the last component in your homemade lantern.

When pop or beer cans are emptied, and cut or broken in half, they can be turned into glowing lamps. Add half a can of sand or dirt, then stir in some kerosene until the sand looks wet. Don’t pour in so much that the sand is swimming in the kerosene, though, just pour in enough to get the sand fairly wet.

Use a twig to stir the sand and kerosene together well. Light the sand with a match and you’ve got your lantern. The sand weights down the can making it easy to place them just about anywhere without worrying that they’ll tip. And, kerosene burns slowly, so if one does get tipped over, simply kick some sand over it to kill the fire. Of course, caution must be used in choosing places to set the cans, so that they are not near anything flammable, but the cans don’t have a high flame.

While burning the lanterns for a period of time, they may begin to dim, but if they do, just stir the sand again with the twig. Eventually it will be necessary to add more kerosene, but the original sand and kerosene will burn for many hours. To extinguish the fire in the can, place a piece of foil over the top of the can, or just toss in some more sand or dirt.

The glowing cans are perfect for outlining paths, lighting up the picnic table, lighting up an area where you’re fishing at night, or just to have a little extra light to find your way around the area where you’re camping. Even though the lights aren’t very hot, and are mostly used for the purpose of lighting, supervise children when using them. Don’t set the lights atop dead leaves or next to tree limbs, clothing, tents or other things that may catch fire.