In the 1950's a Boy Scout could go anywhere and build a camp site without bothering anyone. Over time several things happened to change this situation. First people were careless, not just Scouts, and they left trash and dirty camp sites and some caused fires which damaged the land and other peoples property. The government and land owners began to put a stop to this recklessness. First laws governing fires came, then fire controls such as burn bands. Land owners put up barbwire fences and today have began to install tall game fences to keep game in their property and to keep unwanted guest out. Scouting initiated the Leave No Trace policy so that Scouts were not responsible for damage to land or property.

The government began to install grills for cooking in our parks and then restricted their use in times of very dry and hot weather. It soon came to the point that all camp sites had these rules. Thus camping stoves that have been around for ever, at least since the time of the early Chinese, became more and more important. Also technology has improved so much that the old gas and charcoal burners of the past are much more safe.

The increase in the needs of extreme sports for stoves that would burn at very high altitudes or in wet and cold conditions has also brought about a change in technology. New stoves are very good and some are so improved that they have jumped back into the basic campers pack. Scouts now have one man stoves for their outings and are individually able to cook their own meals. Some even have pizza cookers. What a world.

Thus we are now able to camp in most conditions. The danger of forest and range fires still restricts us to some degree, but in most cases we can now camp out anywhere and cook to our own level of enjoyment. Look for future improvements that will even insure the environment. These systems will cook without flame or fire, and will be totally green. Even the governments will love them.

Thus camp stoves have become necessary and have become a normal part of a Campers gear. Boy Scouts has even included an Primus Eta Solo stove in its catalog for the individual camper. Again an eleven year old boy can go camping and will be safe for our environment. Look for a growth in camping because of better stoves and greater convenience for the camper.