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{{Infobox WorldScouting
| name =Camp Fire
| image =Camp Fire.svg
| image-size =
| caption =
| type = organization
| owner =
| age =
| headquarters =[[Kansas City, Missouri]]
| country =United States
| coords =
| f-date = informally 1910; formally March 17, 1912
| defunct =
| founders =yes
| founder = {{plainlist|
* Luther Gulick, M.D.
* Charlotte Gulick
}}
| award-for =
|chiefscouttitle=Nation Board Chair 
|chiefscout=Jane Parker
|chiefscouttitle2=President/CEO 
|chiefscout2=Greg Zweber
| website =[http://www.campfire.org/ campfire.org]
| affiliation =
| next =
| prev =
}}

'''Camp Fire''', formerly '''Camp Fire USA''' and originally '''Camp Fire Girls of America''',  is a co-ed youth development organization.<ref name="campfireema.org">{{cite web|url=http://campfire.org/about/history|title=A Long History of Helping Youth Thrive|website=Camp Fire|accessdate=2016-06-11 |quote = While Camp Fire was America’s first multiracial, multicultural, and nonsectarian organization for girls, we became co-ed in 1975. }}</ref> Camp Fire was the first nonsectarian, multicultural organization for girls in America.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Cultural Appropriation and the Crafting of Racialized Selves in American Youth Organizations: Toward an Ethnographic Approach |date= 2008-12-18| doi = 10.1177/1532708608325918 | author = Pauline Turner Strong}}</ref> Its programs emphasize camping and other outdoor activities for youth. It is gender inclusive.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/07/19/why-do-the-boy-scouts-exclude-gays/it-pays-to-be-inclusive|title=It Pays to Be Inclusive|website=New Tork Times|language=en|access-date=2019-10-23 | author = Cathy Tisdale | date = 2012-07-19 }}</ref>

Its informal roots extend back to 1910, with efforts by Mrs. Charles Farnsworth in [[Thetford, Vermont]] and  [[Luther Gulick (physician)|Luther Gulick]], M.D., and his wife, Charlotte Vedder Gulick, on [[Sebago Lake]], near South Casco, Maine.<ref name=story>{{cite book| title = Wo-He-Lo; the story of Camp Fire Girls, 1910-1960 | url = https://archive.org/details/wohelostoryofcam00buck | url-access = registration | author = Helen Buckler  | publisher = Holt, Rinehart and Winston | year = 1961 | ol= 7132682W }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Girls Take Up the Boy Scout Idea and Band Together |work=New York Times |date= 1912-03-17 |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1912/03/17/100581153.pdf |accessdate= 2009-01-29 | first=Edward | last=Marshall}}</ref> Camp Fire Girls, as it was known at the time, was created as the sister organization to the [[Boy Scouts of America]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Children's Nature |last=Paris |first=Leslie |publisher=NYU Press |year=2008 |page=51 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RG2_CL0jF40C |accessdate=2009-01-29  |isbn=978-0-8147-6707-8}}</ref> The organization changed its name in 1975 to '''Camp Fire Boys and Girls''' when membership eligibility was expanded to include boys. In 2001, the name Camp Fire USA was adopted,<ref name="allboutus">{{cite web|title=All About Us |publisher=Camp Fire USA |year=2005 |url=http://www.campfire.org/all_about_us/history.asp |accessdate=2009-01-29  |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607140013/http://www.campfire.org/all_about_us/history.asp |archivedate=2008-06-07 |df=mdy }}</ref> and in 2012 it became Camp Fire.

Camp Fire's programs include small group experiences, after-school programs, camping and environmental education, child care and service learning, build confidence in younger children and provide hands-on, youth driven leadership experiences for older youth.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://campfire.org/blog/article/10-reasons-were-campfirestrong |title=10 reasons we are camp fire strong|date=2017-11-06|website=campfire.org|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-23}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Picture of Luther Gulick.jpg|thumb|Photograph of Luther Gulick from [[The World's Work]], 1909]]

In 1910, young girls in [[Thetford, Vermont]], watched their brothers, friends, and schoolmates&nbsp;– all [[Boy Scout]]s&nbsp;– practice their parts in the community's 150th anniversary, which would be celebrated the following summer. The pageant's organizer, William Chauncey Langdon, promised the girls that they, too, would have an organized role in the pageant, although no organization such as Boy Scouts existed then for girls.
Langdon consulted with Mrs. Charles Farnsworth [Charlotte Joy (Allen) Farnsworth, known as "Madama" <ref>{{cite book |last1=Farnsworth |first1=Charlotte Joy (Allen) |title=The Arrow of Pi Beta Phi |date=1921 |publisher=University of Michigan |location=Ann Arbor, MI |page=220 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Arrow_of_Pi_Beta_Phi/ZDfPAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 |accessdate=8 June 2020}}</ref>], preceptress of [[Horace Mann School]]  near [[Thetford, Vermont]]. Both approached Luther Halsey Gulick M.D.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lib.uidaho.edu/special-collections/Manuscripts/mg064.htm |title=Moscow District Camp Fire Girls&nbsp;– Historical Background |publisher=University of Idaho |accessdate=January 29, 2009}}</ref> about creating a national organization for girls.
Gulick introduced the idea to friends, among them [[G. Stanley Hall]], [[Ernest Thompson Seton]], and [[James E. West (Scouting)|James West]], executive secretary of the Boy Scouts.<ref name="CN" >{{cite book |last=Paris |first=Leslie |title=Children's Nature |publisher=NYU Press |year=2008 |pages=49–51 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RG2_CL0jF40C |accessdate=January 30, 2009 |isbn=978-0-8147-6707-8}}</ref>
After many discussions and help from Gulick and his wife Charlotte, Langdon named the group of Thetford girls the Camp Fire Girls.<ref>{{cite web |title=Scout Like Organizations |publisher=troop 97 |url=http://www.troop97.net/scout_like.htm |accessdate=January 29, 2009}}</ref>

In 1907, the Gulicks had established Camp [[WoHeLo]], a camp for girls, on Lake Sebago, near South [[Casco, Maine]]. There were seventeen [[WoHeLo]] maidens at the camp in the summer of 1910.<ref name=story /> Both the Vermont group and the Maine group would lead to the creation of the organization formally organized as Camp Fire Girls in 1912.

On March 22, 1911 Dr. Gulick organized a meeting "To consider ways and means of doing for the girls what the Boy Scout movement is designed to do for the boys". On April 10, 1911 [[James E. West (Scouting)|James E. West]] issued a press release from [[Boy Scouts of America]] headquarters announcing that with the success of the Boy Scout movement a group of preeminent New York men and women were organizing a group to provide outdoor activities for girls, similar to those in the Boy Scout movement.

In 1911, the Camp Fire Girls planned to merge with the [[Defunct Scout and Scout-like organizations in the United States#Girl Scouts of America|Girls Scouts of America]] formed by Clara A. Lisetor-Lane of [[Des Moines, Iowa]] and Girl Guides of America (of [[Spokane, Washington]]) to form the Girl Pioneers of America, but relationships fractured and the merger failed.<ref>{{cite journal |editor1-first=Joseph J. |editor1-last=Lane |title=Now Come the Girl Scouts to Emulate the Boy Scouts |journal=Boys' Life |date=July 1911 |volume=1 |issue=5 |publisher=George S. Barton & Co. |issn=0006-8608 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wSImP64srkwC |accessdate=August 7, 2012 |page=30}}</ref><ref name=Miller2007>{{cite book |last=Miller |first=Susan A. |title=Growing Girls: The Natural Origins of Girls' Organizations in America |publisher=Rutgers |year=2007 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PGDUjAIxtpMC |isbn=9780813541563 }}</ref> [[Grace Gallatin Seton Thompson|Grace Seton]] quit the group over the rejection of her committee's draft of a handbook, followed by Linda Beard in September 1911 over difference with the Gulicks.<ref name=Miller2007 /> However, there was an organization meeting held by Lina Beard on February 7, 1912 in Flushing, New York of a Girl Pioneers of America organization.<ref>{{cite news|title="Girl Pioneers," New Club|url=http://www.alicemariebeard.com/campfire/pioneers2.jpg|accessdate=November 17, 2016|work=New York Times | via=alicemariebeard.com|date=February 8, 1212}}</ref>

Camp Fire Girls of America was incorporated in Washington, D.C, as a national agency on March 17, 1912.<ref>Officials of both the Boy Scouts of America and the Camp Fire Girls were: [[Ernest Kent Coulter]], [[Robert Garrett]], Luther Halsey Gulick, George E. Johnson, [[Joseph Lee (recreation advocate)|Joseph Lee]], [[Ben Lindsey (jurist)|Benjamin Barr Lindsey]], [[Edgar M. Robinson|Edgar Munroe Robinson]], [[Mortimer L. Schiff|Mortimer Loeb Schiff]], [[Ernest Thompson Seton]], Lucien T. Warner, and [[James E. West (Scouting)|James Edward West]]. See the lists in [http://www.gutenberg.org/zipcat2.php/29558/29558.txt ''Handbook for Boys''] (BSA, 1911) and [http://www.alicemariebeard.com/campfire/book/02.htm Camp Fire Girls Handbook].</ref>

In late 1912, [[Juliette Gordon Low]] proposed that the Camp Fire Girls merge with her group, [[Girl Guides of America]], but was rejected in January 1913 as the Camp Fire Girls were then the larger group.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Chirhart|first1=Ann Short|title=Georgia Women: Their Lives and Times|year=2007|publisher=University of Georgia Press|page=381|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VqU2PsmlYpMC&lpg=PA381|last2=Wood|first2=Betty|accessdate=January 11, 2014|isbn=9780820339009}}</ref> By December 1913, Camp Fire Girls' membership was an estimated 60,000, many of whom began attending affiliated summer camps.<ref name="CN"/> The Bluebird program was introduced that year for younger girls, offering exploration of ideas and creative play built around family and community.<ref>{{cite book |title=Giving a worldwide view of the History and Progress of the Sunday School and the Development of Religious Education... |last=McFarland |first=John Thomas |publisher=T. Nelson & Sons |year=1915 |page=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediasun00wincgoog/page/n160 194] |url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediasun00wincgoog |accessdate=January 30, 2009}}</ref> In 1989 the Bluebirds became Starflight.

[[File:Illustrated Flushing and vicinity - College Point, Broadway-Flushing, Malba-on-the-Sound, Whitestone, Bayside, Douglaston, Little Neck in the third wa (1917) (14595963980).jpg|thumb|[[Flushing, New York]], 1917]]

The first official Camp Fire handbook was published in 1913.<ref>{{cite book |publisher=George H. Doran Company |year=1913 |url=https://archive.org/details/bookcampfiregir01girlgoog |title=The Book of Camp Fire Girls |accessdate=January 29, 2009}}</ref> During World War I Camp Fire Girls helped to sell over one million dollars in [[Liberty Bonds]] and over $900,000 in [[Thrift Stamps]]; 55,000 girls helped to support French and Belgian orphans, and an estimated 68,000 girls earned honors by conservation of food.<ref>{{cite book |title=The New International Year Book |publisher=Dodd, Mead and Company |year=1920 |url=https://archive.org/details/newinternationa01colbgoog |accessdate=January 30, 2009}}</ref>

The first local Camp Fire council was formed in 1918 in Kansas City, Mo. In 1977 Kansas City would become the national headquarters for Camp Fire.

[[File:Campfire Girls board game.jpg|thumb|Double Game Board Camp Fire Girls and Checkers. Parker Brothers Inc.]]

In 1926, Parker Brothers Inc. produced a Camp Fire Girls board game. There were no turns in the game; everyone played at the same time.  The game ended when someone entered the "Log Cabin Council Fire", which could only occur on an exact count.  The winner of the game was the person who had collected the most "Honor Beads" on the way around the board (not necessarily the person who ended the game).<ref>{{cite web |title=Camp Fire Girls Game (1926) |url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/66252/camp-fire-girls-game |website=Board Game Geek |accessdate=17 April 2020}}</ref>

[[File:Camp Fire Girls stamp.png|Camp Fire Stamp|thumb|left|100px]]
[[File:Smokey with scouts.png|[[Smokey Bear]] with members of the Boy Scouts of America and the Camp Fire Girls celebrating the 50th anniversary of their founding.|thumb]]

Camp Fire celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1960 with the "She Cares ... Do You?" program. During the project, Camp Fire planted more than two million trees, built 13,000 bird houses, and completed several other conservation-oriented tasks. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Camp Fire Girls, in connection with their Golden Jubilee Convention celebration, a stamp designed by [[H. Edward Oliver]] was issued featuring the Camp Fire Girls insignia.<ref>{{cite web |title=Camp Fire Girls Issue |publisher=Smithsonian National Postal Museum |url=http://www.arago.si.edu/index.asp?con=1&cmd=1&tid=2035647 |accessdate=January 29, 2009}}</ref> A new program, Junior Hi, wherein twelve- and thirteen-year-old girls explore new interests as a group and as individuals was created in 1962. This program name changed later to Discovery.<ref>{{cite web |title=Camp Fire Girls, Salt Creek Council |publisher=Northern Illinois University Library |url=http://www.ulib.niu.edu/reghist/RC%20274.pdf |accessdate=January 29, 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628063354/http://www.ulib.niu.edu/reghist/RC%20274.pdf |archivedate=June 28, 2010 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> That same year, the [[WoHeLo]] medallion became Camp Fire's highest achievement and honor.

In 1969, Camp Fire Girls were allowed to be "Participants" in [[Boy Scouts of America|BSA]]'s [[Exploring (Learning for Life)|Explorer]] Posts (for boys 14 and older). This arrangement ended in 1971, when the BSA made Explorers a co-ed program. Membership was at 274,000 by 1974 in 1,300 communities of the United States.<ref>{{cite book |title=Time on Their Hands|last1=Wrenn |first1=Charles Gilbert |last2=Harley |first2=Dudley Lee |publisher=Ayer Publishing |year=1974 |page=114 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BXS8wltOfvkC |accessdate=January 30, 2009 |isbn=978-0-405-05993-3}}</ref> Camp Fire expanded its horizons in 1975, welcoming boys to participate in all Camp Fire activities.<ref>{{cite web|title=Camp Fire Boys and Girls|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-CampFire.html|website=Encyclopedia.com|accessdate=June 11, 2016}}</ref> While boys were invited to Camp Fire Girls Horizon Conferences in the late 1960s and early 1970s, official membership was not offered them until 1975, when the organization became coeducational. Camp Fire decided boys and girls should be together in one organization, so they learn to play and work alongside each other and appreciate their similarities and differences in positive ways.<ref name="IRB">{{cite web |title=Information Resource Book |publisher=Camp Fire USA |page=21 |url=http://compass.campfireusa.org/_FileLibrary/Library/F797/InformationResourceBook_March06.doc |accessdate=January 29, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725132908/http://compass.campfireusa.org/_FileLibrary/Library/F797/InformationResourceBook_March06.doc |archive-date=July 25, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

===Camp Fire===
In 1975, the Camp Fire Girls of America changed its membership policy to being co-ed and its name to Camp Fire Boys and Girls.<ref name="campfireema.org"/> In 1977, Camp Fire's head office moved to its current location in [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]] from New York.<ref>{{cite news |title=Camp Fire Girls Move |work=New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/06/17/archives/camp-fire-girls-move.html |accessdate=January 29, 2009 |date=June 17, 1977}}</ref> Teens in Action was introduced in 1988 as a one-time social issue campaign to energize the older teen program. 

The first ''Absolutely Incredible Kid Day'', a call to action for all adults to communicate through letters their love and commitment to children, took place in 1997. In 2003 to further its commitment and inclusiveness, Camp Fire USA began translating its curricula to Spanish. As a way to excite and educate children in Pre-K, the ''Little Stars'' program, first developed by Camp Fire Green Country, was introduced nationally in 2005. Designated for ages 3–5 ''Little Stars'' builds confidence and a sense of belonging in children.

In 2012, Camp Fire underwent a re-branding. The traditional flame logo changed to a more contemporary "Spark Mark."

==Programs==
Camp Fire has nationally developed youth development programs that are delivered through local and
statewide councils and community partners across the nation. Programs are specific to community need and some may
not be available in all communities. The five outcome based program areas include: Small-Group Clubs and
Mentoring Opportunities; Leadership Development; Camping and Environmental Education; Child Care; and Self-
Reliance and Service–Learning Classes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Camp Fire USA Fact Sheet |publisher=Alpha Phi Omega |url=http://www.apo.org/site/site_files/campfire_fact_sheet.pdf |accessdate=January 29, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716055353/http://www.apo.org/site/site_files/campfire_fact_sheet.pdf |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

===Small-group clubs===
With Small-Group Clubs and Mentoring Opportunities, Boys and girls usually meet once a week for an hour, learning to work and play together through service projects.<ref>{{cite web |title=NPO Spotlight&nbsp;– News |publisher=Philanthropy News Digest |url=http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/news/story.jhtml?id=166900021 |accessdate=January 29, 2009}}</ref> Camp Fire has numerous youth-development programs that are delivered through local and statewide councils and community partners.

The program levels are:
* '''Little Stars''' is for children ages three through five and provides parents and preschool youth with a quality, program-driven playgroup that gives them the opportunity to learn, grow and play.
* '''Starflight''' program is for boys and girls in kindergarten through second grade. The children meet regularly in adult supervised clubs. Meeting activities can focus on the areas of outdoors, creativity, service, acquiring new skills, learning more about themselves and getting along with others.
* '''Adventure''' Program is for boys and girls in third through fifth grade. Adventure members earn Action Crafts beads for all the new things they do and for the good habits they learn. At this level youth begin to accept more responsibility for choosing and planning their club activities.
* '''Discovery''' is for sixth through eighth grades. It gives young people an opportunity to explore new interesting fields. Club members do much of their own planning and decision making, with the adult leader functioning more as an advisor than a supervisor. This is also when Camp Fire youth are eligible to make and wear ceremonial attire, often gowns or tunics, which are worn only at Camp Fire ceremonials.
* '''Horizon''' is for high school age youth in grades nine through twelve. These young people participate in self-guided programs geared toward preparing them for adult responsibilities and community service. Members may earn the WoHeLo Award.

===Awards===
Recognition is an important part of all Camp Fire programs. It helps children and adults build self-esteem and pride in their accomplishments. Official national recognition items are one of the features that make Camp Fire unique and special. For their participation, growth and achievements, youth receive distinctive items such as beads, emblems, pins and certificates. At the early levels, Camp Fire leaders help youth choose activities and guide them in earning the recognition items. As teens, members select their own activities and develop their own action plans for earning recognition items. For adults, recognition items signify outstanding achievement or the number of years they have been adult Camp Fire USA members. Adults in programming or board positions are also recognized on the local level for their important roles in Camp Fire.

====Beads====
Youth are able to earn beads, while completing projects on the “Camp Fire Trails," as well as emblems.  (In the past, once the participant earned ten of one type of bead, he or she was awarded a larger one of the same type to represent the ten smaller ones.)  By 2006, there was one bead for each of the Camp Fire Trails.

'''Bead Colors'''
* Red&nbsp;– Sports, Games & Science&nbsp;– Trail to the Future (formerly Sports & Games)
* Brown&nbsp;– Outdoors & Environment&nbsp;– Trail to Environment (formerly Outdoors)
* Green&nbsp;– Creativity&nbsp;– Trail to Creativity (formerly Creative Arts)
* Yellow&nbsp;– Business & Home&nbsp;– Trail to Family and Community (formerly Business)
* Royal Blue – Citizenship&nbsp; (discontinued in 2003)
* Red, White & Blue – (formerly Citizenship, discontinued in 2003 and replaced with Royal Blue)&nbsp;
* Orange&nbsp;– (formerly Home Craft, discontinued in 2003)
* Turquoise&nbsp;– (formerly Science, – Trail to Knowing Me)
* Lime Green&nbsp;– (added in 2003) Discovery level<ref>{{cite web |title=For One Camp Fire Bead |last=Beard |first=Alice Marie |url=http://www.alicemariebeard.com/campfire/one-bead.htm |accessdate=January 30, 2009}}</ref>
* Purple&nbsp;– (small beads) Special Projects (formerly large purple beads were awarded with the completion of each Torch Bearer received)

====Wohelo Award====
Established in 1962, and later renamed, the medallion is named for Camp Fire's watchword "WoHeLo". This word is an anagram for the three words, Work, Health, and Love. Each year approximately 200 Camp Fire youth throughout the nation receive the prestigious Wohelo Award. A youth may apply for the award after completing four major, specified, long-term projects called Reflections, and three self-selected projects, called Advocacies, dealing an area of concern of the youth member's choosing; one of which must be to Camp Fire, and one cannot be to Camp Fire.<ref name="allboutus"/>  The third can be in either Camp Fire or outside of Camp Fire. Each of the three Advocacies must involve leading, teaching, serving, and speaking out. (Many councils today have removed the requirement that Advocacies must be completed to the Camp Fire program, citing that opportunities don't always exist for members enrolled in all areas of the country.)  The third area of work for a Camp Fire Wohelo Award is to know Camp Fire. Each youth is required to read the History of Camp Fire, tour the office in their council, or other approved method of understanding the services Camp Fire provides.<ref name="AMB">{{cite web |last=Beard |first=Alice Marie |url=http://www.alicemariebeard.com/campfire/history.htm |title=Historical Origins of Camp Fire |accessdate=January 29, 2009}}</ref>

In 2004, The Wohelo Award was expanded to Teens in Action members, allowing all high-school aged Camp Fire members to work toward Camp Fire's highest achievement and honor.<ref name="IRB"/>

===Service-Learning===
Service Learning has always been a large part of the Camp Fire curriculum. In 2008–2009 Camp Fire councils engaged a total of 2,864 older youth in service learning projects, which totaled  over 108,852 hours of work with 116 community partners. Working with Learn and Server America 27 Camp Fire councils were able to get 1,731 teens to help  over 70,300 youth and family members from low income housing understand emergency  preparedness. The ''Gift of Giving'' program, for grades K–8th is currently the nation's only organized and measurable introduction to service-learning. To date over 100,000 children have participated in this program.

====Teens in Action====
The Teens in Action program is built on Camp Fire's long tradition of recognizing youth as part of the solution to, and not the problem with, today's social challenges. Working together with young people, Teens in Action strives to improve the communities where youth live, to challenge youth to learn new skills and provide leadership in areas they never thought possible. Programs of this nature inspire and honor community responsibility, contribute to the future of American volunteerism and encourage a sense of caring for others.<ref>{{cite web|title=Teen FAQ |publisher=Camp Fire USA |url=http://www.campfire.org/teens/teens_FAQ.html |accessdate=January 30, 2009 }}{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The principles of Teens in Action are based on youth–adult partnerships and learning through empowering experiences. Its intent is to build strong ties between the teens and their families, schools and communities, and put a spotlight on issues of concern to youth. This program is based on the concept that young people are the key to the future and are making a difference in the world.<ref>{{cite web|title=Teens in Action |publisher=Camp Fire USA  |page=  |url= https://campfire.org/programs |accessdate=2019-09-15}} </ref>

===Hold on to Health===
Hold on to Health is a Camp Fire program that helps to teach children to make healthy decisions regarding exercise and eating. It also encourages children to get their families and other youth involved in becoming healthy.

===Camp and environmental education===
Since Camp Fire's inception it has been about getting girls out in the wilderness to learn. The Gulick family had formed Camp WoHeLo before they had the idea to start the Camp Fire Organization.

Currently Camp Fire is the largest coeducational nonsectarian camp provider. Operating more than 110 environmental and camp programs throughout the United States, and annually serving more than 34,000 school-age youth. Outdoor experiences help children work in groups, make friends and build self-esteem while learning about ecology, conservation and the interrelationships of all living things. The Camp Fire camping and environmental education experience is similar to that of with a family, teaching youth to work in teams, make friends, all while building self-esteem and good decision making skills.<ref name="IRB"/> A common Camp Fire approach is to let the youth decide on their activities, this way they are able to feel a sense of ownership with their camp schedule, helping them to become more proactive. It is Camp Fire's belief  that any program activities that the group does together are not as important or lasting as the effects of being with a group of peers and a supportive adult in an environment where they are able to share feelings and learn from experience.

''"The organization shall endeavor to aid in the formation of habits making for health and vigor, the out-of-door habit, and the out-of-door spirit."'' [[Luther Gulick (physician)|Luther Gulick]]<ref>{{cite book |title=The Play Movement and Its Significance |last=Curtis |first=Henry Stoddard |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.39876 |accessdate=January 30, 2009 |page=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.39876/page/n320 272] |year=1917 |publisher=The Macmillan Company}}</ref>

====Counselor in Training====
The Counselor in Training program is available to all youth over 16 who have an interest in some day becoming a counselor. The CIT program provides youth with leadership skills, self-confidence, good decision-making skills and camping basics—all skills that qualifies camp counselors possess. Camp Fire's CIT program and manual are some of the most frequently used by not only Camp Fire but other organizations, and is approved by the [[American Camping Association]].

===Community Family Club===
Community Family Club is a new program designed by Camp Fire to provide developmental programs for the whole family. It is designed for the whole family, regardless of the make-up of that family. The goal is to include at least one adult family member or a supporting adult from the community
with every child who attends. Siblings of all ages, infants through teens, are included.<ref>{{cite web|title=Camp Fire's Family Club Builds Partnerships |last=Ashby |first=Nicole |publisher=Department of Education |year=2001 |url=http://eric.ed.gov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2sql/content_storage_01/0000019b/80/17/13/98.pdf |accessdate=January 30, 2009 |page=8 }}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Community Family clubs also provide opportunities to create strong partnerships with corporations, schools, faith-based communities, child care settings and other community organizations to advance the needs of children, youth and families across the country. Families come together once a month to share a meal and participate in a recognition ceremony designed to recognize both individual and group accomplishments. The club then breaks into age-level groups for an activity session led by a team of parents who volunteer for the short-term assignment for that month. This program offers parents and guardians the ability to find a community support group for raising their families, and also provides positive family interaction base on structured, educational and fun experiences and activities.

===Absolutely Incredible Kid Day===
Started in 1997, Absolutely Incredible Kid Day  (AIKD) is a national, annual campaign in which adults write letters of love and support to the young people in their lives and tell them why they are incredible. This event is held the third Thursday of March, to correspond to the founding date of Camp Fire.

In previous years, Absolutely Incredible Kid Day has garnered national recognition and acclaim, winning endorsements from child and family experts and advocates. Absolutely Incredible Kid Day has developed an incredible following, including athletes, entertainers and celebrities who have championed the cause by writing letters to America's youth, including former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, Oprah, Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee Jerry Rice and US Astronaut and former Senator John Glenn. On social media, Absolutely Incredible Kid Day uses the hashtags #KidDay and #AIKD.<ref name="IRB"/>

===Past programs===
====Bluebirds, Blue Jays, Sparks====
Through the years, many names have been used within Camp Fire to identify different age groups. Camp Fire's youngest members in elementary school were known as Bluebirds for many years.

In 1983, a club program for kindergarteners was introduced. It was called Sparks. In 1989, these two age groups were combined and new program level for kindergarten, first and second graders called Starflight was created. The program of Little Stars for pre-schoolers was added in 2005.  The tradition of bluebirds has been preserved as a Camp Fire mascot for all ages to enjoy.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Us |publisher=Camp Fire USA Big River Council |url=http://www.campfirebr.org/aboutus.cfm |accessdate=January 29, 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100121181954/http://www.campfirebr.org/aboutus.cfm |archivedate=January 21, 2010 |df=mdy }}</ref>

==Native American influence==
Native American culture influenced the early years of Camp Fire. Native American culture has served as the inspiration for ceremonial activities and attire, camp and council names, respect for nature and the environment, and the use of symbols by many councils. For Camp Fire, Native American symbolism was a natural outgrowth of an appreciation for differences and cultural inclusiveness. The theory was that such symbolism enabled—and even encouraged—self-reflection and personal growth.

===Names===
Each Camp Fire member between third and sixth grade is encouraged to choose a name that best reflects their personality and aspirations.<ref name="GIA">{{cite book |title=Girlhood in America |last=Forman-Brunell |first=Miriam |publisher=ABC-CILO |year=2001 |pages=85–87 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R9seZ-3JCqsC |accessdate=January 29, 2009 |isbn=978-1-57607-206-6}}</ref> At this time they are also encouraged to choose a symbol or "symbolgram".<ref>{{cite web |title=Camp Fire Names and Symbolgrams |last=Beard |first=Alice Marie |url=http://www.alicemariebeard.com/campfire/symbols/ |accessdate=January 30, 2009}}</ref> Clubs are also encouraged to choose a Native American name.<ref>{{cite book |title=Indian Names Facts & Games |last=Poast |first=Florence M. |publisher=Thomsen—Bryan—Ellis Company |year=1916 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2VtrAAAAMAAJ |accessdate=January 29, 2009}}</ref>

===Ceremonial attire===
Originally, the Camp Fire ceremonial gown was based on Native American women's gowns. Now a youth may choose any style of ceremonial attire, particularly if it honors the ethnic background to which the youth can trace. This attire can include tunics, kimonos, Scandinavian skirts/aprons, etc. The ceremonial attire is decorated with honor beads, earned emblems, and other personal items the youth chooses. Sometimes the youth's symbolgram is used on the gown/tunic. The symbolgram is a symbol created by the youth to represent him/herself. By 1946 the ceremonial gown was optional.<ref>{{cite web |title=Camp Fire Girls—Ceremonial Gowns |publisher=Vintage Kids Stuff |url=http://www.vintagekidstuff.com/cfggown.htm |accessdate=January 29, 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218071500/http://vintagekidstuff.com/cfggown.htm |archivedate=February 18, 2009 |df=mdy }}</ref>

==Camp Fire today==
Camp Fire is inclusive, open to all youth of any race, creed, religion, gender, national origin, economic status, and sexual orientation. Every Camp Fire program employs the Thrive{ology}, a program methodology helping youth find their sparks and discover who they are. Trained, caring adult leaders then nurture that discovery giving youth the tools they need to become leaders in their community, school, or their peer group today.

Programs fall into three main groups:
* Camp & Environmental Programming
* Teen Service & Leadership
* Out of school time<ref>{{cite web |title=Core Values |publisher=Camp Fire |url=http://campfire.org/programs}}</ref>

Currently there are 60 Councils in Camp Fire.<ref name="IRB"/>

==In fiction and popular culture==
Throughout the years Camp Fire has appeared in many novels written for youth. Irene Ellion Benson wrote one of the first books to incorporate Camp Fire called ''How Ethel Hollister Became a Campfire Girl'', published in 1912.  Between 1912 and 1918 Irene Benson published six books with Camp Fire in them.  In 1913, Margaret Vandercook started a series of Camp Fire Girls books which portrayed many activities, rituals, and ceremonies of Camp Fire, including their summer camps. In the 1980s Camp Fire was featured in the [[Carolyn Keene]] and [[Franklin Dixon]]'s ''Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys Camp Fire Stories''. Laura Lee Hope also featured Camp Fire in a Bobbsey Twins book. In 1991, Archie Comics published a special Archie comic in celebration of Camp Fire's 75th. anniversary with the Riverdale gang working as counselors there. British writers have also used Camp Fire and their rituals in British children's fiction. Author [[Elsie J. Oxenham]] often mentioned Camp Fire in her "Abbey" series.<ref>{{cite web |title=Camp Fire in Children's Fiction |last=Beard |first=Alice Marie |url=http://www.alicemariebeard.com/campfire/cf-books.htm |accessdate=December 2, 2009}}</ref> In 1915, [[Angela Brazil]] incorporated the Camp Fire League into one of her fictional girls' boarding schools, ''For the Sake of the School''.

==Notable people==
'''National Board of Trustees:'''

* Greg Zweber, President & CEO 
* Jane Parker, Chair
* Stephen “Steve” C. Franke, Jr., CPA, Treasurer
* Mara H. Cohara, Secretary
* McKenzie Napier, National Youth Advisory Cabinet Chair
* Melanie Lockwood Herman
* Lauren Lampe
* Rick Taylor
* Sonya Richburg
* Ken Schoeneck
* Jeanetta Darno
* Dave Albano

'''Senior Leadership:'''

* Greg Zweber, President & CEO 
* Patti Gardner, Chief Business Officer
* Troy Robinson, Chief Development Officer
* Shawna Rosenzweig, Chief Strategy Officer
* Erin Risner, Director, Marketing and Communications
* Connie Dresie, Director, Council Support
* Chris Wagner, Director, Office Technology
* Debbie Zabica, Director, Council Effectiveness

'''Camp Fire Alumni:'''

*[[Marian Anderson]]<ref name="Keiler">{{Cite book | url = https://archive.org/details/marianandersonsi00keil | title = Marian Anderson | website = archive.nytimes.com | publisher = Scribner | last = Keiler | first = Allan | year = 2000 | isbn = 0-684-80711-4 | url-access = registration }}</ref>
*[[Shirley Temple]]
*[[Beverly Cleary]]
*[[Lauren Graham]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Lauren Graham on Bonnie Hunt Show |date=October 6, 2008 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6TS3FB1lZU |accessdate=January 29, 2009}}</ref>
*[[Janis Joplin]]
*[[Gladys Knight]]
*[[Madonna]]
*[[Rita Moreno]]
*[[Patrice Munsel]] – TV spokeswoman for the Camp Fire Girls in the 1950s and 1960s<ref>{{cite web|title=Patrice Munsel: Biography|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0613217/bio |website=IMDb|accessdate=June 11, 2016}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Portal:Scouting|The Scouting Portal]]
* [[British Camp Fire Girls' Association]]
* [[Religious emblems programs]]
* [[Camp Fire Girls (novel series)]]
* [[Scouting in popular culture]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book | last1 = Bucker  | first1 = Helen   | first2 = Mary F.  | last2 = Fielder  | first3 = Martha F.  | last3 = Allen |  title = Wo-He-Lo: The Story of the Campfire Girls, 1910-1960  | date = 1961 | location = New York | publisher  = Holt, Rinehart and Winston  | isbn = }}
*  {{Cite thesis| last = Foley  | first = Jessica L. |  title = 'Meeting the Needs of Today's Girl': Youth Organizations and the Making of a Modern Girlhood, 1945-1980 | degree = PhD |   type = Dissertation   | publisher = Brown University  | date = 2010  | url = http://gradworks.umi.com/3430133.pdf}}
*  {{cite journal | last = Hahner  | first = Leslie.   | s2cid = 143730086 |  title = Practical Patriotism: Camp Fire Girls, Girl Scouts, and Americanization  | journal = Communication and Critical/Cultural Studies | volume =  5 | issue = 2   | date = 2008  | pages = 113–134| doi = 10.1080/14791420801989702 }}
*  {{cite journal | last = Helgren  | first = Jennifer  | s2cid = 143862624 |  title = Native American and White Camp Fire Girls Enact Modern Girlhood, 1910–39  | journal = American Quarterly | volume =  66 | issue = 2   | date = 2014  | pages = 333–360| doi = 10.1353/aq.2014.0031 }}
*  {{cite book | last = Inness | first = Sherrie A. | title = Girl Scouts, camp fire girls, and woodcraft girls: The ideology of girls' scouting novels, 1910–1935 | editor = Sherrie A. Inness | work = Nancy Drew and company: culture, gender, and girls’ series | date = 1997 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/nancydrewcompany00sher/page/89 89–100] | publisher = The University of Wisconsin Press | url = https://archive.org/details/nancydrewcompany00sher/page/89 | isbn = 978-0-87972-736-9 }}
*  {{cite journal | last = McCallum  | first = Mary Jane  |  title = 'The Fundamental Things': Camp Fire Girls and Authenticity, 1910-20  | journal = Canadian Journal of History | volume =  40 | issue = 1   | date = 2005  | pages = 45–66| doi = 10.3138/cjh.40.1.45 }}
*  {{cite book | last = Proctor  | first = Tammy M.  |  title = Scouting for Girls: A Century of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts   | publisher = Praeger   | date = 2009}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Camp Fire USA}}
* {{official| http://www.campfire.org}}
* [http://www.alicemariebeard.com/campfire/history.htm Historical origins of Camp Fire] by Alice Marie Beard
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=cjOuu6lui5MC&pg=RA1-PA320&dq=%22Camp+Fire+Girls%22&lr=&ei=FXyCSbnKMJOMkATC_4j5BQ The Book of Camp Fire Girls c. 1913]

{{Scouting in the United States}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Camp Fire Usa}}

[[Category:Non-scout youth organizations]]

[[eo:Camp Fire USA]]