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 The Camp Fire Girls aims to
organize the daily life of girls. It aims to show that
romance and beauty are to be found on every side and in
wholesome ways. It organizes girls and women to promote
wholesome, happy life in home and community. The
principal means of reaching these aims is through honors
and ranks based on attainment. The activities are
focused and the ideals emphasized by simple ceremonies
and ritual together with symbolic and beautiful costumes
and decorations.
The purposes as defined by the
Constitution are:
Section 1. The
purpose of this corporation shall be to perpetuate the
spiritual ideals of the home under the new conditions of
a social community, through the organization of girls
and women into units divided by age into Camp Fires and
Junior groups.
Section 2. The
organization shall endeavor to show that the common
things of daily life are the chief means of beauty,
romance and adventure.
Section 3. 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.
Section 4. The
organization shall endeavor to devise and put in use
ways of measuring and creating standards for woman's
work.
Section 5. The
organization shall endeavor to give to girls and women
incentive ideals and objects for doing "team
work," for "keeping step."
Section 6. The
organization shall endeavor to foster intimate relation
between mothers and daughters by giving status and
social recognition to the work of the mother.
Section 7. The
organization shall endeavor to develop among girls and
women a sympathetic understanding of the newer economic
relationships into which women are coming.
Section 8. The
organization shall definitely undertake to improve the
social life in the community of each of its constituent
groups through the promotion of such community social
activities as pageants, celebrations, social centers,
organized vacations, and tramping, amateur drama and
music.
Self Government. The
Camp Fire Girls is a self-governing organization. It is
controlled as follows: The Corporation or Board of
Electors consists of the Guardians of all Camp Fires who
pay dues, and additional persons especially elected.
This Board of Electors meets annually and elects the
Board of Directors who conduct the work.
Self Support. Camp
Fire Girls aim to support as well as control their own
national work. This we expect to have accomplished
before the close of the year 1915. This is to be
accomplished through: fees of "a cent a girl a
week," i.e., fifty cents a year; royalties of five
per cent, on all Camp Fire Girl articles sold, and
advertising in Camp Fire Girl publications, sale of
Manual, etc.
ORGANIZATION OF CAMP FIRES
 The
organization is primarily related to home and social
life, hence it should consist usually of girls of about
the same age, who naturally belong together, whose homes
are near to each other, and who like one another. That
is, the best results are to be secured by having the
Guardian and the group socially homogeneous.
The
parents should co-operate actively in bringing the work
about and carrying it on. One of the mothers is often
the Guardian with others as assistants.
Each
group of girls over twelve years old is called a Camp
Fire. Each Camp Fire secures a charter.
Each Camp
Fire consists of at least six girls. This is in order
that there may be a sufficient number to develop the
"team sprit."
No Camp
Fire may have more than twenty active members. This will
permit intimate acquaintance among the girls and the
Guardian. The best size for a Camp Fire is from ten to
fourteen girls.
The
responsible head of a Camp Fire is called Guardian of
the Fire. She must be at least twenty-one years of age.
She is appointed by the National Board.
Camp Fire
Girls are over twelve years old.
Camp Fire
Blue Birds are over six years old. The group is know as
the Blue Bird Nest. (A Blue Bird Manual will eventually
be prepared.) Blue Birds are the younger sisters and
friends of the Camp Fire Girls. It is not an independent
organization.
The Camp
Fire Girls have three ranks: Wood Gatherer, Fire Maker,
and Torch Bearer. Each rank has its special emblem which
should be worn on the right sleeve.
The
symbol of membership in the Camp Fire Girls is the
silver fagot ring. This is given by the National Board
without cost to each girl when she becomes a Wood
Gatherer.
Each Camp
Fire as well as each Camp Fire Girls has a special name
and symbol
Ceremonial
meetings are held monthly. At summer camps they should
be held weekly. At these meetings a ritual is used, the
Count is read, honors are awarded, rank is conferred,
and new members are received.
Weekly
meetings are held to help the girls formulate their
daily work and to teach them new activities, such as
honors in handwork, home work, entertaining, sports,
business, and keeping and illustrating the Record Book.
Often these meetings are held in conjunction with a hike
and the study of nature lore.
Honors
are awarded to members in recognition of attainment.
They are symbolized by distinctively colored beads which
have been selected by the National Board for their
simplicity and suitability for decoration. The honors
are divided into six groups as follows:
1.
Required honors: These are attainments which are
required before a girl may become a Fire Maker. Such
attainments are indicated by purple beads.
2.
Elective Honors: These form the basis of Camp Fire work
and are divided into seven groups, such as Home Craft,
Health Craft, Camp Craft, Hand Craft, Nature Lore,
Business, and Patriotism. Honors won in these crafts
count towards the rank of Fire Maker and Torch Bearer.
3. Big
Honors: These may be won by any Fire Maker over fourteen
years of age in any of the Elective Honor groups.
4. Torch
Bearer Honors: These are for Torch Bearers over sixteen
years of age who specialize in certain honors.
5. Local
Honors: Honors for special cases.
6.
National Honors: Honors awarded for services of general
use to the Camp Fire Girls.
Symbolic
Art Forms. Ideals, aspirations and visions have always
been expressed through art forms, poetry, music, form,
color, ritual ceremony, etc. Accordingly, Camp Fire
Girls use all of these to help to express their visions
and purposes. Symbols help to convey meanings which it
is difficult to put into logical speech, hence, symbolic
art forms are used as a frame for the activities of
daily life. Upon this conception of the relation of art
and life have been developed the ceremonial gown and
meetings.
Sings and
Symbols. Fire is the symbol of the organization, for
around it the first homes were built. Camp Fire stands
not only for the home, but also for the genuineness and
simplicity of the out-of-doors. The sun is used as a
general symbol for fire. This symbol is used
particularly as the Guardian's Pin.
The
symbol of membership is the standing pine. It means
simplicity and strength.
Wohelo is
the watchword. It is made up of the first two letters of
Work, of Health, and of Love.
The hand
sign of fire, used as a salutation, is made by
flattening the fingers of the right hand against those
of the left. This indicates crossed logs. From this
position the hand is slowly raised, following the curves
of an imaginary flame until the index-finger points
straight up.
Wohelo.
This is the name of the official publication, an
illustrated monthly. Price $1.00 a year.
Supplies.
All supplies may be secured from the Camp Fire
Outfitting Company, 17-19 West 17th Street, New York
City. This includes ceremonial dresses, honor beads,
Fire Maker's bracelet, Torch Bearer's pin, Guardian's
pin, etc..
How to
Organize. The application for Guardian's authorization
and for the charter should be made together. The women
who wishes to be Guardian should fill out the blank
enclosed, and send it with twenty-five cents to the
National Board. The investigation preliminary to the
appointment of a Guardian usually takes from four to six
weeks.
The
Charter application must be signed by the girls desiring
to become members, and this, together with five dollars
(to cover the charter outfit, should be mailed with the
application for appointment of Guardian.
Four
Steps Toward Success. 1. Use the out-of-doors. Go on a
tramp at least once a month. Have a fire. Let each trip
have a special program; e.g., to some historical
spot--learning the story; to observe interesting rocks
or trees--seeing and knowing birds, etc. 2. Use the
motion songs. There is nothing that carries the idea of
the Camp Fire Girls and serves to develop enthusiasm as
vigorous singing of the Camp Fire Girls' motion songs.
Sing each one over and over until it is perfectly
familiar. Make up new songs. 3. Use the ceremonies. This
involves study and practice, but is as essential to
success as a frame is to a picture or the right words
are to a poetic idea. 4. Meet regularly and have each
meeting planned beforehand.
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