Camp Fire USA Then & Now
Citizenship Throughout the Years

Camp Fire USA's rich 92-year history is illustrated beautifully time and time again in its archives of artifacts, photographs and preserved documents. As Camp Fire maintains its long-standing tradition of being a mover and shaker in youth development, Then & Now Fun Facts will highlight its progresses and projects throughout the years.

The red and blue colors of the Camp Fire USA logo - and uniform - represent citizenship, an attribute of Camp Fire members since 1910. Regardless of the decade and the issue, Camp Fire youth are always found supporting their communities, their nation and their neighbors, most noticeably in our country's greatest times of need.

As the United States entered World War I in April, 1917, Camp Fire founder Luther Gulick was quick to react to President Woodrow Wilson's request for women to support soldiers' oversea efforts with their own efforts on the home front.

Camp Fire responded with an initiative titled "Work through the Homes" designed to help secure the rights of humanity and permanent peace. Almost 95,000 Camp Fire Girls participated in Gulick's proposed war effort relief program, consisting of a variety of activities, including those shown below accompanied by the number of girls involved in each:
68,474: number saving food
70,448: number maintaining gardens
37,690: number caring for children
83,356: number contributing to and assisting Red Cross
58,558: number participating in Minute Girl Program

These efforts made Camp Fire the only girls' organization of the time to definitely and formally back up the government's work by having its program modified and approved by several federal authorities.

Not much has changed in Camp Fire USA since the first World War. Our youth are still displaying compassion for their neighbors as well as immense patriotism.

In the aftermath of the September 11 tragedies, Camp Fire USA youth embraced the organization's motto, "Give Service," to show their support for the victims and families of the attacks, as well as our nation itself.

From the West Coast to the East Coast, and all points in between, councils and youth members took part in activities such as the following to help their fellow Americans:
- Raised money for Red Cross and Sept 11 Fund
- Wrote sympathetic, encouraging letters to victims' families
- Created murals that hung from a New York City firehouse window expressing sympathy and support for the New York City and Washington, DC, firefighters, police officers and rescue workers
- Wrote letters and sent stuffed animals (left) to Camp Fire USA youth in New York and New Jersey that were directly affected by the tragedies

These efforts, and many more, conducted by Camp Fire USA youth helped our communities and our nation cope during this time of national need.