|
||||||
|
||||||
|
||
|
History Camp Fire USA is a national organization, based in Kansas City. The national organization was founded in 1910 and has a unique history. The Central Ohio Council was started in 1913, and has a history all its own. Camp Wyandot has been part of our council since 1928. It's natural history is fascinating (the area was influenced by Ice Age glaciers), and its Camp Fire traditions feel almost as ancient. Click here for more about Wyandot's history. History of Camp Fire USA (National): Camp Fire was founded in 1910 by Luther Gulick, M.D., and his wife, Charlotte Gulick, as the first nonsectarian organization for girls in the United States. Luther Gulick was such a prominent expert, President Harry Truman consulted him on how to transition our nation to peacetime after World War II. In 1975, membership was expanded to include boys. Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., Camp Fire USA currently serves nearly 750,000 children and youth annually. 1910 First meetings of Camp Fire Girls are held in Vermont. Dr. Gulick chooses the name "Camp Fire" because campfires were the origin of the first communities and domestic life. Once people learned to make and control fire, they could develop and nurture a sense of community. 1912 Camp Fire Girls of America is incorporated in Washington, D.C., as a national agency. 1913 The "Blue Bird" program is officially introduced for younger girls and offers exploration of ideas and creative play built around family and community life. In 1989 the "Blue Bird" level will become the "Starflight" level and to serve both boys and girls. 1918 The first local Camp Fire council is formed in Kansas City, Mo. Beginning in 1977, Kansas City will be the national headquarters for Camp Fire. 1954 The national headquarters adopts a statement calling for greater inclusiveness of all groups within all segments of the membership. Today, Camp Fire USA prides itself in the level of diversity of its members and its programs. 1960 Camp Fire celebrates its 50th anniversary with the "She Cares . . . Do You?" program. During the project, Camp Fire plants more than 2 million trees, builds 13,000 bird houses and completes several other conservation-oriented tasks. In honor of the anniversary, a commemorative stamp is issued and a major conservation effort is launched. 1962 A new program level, "Junior Hi," in which 12- and 13-year-old girls explore new interests as a group and as individuals, is created. The program name will later changed to "Discovery" with the inclusion of boys. The Wohelo Medallion becomes Camp Fire's highest achievement and honor. The Medallion is named for Camp Fire's watchword "Wohelo," which stands for "work," "health" and "love." Recipients typically spend two years completing projects that foster leadership, teaching, service and advocacy. In 1996, the Wohelo Medallion is renamed the Wohelo Award. Each year, approximately 200 Camp Fire USA youth throughout the nation receive the prestigious Wohelo Award. 1964-67 Through the Metropolitan Critical Areas (MCA) Project, Camp Fire launches a national effort to reach low-income, predominantly urban girls. The purpose of the MCA project is to meet the special needs and promote the healthy social development of these youth and to locate, train and retain neighborhood volunteers. 1975 Camp Fire expands its horizons and encourages boys to participate in all Camp Fire activities. Today, 46 percent of the youth served by Camp Fire USA are boys. 1983 The introduction of the new, coed "Adventure" program for third- through fifth-graders completes the task of program revisions focusing on the inclusion of boys. In this club level, children experience activities focused on the outdoors, creativity, family and community. 1988 Camp Fire introduces "Teens in Action" as a one time social issue campaign to energize the older youth program. Today, Teens in Action, Camp Fire USA's service-learning program for teens, serves over 60,000 teens. 1992 The DeWitt Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund awards Camp Fire a $2.5 million grant. This enables Camp Fire to establish the Champions For Children program, which strengthens the capacity of councils through professional development opportunities for staff. 1995 Camp Fire celebrates its 85th anniversary. Building on the tradition of the campfire symbol, the 85th birthday theme is "A Tradition of Lighting the Way. 1996 The DeWitt Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund awards Camp Fire USA a $1 million grant that helps bring youth-development programs to thousands of young people who live in low-income communities. Through the Extending Our Reach initiative, councils are trained and receive technical support for initiating partnerships within these communities. 1997 Camp Fire and the nation celebrate the first-ever Absolutely Incredible Kid DayŽ -- a call to action for all adults to communicate through letters their love and commitment to children on the third Thursday of each March. 1998 The Best Buy Children's Foundation awards Camp Fire a generous grant to fund teen initiatives. With Best Buy's continued support, teens across America have been empowered to create and advocate for change in their own communities by participating in national youth forums, web-based town hall meetings and the national teen Web site. 1999 At the national convention in Seattle, the new mission of Camp Fire is announced, "Camp Fire builds caring, confidant youth and future leaders." This mission is leading the organization in the new century. Learn and Serve America and the Corporation for National Service award Camp Fire a grant to expand its Teens in Action program to reach over 105,000 teens by 2003. To date, 38 Camp Fire USA councils have received over $300,000 through this grant. 2000 Camp Fire celebrates its 90th anniversary as one of America's leading youth development agencies and conducts a nationwide search to find the oldest living Camp Fire USA member. Camp Fire introduces the "Community Family Club" small-group model, designed to provide parents and other caring community adults the opportunity to interact positively with children and teens. 2001 With over 600 million people being reached by the special event since its inception, Camp Fire honors the fifth annual Absolutely Incredible Kid DayŽ with professional football superstar Jerry Rice serving as the event's national spokesperson. Camp Fire USA launches a new brand and introduces a national theme line, "Today's kids. Tomorrow's leaders." This theme line helps succinctly define Camp Fire USA for America's families. At the national convention in Fort Worth, Camp Fire USA debuts newly revised curricula for small-group programs serving grades K-5. The 52-week deep curricula are designed to build social skills and academic competencies. 2002 Camp Fire USA conducts a system-wide launch of the Community Family Club (CFC) program, complete with the new Community Family Club Operations Manual offering steps to launching CFC, supporting materials and six meeting plans. This year, each Camp Fire USA council is expected to start a minimum of two Community Family Clubs. Camp Fire USA national homepage <<Back to the top>> History of Central Ohio Council: Camp Fire, of Central Ohio came to Columbus, Ohio in 1913. In 1925, the Columbus and Franklin County Council of Camp Fire Girls, Inc. were organized and were charted by the national organization. In 1975, the national membership was extended to boys through a national amendment and the name changed to Columbus Area Council of Camp Fire Boys and Girls, Inc. In 1977, three other surrounding counties were added and the name was changed to Central Ohio Council of Camp Fire Boys and Girls. The jurisdiction was expanded again in 1980, 1993, and 1994 and now the area of jurisdiction includes Franklin, Delaware, Licking, Pickaway, Union, Madison, Athens, Hocking, Marion, Fairfield, Fayette, Guernsey, Noble, Belmont, and Muskingham counties. In 1999, Camp Fire Boys and Girls nationally, chose to undergo a complete identity transformation and image awareness campaign to educate America on who we are in the 21st Century and to reflect a new direction for the organization that mirrors the needs and interests of children and families today. After extensive research and brand analysis, we became Camp Fire USA in August 2001. Our transformation to Camp Fire USA of Central Ohio retains the inherent equity of the organization's name change and promises a cohesive local organization that is the best choice for in-school and after-school activities. Camp Fire USA of Central Ohio continues to take pride in its long standing commitment to providing programs and services to all children, communities and families in Central Ohio regardless of race, religion, socioeconomic status, disability, sexual orientation or other aspect of diversity. This commitment has allowed Camp Fire USA to shape its programming based on community needs. Rather than offering standardized programs and activities, Camp Fire USA provides developmental asset and outcome based national and local curriculum that emphasize the importance of boys and girls learning, playing and growing together. By design, Camp Fire USA of Central Ohio's programs, include but are not limited to in-school and after-school programs, clubs, camping and environmental education, child care and service-learning. <<Back to the top>> History of Camp Wyandot: Camp Wyandot was purchased in February 1928 after a diligent search by member of the board of the Columbus and Franklin County Council of Camp Fire. The purchase price of $10,000 included the farm house, barn and outbuilding as well as 250 acres of beautiful land. At the time of the purchase, the Council had only $1000 for the investment, but they had faith, ambition and were dedicated to the ideals of camping for girls.(Camp Fire did not become a co-ed organization until 1975). 
In July 1928
Camp Wvandot opened for four weeks of camping. There were no
permanent buildings, but a hastily remodeled chicken house
which served as the combined kitchen- dining hall. The camp
capacity was 42 campers and a staff of 7. The camp headquarters
was a small tent where the Camp Director lived. Seven rented
tents housed 6 girls each with a counselor. Handcraft
headquarters was the camp barn and the old log cabin was a
shoemaker's house and shop where people came for miles around
to have their shoes made.
Swimming was in Clear Creek, and while actual swimming was not possible the fundamentals were taught and the girls not only enjoyed the classes but also took soap and wash cloths with them for their daily baths. The tents were erected in the "flats" which is now the recreation and parking area. After the first season, when a flash flood flooded the area, the tents were moved to high ground, along what is now Cabin Row. In the early fall of 1928, the members of the Executive Board and fathers of some of the campers started the building now known as the Staff Lodge. This building was planned for weekend camping, and for camp headquarters during the camping season. The motto "Here let the fire of friendships burn" was well chosen for the wonderful friendships started by the volunteer workers and the staunch friendships formed by staff and campers through the years. The second major project was the building of the camp lake, which was planned for swimming and boating. The volunteer services of an engineer on the staff of The Ohio State University to plan the camp dam and supervise the construction of the project resulted in the marriage of the Camp Director, Eula V. Ball and Arthur Wyatt. The wedding was held on the porch of the Staff Lodge in September 1930, with the 7 counselors dressed in autumn colors as bridesmaids. The porch and big rock beside the porch were decorated with golden rod, iron weed and thistle blossoms. The wedding reception was held in the Paw Paw Patch. The new lake in the valley, east of the tents was filled in July 1930. A beautiful formal dedication was held one moonlight night with a candlelight serenade, and the lake was named Atagahi - an Indian name meaning Beautiful Water Among the Hills. Egypt [currently old Egypt] was built in 1933-34 below the Hoskins Lodge and had cold water showers and pit latrines. In 1935 the Hislop Lodge (Dining Hall), and four cabins (Lion, Wasp, Beaver, and Whippoorwill) were built with the help of W.P.A. labor. A sawmill was brought into camp, set up east of the Dining Hall and all the material for the buildings was obtained from the camp property. A chestnut blight had killed huge chestnut trees and these, as well as large oaks, were used to provide the logs and lumber. The sandstone for the fireplaces in the Dining Hall was quarried from the hillsides near the Dining Hall. In the years that followed new cabins were built gradually to replace worn tents. The majority of the cabins were built through funds of the Alfred Willson Foundation, but others were built by service clubs and individuals.All of the money for camp buildings and improvements has been made possible by generous friends of Camp Fire. Shortly before the war, the Camp Fire Council realized that while Lake Atagahi added much to the beauty of the camp, it did not prove to be a practical place to swim. Every hard rain caused the lake to rise, become muddy and for this reason, dangerous. The beginners had to stand ankle deep in mud in the shallow end of the lake for swimming lessons. Big leeches terrified them and they did not want to put their heads in the muddy water. A drive for sales tax stamps was decided as the best way to raise money. Camp Fire girls all over the city covered oatmeal boxes and placed them in stores for sales tax stamps. While the war postponed the building of the pool until 1951, the drive for sales tax stamps continued and Mr. Fred Waring, State Sanitary engineer for Ohio, planned the pool and supervised its construction. [Mrs. Waring was responsible for counting the many thousands of stamps collected.] The pool has added much to the joy of the campers.  In 1942, Mr.
Don Hoskins gave Camp Wyandot $2,000 as a gift in memory of
his daughter, Barbara, who died that year. Barbara had been
a loyal camper. Members of the Board realized the need for
a hospital and first aid building and plans were made for a
small cabin for this purpose with the Hoskins Fund. However,
the committee decided that if they used volunteer labor, a
much more substantial building could be built for the same
amount of money and the building could also be used for weekend
camping, as well as the hospital during summer camp. After
months of volunteer work, the Hoskins Lodge was completed.
At the present time it houses the camp nurse, is the first
aid headquarters and is used for weekend camping in the spring
and in the fall.Carmen Hambleton was the first nature counselor at Camp Wyandot. Her father, H.C. Hambleton, was the supervisor of nature study for the Columbus Public Schools and was also President of the Council for several years. At his death, Carmen Hambleton Warner built the Nature Cabin, known as the Hambleton Lodge, in his memory. She chose the site carefully for the view. In 1958 the Shawnee Unit was added. This unit was established to meet the camping needs for older girls by offering them an opportunity to be off cabin row and more on their own. Two 2 week sessions were offered the first year. Since that time this unit has housed the older boys unit and the Counselors-in-Training (CITs). The "new" showerhouse, Egypt, was completed in 1959 and had hot and cold running water and flush toilets. The construction of Khru, the camp's second showerhouse, began in 1961. During 1963 Camp Fire purchased 40 additional acres and purchased another 80 acres in 1964 (Vorhees tract). The Seneca Unit [currently called Sioux] was built in 1963 and originally housed the CITS, Since then is has housed older girls and now is the home of the older boys. The Sioux Unit was added in 1966 to expand the program for girls completing the 6th and 7th grades. It was located at the far end of Cabin Row and the girls lived in teepees. The Kiowa Unit was built in 1967-68 for girls completing the 7th and 8th grades. It consists of treehouses and is located on the hill above Hambleton Lodge (nature cabin). Construction on a new home for the Camp Manager began in 1970 and was completed in 1972. Donald Jenks worked as a volunteer for two summers along with our Camp Manager, Clifford Lindsay to make this dream a reality. < A special horseback riding program was added to the variety of camper activities In 1973. A tack room and stalls were built in the barn, 10 acres were fenced for pasture land and a riding ring for teaching lessons was also built. For the 1974 camping season, the Sioux Unit moved across the hill to the unit used by the Seneca girls. This gave the Sioux girls more room and an opportunity to be more independent. Two new tebins were built for the Seneca Unit with special funds donated by the United Way for this project. The year 1975 was a year of growth in three areas. A nature program was established to encourage campers to become more aware of their environment; a nature counselor was added to the Wyandot staff; and a kitchen shelter was added to the Kiowa Unit. In 1977 bovs became campers at Camp Wyandot. Originally they were housed in the Sioux, Kiowa or Seneca Units. In 1984 the older boys were housed in the Seneca Unit and the younger boys took over the Whippoorwill, Beaver and Wasp cabins.  Over
the years the original pool had begun to deteriorate and plans
were made
in 1975 to build a new pool on the site of the original pool.
In 1976 a request was made to the Battelle Foundation and Battelle
responded by granting Camp Fire a $25,000 matching grant. After
several fund raisers the pool was finally completed in May
1978 at a cost of 68,000. The pool dedication was held in June
1978 in honor of Fred Waring who had devoted much time and
service, not only to the building of the pool but to Camp Fire
itself. A third showerhouse, Alps, was completed in 1982 and is the showerhouse used by the Sioux, Kiowa and Seneca Units. In early 1991 Camp Fire sold approximately 140 acres to the Metropolitan Parks. This included the site known as Blanpied and farmland along Clear Creek. Since that time the camp has been operating an exciting summer camping program utilizing the talents of adult volunteers who serve as the counselors. Camp Wvandot was open for one week during the summers of 1991 and 1992; two weeks during the summers of 1993 and 1994; and three weeks during the summer of 1995. It takes 45 to 50 volunteers to put on a one week program. Special programs added in 1995 include beading, backpacking, and horseback riding. A special camping project was added in 1993 through Saturday's Hair Care. Through the fundraising efforts of Saturday's owner, Bob Sheldon, and his staff, camping opportunities were provided to homeless children from Faith Mission and Volunteers of America. In addition to the camping fee, Saturday's provided all the items needed to make the experience complete - bedrolls, clothing, spending money, camp t-shirt and camp picture. Camp Fire's Bob Braun coordinated the purchase of the clothing and helped the children feel comfortable once they arrived at camp. Camp Wyandot has grown steadily since 1928. Thousands of youth have camped here, made friends, and learned skills and hobbies which have enriched their lives. The work, effort and love of volunteers have made our camp possible. The paths of Camp Wyandot have been made by those who have gone before us on the Camp Fire trail. We hope those who follow these paths will lead many campers to love and feel at home in the out-of-doors. <<Back to the top>> |
|
 |
|
|
| Camp Fire USA's mission is to build caring, confident youth and future leaders. | ||
| Camp Fire USA's core values: Camp Fire USA adheres to 12 core values that guide the development of programs and the organization as a whole:
|
||