[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 26 (Thursday, March 9, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S1385]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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         RECOGNITION OF CAMP FIRE BOYS AND GIRLS BIRTHDAY WEEK

 Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the Camp Fire 
Boys and Girls as it celebrates its 90th birthday. Founded in 1910 as 
the Camp Fire Girls, it focuses on educational and leadership programs 
to mentor America's young women, and at the time was the nation's only 
organization specifically for girls. My own state of Minnesota was one 
of the first states to develop a local chapter for Camp Fire Girls, 
with a small group of eight and their 21-year-old leader.
  Minnesota Governor John Lind purchased 63 acres on Lake Minnewashta 
in 1924 to provide Camp Fire members with a permanent campground. This 
concept caught on, as two years later, 1000 feet of shoreline on Green 
Lake was purchased for the St. Paul council. Many of the early camping 
ventures were for girls in high school. But many councils, like 
Minnesota, developed a Blue Bird program to provide younger girls with 
activities all their own. This additional age group completed the 
support Camp Fire brought to girls up to age 18. To better serve all of 
America's youth, Camp Fire opened its doors and allowed boys to become 
members in 1975. In 1994, the St. Paul and Minneapolis councils merged 
and now serve not only the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, but most 
of Southern Minnesota. This partnership has provided Camp Fire the 
opportunity to maintain its flexibility and remain responsive to the 
changing needs of children.
  That Camp Fire has consistently adapted to the changes necessitated 
by changing times is perhaps the organization's strongest asset in 
reaching out to America's youth.
  Camp Fire was not intended to solve the problems of the world, but 
rather provide the right tools to the children who will. From the 
beginning, Camp Fire has used the ideals behind Work, Health, and Love 
(Wohelo) to guide our youth in developing self-esteem and 
responsibility. Wohelo was the name of the organization's first camp in 
Vermont and more than 50 years later, in 1962, the Wohelo medallion was 
created to bestow the highest honor to those who personify the meaning 
of the Camp Fire organization.
  Today, there are 125 local councils in 41 States serving some 629,000 
young Americans. Camp Fire provides direct access to youth through 
development programs in three areas: club programs, self-reliance 
programs, and outdoor programs.
  Club programs provide children with regular, informal educational 
meetings in local communities led by volunteers or paid leaders. In 
elementary schools, self-reliance courses are led by trained, certified 
teachers who educate children about personal safety and self-care. Last 
year, more than 6,000 children were involved in this program in 
Minneapolis alone. And in St. Paul, teens are involved in the teaching 
process to broaden their community involvement. The outdoor programs 
provide an outdoor setting for children to better understand the world 
we live in while developing vision, commitment, and participation 
skills in team and individual activities.
  I am honored to wish the Camp Fire Boys and Girls across America a 
happy 90th birthday. I wish it continued success in reaching our youth 
by inspiring individual potential while having fun.

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