The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-10-31
CAMP FIRE GIRLS
Local Camp Fire Organized in Ben
ninaton-What II Is.

UlnStOIi-WHdh ~ TO-
This October there has been orga-
nized in Bennington, a local Camp
fire of the Camp Fire Girls of Ameri-
ca. While ii is too soon to prophesy
with certainty concerning the wide
spread results of this new movement,
it is meeting with enthusiasm and
success throughout the country, i'll
ling a recognized need in the life OF
the girl of today.
Where only century ago woman
was an individual worker either the
head of, or the helper in the home
today it is the unavoidable truth that
much of the home work is removed
to the school, factory, church or Of
flee and it is correspondingly neces-
sary that the woman should become
a good team worker, able To work eff
ficiently with a group of people doing
the same kind of work, under the
same conditions as She In order TO
accomplish this, means must be
adopted to measure and standardize
work to feel that the desires and
aims of all are in accord and the at
tainments are to be measured by de-
finite tests. Then too, in the intense
specialization of our modern life, ii
has become increasingly difficult 10
preserve that beauty, inspiration and
romance in our daily lives, which is
essential to our happiness.
These are the needs that the or
ganization of the Camp Fire Girls de.
sires to fill, not supplanting other or
ua nj huf -nnnratfn0
them. The Bennington local camp
fire has been started as the name,
Benhiwatha signifies, in connection
with the girls of the Bennington High
school. The watch word gives in
condensed form the story of the camp
fire, Wahelo, standing for work,
health and love.
To become a member of the camp
fire, each girl must say that it is her
desire TO obey the law of the camp
fire which is to, seek beauty, give
service, pursue knowledge, be trust
worthy, hold on to health, glorify
work, be happy. When We consider
what this desire means, we can see
that the. standard of attainment is
by no means low. All those who have
expressed this first desire are termed
Wood1gatherers and after three
months of good standing, they may be-
come Ere makers. If certain definite
requirements are met. These include
practical knowledge in cooking, mend
ing, care of health. first aid and pa
triotism.
Home Craft is given the greatest
prominence in view of the fact that
1t is in the home that the majority of
women find their ultimate place. Yet
this same all important home is in
need OF new adjustment for the
teaching activities formerly belong
ing to the mother have been taken
away and given to the community.
The mother of today recognizing this.
and the mother of tomorrow trained
for 1t may have a larger practical re-
lation with sociey'. giving to the girls
of the community what she has
gained through her Cw1 experience
and training. Thus Il IN interested
mother helps several girls - win do
nestle honors for promo..Cn the
camp fire, the girls unconsciously
find household drudgery turned to ro-
oaN thS hiCNhCl MUS lltI
relation to the community.
Indian symbols, dress and emblems
are used for the purpose of appeal
ing to the romantic side of the biris.
nature, the campfire ceremony being
singularly beautiful When weather
permits We council fire will be held
out OF doors in some OF the many pic
turesque places around Bennington.
Through the winter they will be held
indoors using the candle ceremony.
Besides the indoor work many out.
door walks and games are antici-
pated.
IL is sincerely hoped that the citi-
Gems of Bennington will cooperate
with this movement and at the close
OF the year the girls of the Benhi-
Watha Camp Fire will be physically
stronger mentally keener and that
their daily lives may show that SD rit
of service and selflessness found in
that deepest love that passeth under
standing.