The Washington herald., 1912-04-12
CAMPFIRE GIRLS"
BEING ORGANIZED
Movement Is Designed to Meet Real
Needs.
By FRANCES sHAFFER.

During the comparatively brief period
since the Boy Scout idea began TO -four
ish It has certainly taken quite an i'm
pelling hold Of the boy mind, at home
and abroad.
And now girls are taking up the idea
OF. rather. older folk sre taking II up for
them-and '-the Campfire Giris Of Amer
lea are beginning TO organize. Indeed.
though we have not yet seen any Of the
girls in their attractive Indian uniform
or heard their motto. "wohelo." ring out
in pretty call. they tell as the girls Of the
United States are enthusiastically joining
the new movement.
With boys. the trial stage is over. for
there Is a chain of amateur Indian tribes
almost encircling the world. and II the
Campfire Girls respond with Just half
their zeal. the new organization win form
an interesting complement TO the Boy
Scouts.
Mrs. Luther Gulick, wife Of the author,
educator. and head OF the child study
department Of the Russell Sage Founda-
ton, inspired the movement, and among
the council OF men and women planning
and working for its success one notices
the names Of Miss Jane Addams, Mr.
and Mrs. Ernest Thompson Seton, and
many others who have contributed to the
Meets Real Need.
Mrs. Gulick is enthusiastic over its
prospects, and says it has come into be-
ing in response TO a real need for It
among girls throughout the country, and
that wherever It has been given a trial
it has captured their imagination and
won their loyalty, just as did the idea
when it first started among the boys.
The basic principles Of the Boy Scouts
embody all the elements that make for
the structure of sturdy manhood, with
the strain Of Independence. ehivalry and
courage We so admire: and as one
briefly scans the framework Of principles
70 guide the new organization Of girls
there Is promise Of fuller, happier girl
hood, more eficlent and better woman
hood resultant from the delightful school
ing.
Just as the young scouts are given
training in the sturdy life of a frontiers
man, so the Campfire Girls are encour-
aged in efficiency in the helpful and
homely tasks that have so large a part
in the life OF the average woman And
the aim is TO SO invest them with in
terest that they shall cease to be COM
monplace and uninspiring.
Back Of the movement there is the
for service and prepared for a work-a-
day world, they must also be given ro-
nance, adventure, and beauty. And so.
along with the impulse to make an art
OF the commonest household task there
is a counter impulse TO swim in the
very best way when one is swimming.
10 put efficiency in dancing no less than
in service Mrs. Gulick complains that
most of organizations open to the mem
bership OF girls have for their chief
wstchWord, ''utility,'' and that that
alone win not round out the best results
in character-build
Something TO Do.
In Young women's Christian associa-
tons and Sunday schools she says the
cry is for something for girls to do,
something not too useless, yet interest
ing and that is just what is outlined
for the Campfire Giris-a fun, free. out
door life, with happy, heslthful blend
Of work and play.
Then, too, the organizers say that
girls need training In the gang spirit
so familiar to boys. In the modern
scheme OF things, cooperation is neces-
ssry II one would fit in with life, hap
PLY and successfully, and the Campfire
Girls will learn to work and play to-
gether, and, best OF all, 20 stand by each
other. In the old days girls were not
developed along lines that make for the
broadest. best type Of womanhood. 1t
was all service and repression, without
opportunity for expansion, which must
be given II the finest human character
istics are to be brought out
The movement Is much too young TO
prophesy great things for The Camp
fire Girls" but it sounds very promising.
and its organizers see a great future for
the girls Of our country.
Surely the Boy Scouts are forging
ahead. and why not. since the very
qualities which they must develop in
order TO make successful scouts are those
which every normal boy cdmires the most
in his heart OF hearts-courage, honor,
courtesy, self-reliance, readiness in emer-
gency, and all.
Whenever you see a little group Of Boy
Scouts, don't you wish you might follow
every step OF their boyish way out in the
open?
And when ''The Campfire Girls come
TO town-well, I really hope the idea
may beautifully develop, because proven
worth while.