Camp Fire USA Alaska Council - Centennial Celebration

The Beginning
Camp Fire was founded in 1910 by Dr. Luther and Charlotte Gulick as the first non-sectarian organization for girls in the United States. Having served on the organizing committee that founded Boy Scouts of America two months earlier, Dr. Gulick believed that "young ladies were every bit as deserving of an experiential character-building organization as young men."

Dr. Gulick and his wife chose the name "Camp Fire" because campfires were the origin and center of early community life. This focus on community, the outdoors and personal development continues to be a centerpiece of Camp Fire USA activities.

Camp Fire in Alaska
Shortly after the national agency was formed, Edith Kempthorne started Alaska's first Camp Fire club in Juneau in 1913, making Camp Fire one of the first youth organizations in Alaska. Camp Fire clubs operated sporadically through the 20's and 30's in Sitka, Wrangell, Nenana, Bethel, Kodiak, Homer, Cordova and Juneau.

In 1959, the first official Camp Fire council began operating as The Chugach Council of Anchorage, serving 350 girls through Camp Fire clubs. Camp Fire started Camp Yalani at King's Lake Camp in Wasilla in 1960 and offered two one-week sessions each summer for girls.

In the 1970's, as more parents began working outside the home, Camp Fire opened its programs to boys and in the early 1980's the Alaska Council began operating its before and after-school programs.

Today, Camp Fire is the state's largest provider of school age child care, serving 5,000 youth annually through after-school programs, community centers, summer camps and a rural Alaska program. Read more about the Alaska Council...

Celebrating 100 years of Camp Fire at beautiful Camp K
Friends and alumni of the Alaska Council came together on July 31st to take part in a National Centennial Campfire ceremony. Great stories were shared (spanning 10 decades) and plans are underway to celebrate the Alaska Council's 100th birthday in 2013! Click here to see photos from the event.

Basketball...
Throughout his life and career, Luther Gulick was greatly interested in physical education and hygiene. While pursuing his medical degree between 1886 and 1889, he began his career as the physical director of the Jackson, Michigan YMCA in 1886.

In 1891, he assigned one of his students a set of rules to design a game around. This is what he had in mind: a game that could be played in doors, that is year round; a game that promoted the unity and development of body, mind, and spirit; and a game that played on the individuals social instincts and promoted team work.

The student was James Naismith. The game became known as basketball.


		Links A Brief History Centennial Campfire Photos Share Your Story Do you know what Camp Fire has in common with... Rice Krispie Treats? Basketball? Camp Fire Logos 1910 Trademark Camp Fire Girls, 1910 - 1940 Camp Fire Girls, 1946 - 1972 Camp Fire Girls, New Day logo 1973-1978 Camp Fire Inc., 1979-1983 Camp Fire Boys and Girls 1983-2001 Camp Fire USA, 1983-2001 Camp Fire USA, 2009-2010		The Beginning Camp Fire was founded in 1910 by Dr. Luther and Charlotte Gulick as the first non-sectarian organization for girls in the United States. Having served on the organizing committee that founded Boy Scouts of America two months earlier, Dr. Gulick believed that "young ladies were every bit as deserving of an experiential character-building organization as young men." Dr. Gulick and his wife chose the name "Camp Fire" because campfires were the origin and center of early community life. This focus on community, the outdoors and personal development continues to be a centerpiece of Camp Fire USA activities. Camp Fire in Alaska Shortly after the national agency was formed, Edith Kempthorne started Alaska's first Camp Fire club in Juneau in 1913, making Camp Fire one of the first youth organizations in Alaska. Camp Fire clubs operated sporadically through the 20's and 30's in Sitka, Wrangell, Nenana, Bethel, Kodiak, Homer, Cordova and Juneau. In 1959, the first official Camp Fire council began operating as The Chugach Council of Anchorage, serving 350 girls through Camp Fire clubs. Camp Fire started Camp Yalani at King's Lake Camp in Wasilla in 1960 and offered two one-week sessions each summer for girls. In the 1970's, as more parents began working outside the home, Camp Fire opened its programs to boys and in the early 1980's the Alaska Council began operating its before and after-school programs. Today, Camp Fire is the state's largest provider of school age child care, serving 5,000 youth annually through after-school programs, community centers, summer camps and a rural Alaska program. Read more about the Alaska Council... Celebrating 100 years of Camp Fire at beautiful Camp K Friends and alumni of the Alaska Council came together on July 31st to take part in a National Centennial Campfire ceremony. Great stories were shared (spanning 10 decades) and plans are underway to celebrate the Alaska Council's 100th birthday in 2013! Click here to see photos from the event. Basketball... Throughout his life and career, Luther Gulick was greatly interested in physical education and hygiene. While pursuing his medical degree between 1886 and 1889, he began his career as the physical director of the Jackson, Michigan YMCA in 1886. In 1891, he assigned one of his students a set of rules to design a game around. This is what he had in mind: a game that could be played in doors, that is year round; a game that promoted the unity and development of body, mind, and spirit; and a game that played on the individuals social instincts and promoted team work. The student was James Naismith. The game became known as basketball. Read more about Luther Gulick.