Camp Fire Girls, Salt Creek Council Records (LaGrange), 1911-1976 | Northern Illinois University

Camp Fire was the first non-sectarian organization for girls in the United States.  It was founded March 17, 1910 by Dr. Luther H. Gulick, and his wife Charlotte.  It was incorporated as Camp Fire Girls of America March 15, 1912, with Dr. Gulick as its first president.  Others instrumental in the founding of Camp Fire Girls were Chauncey Langdon, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest T. Seton,  Lina Beard,  Mrs. Charles H. Farnsworth, and Mary Schenk Woolman.

In 1913 the “Blue Bird” program was introduced for younger girls. A major change occurred in 1975 when boys were invited to join the organization, and the name became just Camp Fire, then Camp Fire Boys and Girls, and finally Camp Fire USA.  It has programs for youth from pre-kindergarten through age 21.  The “Junior High” level for twelve and thirteen year-old girls had been introduced in 1962.  It was changed to “Discovery” with the inclusion of boys.  In 1983 the “Adventure” program for third through fifth-graders was introduced.  The “Blue Bird” level became known as “Starflight” in 1989.  “Little Stars,” designed for children age three to five was introduced in 2005, when 46% of all Camp Fire USA members were boys.

In 1912  La Grange, Illinois became the first Camp Fire west of New York State.  Miss Lucy Babcock, a zoology teacher at Lyons Township High School, had been a counselor at Sebago-WoHeLo, the Gulick’s first Camp Fire Girl camp on Lake Sebago in Maine in 1910.  Miss Babcock organized the “Owaissa” group in La Grange, which held it’s first meeting June 13, 1912.  Soon after the “Chippewa” group was formed by Miss Helen Strong of Cossitt School who served as guardian.  Both groups were chartered August 28, 1912.  Mrs. Vicky Wilson, who had a long association with Camp Fire, was a member of the “Chippawa” group in 1913.   

In April 1926 the “Shu-deha” and “Eluta-kata” groups were chartered in La Grange.  The first for high school girls and the second for grade school girls.  Both groups were led by Ethel Trainer.  The “Rainbow” group was the first Blue Birds chartered on October 26, 1928, under the leadership of Miss Betty Collins and Miss Reva Ebert, both of whom lived in the Cossitt School area in La Grange.  The first Horizon Club, the Blue and Gold of La Grange High School, was chartered December 6, 1946, with Ruth “Dixie” Elder as advisor.  Dixie Elder’s association with Camp Fire began January 25, 1918 when she first became a guardian, and she continued to be active in Camp Fire into the 1970's.  Mrs. Elder received the Luther Halsey Gulick Award for her many years of service to the La Grange Camp Fire Girls on January 21, 1954.  She received the “Wo-He-Lo Order,” the highest honor of the Camp Fire Girls at the Golden Jubilee Convention of the organization in New York City, on November 2, 1960.

By 1949 there were seven Blue Bird groups, four Camp Fire groups, and one Horizon Club under the jurisdiction of the La Grange District.  In January1951 a charter was granted to establish the La Grange Council of Camp Fire Girls, separating them from the Chicago Area Council.  Offices were set up in the basement of Mrs. Elder, with Mrs. Lydia Sasa serving as part-time director, and Mrs. Vicky Wilson as President of the Executive Board.  The membership at this time was 271 girls and 19 leaders. 

In June 1954 the council was incorporated as the La Grange Council of Camp Fire Girls, Inc. under the General-Not-For-Profit Corporation Act of the State of Illinois.  In May 1955 the Salt Creek Council purchased 6 1/4 acres south of Lisle for day and group camping.  A cabin was built and dedicated in September 1956, and the camp was named Camp Kata’Kani, meaning “together outdoors.”

In January 1959 the Council’s name was changed to Salt Creek Council in recognition of the many neighboring communities now sharing responsibilities within the council.  At this time districts were also established as provided by the National Council, each with its own District Committee to oversee the needs and programs in its area.  District I was comprised of Bellwood, Hodgkins, La Grange, La Grange Park, St. Cletus School, Westchester, and Willow Springs.  District II covered Clarendon Hills, Downers Grove, Hinsdale, La Grange Highlands, St. John of the Cross School, and Western Springs.  In September 1962 the Riverside-Brookfield Council merged with the Salt Creek Council, and District III was formed covering Brookfield, Holly-wood, Riverside and North Riverside.  District IV covering Naperville was established in January 1965, and in the fall of 1967 a Camp Fire group was started in Aurora which joined District IV.  District V was established in September 1969 when Downers Grove and Bolingbrook separated from District II.

Salt Creek Council purchased 320 acres in Northland, Wisconsin in 1968 for eventual development as a Resident Camp.  Named Camp Onitaca, the first two sessions of resident camp were held in 1970.  Nancy Cech was the Executive Director of the Salt Creek Council of Camp Fire girls in 1975.