About CFUSA

Almost 100 years ago Dr. Luther Halsey Gulick and his wife, Charlotte, founded what is now known as Camp Fire USA to provide outdoor camping experience, as well as important life skills, to girls living in Vermont.   At that time Dr. Gulick felt as though society placed more value on the product or the end result of the activity rather than on the actual process of learning and teamwork that took place during the activity.  Alternatively, Dr. Gulick believed that society should place more value on the overall learning process as it built character in the participants while they worked together and learned to take responsibility for their own actions during the project.

The Camp Fire USA catchphrase WoHeLo (Work, Health, and Love) reflects ageless principles that are still pertinent today.  Camp Fire’s experiential programs in our cities and communities, at our resident and day camps, and in-school and after-school programs provide youth the opportunity to learn the value of diversity as an element of strength in society while experiencing their personal best and learning to respect the best in their peers.

Want to learn more about Camp Fire USA? Click one of the links below for more information.

Mission Statement

Camp Fire Law

Core Values

Essential Elements

Key Outcomes

Camp Fire USA History