As the nation’s first nonsectarian, interracial organization for girls, Camp Fire was founded to provide opportunities for young girls through outdoor learning. This work was led largely by women, including campers’ mothers, who served as mentors and counselors for Camp Fire girls.
Over 100 years later, we continue Camp Fire’s legacy of belonging and support by offering inclusive outdoor learning experiences to young people of all genders. As we continue to address and repair our harmful history of Native American cultural appropriation and expand financial access to our programs, we also ensure that our organization’s original mission extends to—and centers—communities that have been historically excluded from Camp Fire.
This month and always, as we celebrate the important role that girls and women have played in Camp Fire Minnesota history, we’ll hear from Carolyn Rehn, a Camp Fire alum whose early experiences as a Bluebird fueled her desire to continue supporting women and youth throughout her career.
When did you start coming to Camp Fire? What did you take away from your time here?
I started with Bluebirds when I was in grade school in the 1950’s. We made memory containers out of cigar boxes, played games, and learned about menstruation. Our moms led the groups. Bluebirds led to Camp Fire, and it was there I was exposed to nature, arts and crafts, learned how to ride a horse, attempted to shoot a bow and arrow, identified plants and animals, and got to sing camp songs.
From there, I went to overnight camp...I absolutely loved swimming, learning to canoe, cooking hamburger stew over a campfire, and taking hikes along fragrant pine strewn trails.
During these growing up times, I struggled with being shy, making friends, and being part of a group. I sometimes could be rebellious and didn’t know how to get positive attention. Camp helped me find ways to belong and was the beginning of my path to appreciate and find ways to build relationships. I adored my camp counselors, and they also helped me learn leadership and how to listen and solve conflicts. It also fed a restless curious spirit, and how to have and create adventures that were healthy and fun.
On the left: Carolyn’s day camp group at Camp Fire. On the right: her Bluebird and Camp Fire Girls group.
What’s one accomplishment, in your personal or professional life, that “little you” would feel surprised by or proud of?
I went on to build a vocation in nonprofit Learning and Development. I spent a full career as the Director of Education and Training at Planned Parenthood. One of the programs I developed was Mother Daughter Retreats held in outdoor camp settings. This was totally inspired by my time at camp. They integrated nature into conversations about growing up and healthy relationships.
I then went on to another full career at AFS Intercultural Programs, where I could actualize the travel bug I developed on the bus rides to camp, along with my love of teaching and youth leadership development. By applying the model of ”Experiential Learning” that those years in Camp Fire made so real for me, I was also able to develop trainings and workshops related to cultural competency and understanding across differences.
Carolyn and her team representing AFS Intercultural Programs and presenting a workshop.
I currently work as a consultant and volunteer with AFS. I mentor and teach workshops on “How to Be a Changemaker,” which help young adults from across the world come up with innovative ideas to increase environmental protections, improve literacy, find ways to improve health issues within their own communities or put their own passions to solving problems.
Integrating different learning methodologies, adding creative fun activities and using design thinking skills into these trainings—many of these came from my early years at camp, by the fact we were always learning from doing, reflecting, and applying.
Knowing the influence a caring adult (camp counselor) can have on building self–esteem has also been a core part of my learning and teaching. Understanding group dynamics and practicing how to find ways to create positive belonging was also a gift from Camp Fire.
I will always be grateful for those experiences in my shy, awkward little girl self. Every time I go now to a new country to explore, or head to a cabin where I can light a cozy fire, the learnings of my Camp Fire days are lighting the way.
Thank you, Carolyn, for sharing your story! Check out the official website to learn more about Women’s History Month. You can also learn about its origins through the National Women’s History Museum. To see how outdoor organizations are celebrating women this month, see the National Park Service website or support programs such as Unruly Women and the YWCA Minneapolis’ Girls Inc chapter. Lastly, see this list of Twin Cities events happening this month, compiled by the Minnesota Historical Society.