Continuing our celebration of Camp Fire alum and legacy this July, we’re happy to honor another one of our own – Sylvia Fisher. While the Camp Fire First Texas family is a very dedicated bunch, not everyone can say that they’ve received just about every award that Camp Fire gives AND kept the spark alive for three generations… but Sylvia can.
She has been involved with almost every aspect of Camp Fire programs for well over 30 years and is one of Camp Fire First Texas’ most senior members.
We recently sat down with Sylvia where she shared how she got involved with Camp Fire, why Camp Fire programs remain so important today, and where she would like to see Camp Fire First Texas go in the future.
For 20 years, Sylvia was the leader of all three of her daughters’ clubs. Two of her daughters were WoHeLo Medallion recipients, and all were campers, CITs, and camp counselors at Camp El Tesoro. Sylvia’s oldest daughter spent a total of 16 years as both camper and counselor at summer camp. Sylvia’s granddaughter has also spent her summers at Camp El Tesoro as both a camper and a CIT, graduating this June from the program and receiving her red tie.
Additionally, Sylvia worked in day camp for over 25 years, five of which she was the director; and she also served as an outdoor skills counselor, nature counselor, and outdoor trainer. She has helped with all Grand Council Fire ceremonials for Camp Fire First Texas, written Council Fire ceremonials for both local and national groups, attended National Camp Fire Congress/Conferences for over 12 years and was on the Camp Fire Board (twice!) for a total of 12 years.
“My involvement in and love for Camp Fire has been a lifelong commitment,” says Sylvia. “I love El Tesoro and when I was active never missed an opportunity to go to camp. My weekends at El Tesoro are too numerous to count.”
And while she was a “camper” as a volunteer, she was an extremely devoted one. “I have so many memories of Camp Fire and Camp El Tesoro [that] I could write a book,” Sylvia says. Some of her favorite Camp Fire times include camping weekends during which she trained other leaders on how to take kids to camp, working with children in day camp, and helping and training leaders in the club program.
Oh! And here’s a list of all those Camp Fire awards that Sylvia has received.
1975 Wakan Award
This award is given for exceptional and imaginative leadership and service to youth and the community for a period of several years.
1976 Mattie Mae and Bucy Ingram Award
This award is given for longstanding service in the field of camping and is given in memory of Mattie Mae and Bucy Ingram, camping volunteers. Any adult member is eligible, including committee members, leaders, outdoor trainers or consultants, day camp volunteer staff, etc. Bucy Ingram was camping chairman during the early days of El Tesoro and Mattie Mae Ingram was a National Board member.
1977 Sebago Award
This award is designed to recognize outstanding volunteers in the field of camping and outdoor programs, such as camp counselors, camp committee members, financial contributors, site developers, program coordinators, trainers, etc. The sun symbol depicts the out-of-doors. It is named after the Gulick’s camp in Maine.
1980 Hiiteni Award
This award is for extensive and innovative service to youth and the community for 6 to 10 years. The pin is a replica of the original guardian’s pin. This award is named in honor of Mrs. Luther Halsey Gulick, whose Camp Fire Indian name was “Hiiteni,” which means “life, more abundant, and desire for attainment.”
1982 & 1985 Louise M. Fargher Award
This award is given in memory of Louise Fargher, who served the First Texas Council as El Tesoro director and Executive Director. She was later on the national staff of Camp Fire. It is given to recognize distinctive and outstanding contributions to the council in the area of programs for youth.
1982 Ernest Thompson Seton Award
This award is for outstanding, creative contributions to the council. It is reserved for four or more years of service so outstanding that it is recognized throughout the council. This award honors one of Camp Fire’s founders, who also designed the first symbols used in Camp Fire.
1983 Shawnequas Award
This recognition is designed for outstanding contributions within the whole area of services to leaders and clubs such as training, club organization, program services, program specialists, etc. The name is derived from the location of the camp used for early training courses offered to leaders. SHAWNEE-HEAD-QUARTERS, in other words, National Headquarters at Shawnee.
1986 Chairman’s Award
This award is presented annually by the Chairman of the Board of Directors for devoted and outstanding service to the Chairman.
1988 Clarence Kraft Award
This award is given in memory of Judge Clarence Kraft, a former council president, for significant contributions to the extension and growth of Camp Fire.
1989 Luther Halsey Gulick Award
This award is the highest form of recognition in the local council and recognizes extraordinary council leadership over an extended period of time. It is reserved for very special people and is named after the founder of Camp Fire, Luther Halsey Gulick. Its symbolic gold pin depicts crossed logs and flames within the traditional WoHeLo triangle.
1997 Charlotte Joy Farnsworth Award
This award recognizes contributions to a region, district or large geographic section of the council in the area of broad overall administrative operations. It is named in honor of one of the founding members of the organization.
2004 Good News Award
This award is given to recognize outstanding contributions to the council’s public relations efforts. It may be given to volunteer staff, board, and committee members who make significant contributions to communicating the Camp Fire message. It may also be awarded for efforts in general areas of advocacy, public relations, and community relations, through writing, art, public speaking, testifying, photography or media relations.
