Camp
Fire names and symbolgrams Between
third grade and fifth grade, each Camp Fire youth is
encouraged to create his/her own Camp Fire name and
symbol, or "symbolgram." Below are four
examples from boys in Mid-Atlantic's Camp Fire 4-260.
After being designed and planned with pencil on paper,
the symbolgrams were made into felt emblems and sewn onto
the Camp Fire youth's vest.
This boy saw himself as
"seeking the unknown in the field of science."
He chose the Dakota name "To-an-do-ah," meaning
"the inventor." The base of his symbolgram was
a dark blue circle. On that was a light blue,
four-pointed star symbolizing the unknown. On top of the
center of the star was the symbol of an eye to symbolize
seeking. The eye was in orange, seen as the color of
ambition; the star was light blue, the color used in Camp
Fire for science honor beads.
This boy chose the
name "Sports Lover." On a half-oval orange
backgraound, he used Arapaho symbols to show what he
found most important for someone in a sports contest:
faith, strength, and courage. He used the symbol of a
rainbow for faith, the symbol of a tree for strength, and
the symbol of an eagle for courage. Take a look at the
finished symbolgram in color, and what does it most look
like?
This boy chose the name
"Man of Danger." As he kept clinging to the
name, his Camp Fire leader encourged him to confront
whatever dangers he chose not only with courage, but also
with intelligence. Thus, he added the symbol for an eye
to signify intelligence, to appease his Camp Fire leader.
The background of his symbolgram was a medium blue
triangle. On top was a red winding road, or path, to show
courage. The path lead to a black arrowhead, for danger.
On top of the path he placed a golden eye, for
intelligence.
This boy's grandparents were from
Poland, and he was an athlete. Thus, he chose as his Camp
Fire name the Polish word for athlete:
"At-let-a." On the background of a dark blue
triangle, he put the symbol of a snow-peaked gray
mountain to signify strength and courage. Above the
mountain were three yellow bolts of lightning symbolizing
power, energy, & swiftness, and two red arrows
symbolozing skill and accuracy.

The boys behind the symbolgrams,
visiting Mt. Vernon |
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