Eagle Archives, Feb. 16, 1976: Egremont boys join Camp Fire persons

Source: The Berkshire Eagle

EGREMONT -- While women all over America are struggling for equal rights in a "man's world," a group of second and third grade boys have silently entered into what is thought of as an all-girl organization.

The 10 boys belong to the Blue Jays, a Camp Fire group started this month in Egremont.

Last November the National Council of Camp Fire girls dropped the word "girls" and opened membership to all youth. The name is now National Organization of Camp Fire.

Mrs. Ronald Hohman, the leader of the Blue Jays, tried last year to start a Cub Scout pack in Egremont, but found there was a lack of adult interest in the town. She approached a neighboring town's Cub Scout pack, but they turned the Egremont boys down. Mrs. Hohman was concerned about the lack of organized activities for boys in the town.

Miss Gladys Wheeler, executive director of the Berkshire Council of Camp Fire, and Mrs. Hohman decided to start the boys' group which is the first in Berkshire County, according to Miss Wheeler.

The boys received banners to wear instead of the traditional vest worn by the Blue Birds. They will work for the same awards as the girls, and they will participate in the same activities.

The Blue Jays made bird feeders at their first meeting held Feb. 9. The next project will be working for their Starbird badge. The boys decided to make decorations and brownies for a local nursing home for the award.

Tomorrow will be the first time they will participate in an activity with the girls. On that date a roller-skating party is planned in Pittsfield. The boys were not too enthusiastic about the girls, but they decided they would go anyway.

One group of fourth grade Camp Fire girls said they like having the boys in the organization. One girl wanted to know if they get to go camping with them.

The only problem the boys had during their first meeting was with the clean-up committee. Mrs. Hohman was heard to say, "Well, they're boys."

If anyone thinks these boys will get a lot of teasing about being Camp Fire boys, they better think again. The Blue Jays will not tolerate any of it.