Why the Campfire?

The campfire is both profound and magical. A place where we have communed—with nature and each other—for thousands of years of human history in every culture across the globe. It is a reverent place to sing songs, share stories, and celebrate life. Around a campfire, we come together as strangers and leave as friends.

With a light that shines through darkness and a formation where everyone sits as equals, the campfire is also an embodiment of Woodcraft Rangers’ core egalitarian values of inclusion, reflection, and exploration that have served as the organization’s North Star for a century. And today, as we look to rebuild a planet and society where all of us truly belong, the campfire still serves as a powerful beacon of hope.

For a century, Woodcraft Rangers has brought the age-old tradition of the campfire, both literally and metaphorically, to young Angelenos who were historically excluded from the excitement of youth programs—or camp magic—that every young person deserves but only Camp Woodcraft provided.