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129-564: The park is subdivided into Area I, Area II, and Area III. Area I, or El Dorado Park West, is bounded on the east by the San Gabriel River , on the north by Spring Street, and on the west by Studebaker Road. Area II is north of Spring Street, west of the 605 freeway , east of the river, and south of Wardlow Road. Area Ill is north of Wardlow Road, west of the 605 freeway, east of the river, and north of Wardlow Road. Areas II and III together compose El Dorado East Regional Park. The park sits in

258-511: A braided channel along its relatively wide canyon floor. It flows into the West Fork just below Hoot Owl Flats, a short distance from the larger river's mouth at San Gabriel Reservoir . The North Fork is the most heavily developed fork of the San Gabriel River, with many campgrounds and facilities along its course. The popular Crystal Lake Recreation Area in the upper North Fork includes

387-474: A fire station , and trails. Area III is also the location of Glider Hill, which sits in an area originally intended to become an amphitheater and is popular with model airplane enthusiasts. El Dorado East also contains the El Dorado Nature Center and El Dorado Frontier, a small theme park that features a train. Fishing and a physical fitness course are also available. A 4-mile bikeway runs through

516-457: A Native American name. Originally, the Camp Fire ceremonial gown was based on Native American women's gowns, and was made optional in 1946. Today, a member may choose any style of ceremonial attire, particularly if it honors their ethnic background, such as tunics, kimonos, and Scandinavian skirts/aprons. The ceremonial attire is decorated with honor beads, earned emblems, and other personal items

645-552: A challenge course featuring rock walls, and high and low ropes course at the north end of the park between the San Gabriel River, the Long Beach Towne Center , and Heartwell Golf Course, leasing land owned by the City of Long Beach as part of Heartwell Park. Prior to the construction of the shopping center, this maintained an unbroken contiguity of open land between Heartwell Park and El Dorado Park. Long Beach Animal Care Services

774-636: A flood zone, and it protects residences from spillover from the neighboring San Gabriel River . With a median household income of $ 130,959, the El Dorado Park area is reportedly the wealthiest in Long Beach. The land for the park was sold to the City of Long Beach by members of the Bixby family and was financed using bond money floated in the 1950s and '60s, and the varied topography comes from soil removed to construct

903-447: A large part of the Camp Fire curriculum. In 2008–2009, Camp Fire councils engaged a total of 2,864 older youth in service learning projects, totaling over 108,852 hours of work with 116 community partners. Working with Learn and Serve America , 27 Camp Fire councils were able to get 1,731 teens to help over 70,300 youth and family members from low-income housing understand emergency preparedness. The Gift of Giving program, for grades K–8,

1032-478: A low level, in order to provide room for stormwater and allow county workers to remove built-up sediment from the basin. The northern part of the reservoir, when dry, is also used as the San Gabriel Canyon OHV area. There is no public boating access to either San Gabriel Reservoir or the downstream Morris Reservoir, which is used mainly for water supply. From World War II until the 1990s, Morris Reservoir

1161-635: A national agency on March 17, 1912. In late 1912, Juliette Gordon Low proposed that the Camp Fire Girls merge with her group, Girl Guides of America, but was rejected in January 1913 as the Camp Fire Girls were then the larger group. By December 1913, Camp Fire Girls' membership was an estimated 60,000, many of whom began attending affiliated summer camps. The Bluebird program was introduced that year for younger girls, offering an exploration of ideas and creative play built around family and community. In 1989,

1290-564: A national organization for girls. Gulick introduced the idea to friends, among them G. Stanley Hall , Ernest Thompson Seton , and James West , executive secretary of the Boy Scouts. After many discussions and help from Gulick and his wife Charlotte, Langdon named the group of Thetford girls the Camp Fire Girls. In 1907, the Gulicks had established Camp WoHeLo, a camp for girls, on Lake Sebago, near South Casco, Maine . There were seventeen girls at

1419-463: A nearly straight line from east to west across the center of the San Gabriel Mountains . In the winter, the mountain regions are prone to landslides and destructive debris flows , which has required the construction of many debris basins to protect foothill communities such as Glendora and Monrovia , but these works have not always been effective during the biggest storms. During floods,

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1548-512: A number of U.S. Forest Service and Los Angeles County firefighting facilities before flowing into San Gabriel Reservoir , where it joins the West Fork. The West Fork , 19 miles (31 km) long, originates at Red Box Saddle , a visitor center and frequently-used trailhead along the Angeles Crest Highway and about 2 miles (3.2 km) northwest of the summit of Mount Wilson . Beginning at an elevation of 4,666 feet (1,422 m),

1677-647: A popular attraction of the Angeles National Forest . The San Gabriel River basin drains a total of 689 square miles (1,780 km ) and is located between the watersheds of the Los Angeles River to the west, the Santa Ana River to the east, and the Mojave Desert to the north. The watershed is divided into three distinct sections. The northern third, located within the Angeles National Forest of

1806-493: A recreational fishery. About 60,000 rainbows are stocked each year between October and June. The West Fork also has the largest remaining population of arroyo chub , a fish endemic to coastal Southern California streams. Although the first recorded inhabitants of the San Gabriel River area arrived about 2,500 years ago, humans may have been present in Southern California as early as 12,000 years ago. Immediately prior to

1935-453: A rich lowland ecosystem on its broad floodplain, inundated multiple times each year by rain and snowmelt. The result of this overflow was a 47,000-acre (19,000 ha) network of riparian and wetland habitats, ranging from seasonally-flooded areas in the north to alkali meadows (called "cienegas" by the Spanish), forests of willows, oaks, and cottonwoods, and both fresh- and salt-water marshes in

2064-613: A stamp designed by H. Edward Oliver was issued featuring the Camp Fire Girls insignia. A new program, Junior Hi, where twelve- and thirteen-year-old girls explored new interests as a group and as individuals, was created in 1962. This program name changed later to Discovery. That same year, the WoHeLo medallion became Camp Fire's highest achievement and honor. In 1969, Camp Fire Girls were allowed to be "Participants" in BSA 's Explorer Posts (for boys 14 and older). This arrangement ended in 1971, when

2193-630: A steep, rugged canyon. It is joined from the east by the Fish Fork , which originates on the northwest slopes of Mount Baldy. Below the Fish Fork, the East Fork flows through "the Narrows", one of the deepest gorges in Southern California. From the floor of the canyon at 3,000 feet (910 m), Iron Mountain rises 8,007 feet (2,441 m) to the southeast, while Mount Hawkins, 8,850 feet (2,700 m), rises to

2322-648: A system of large land grants which became the many ranchos of the area. The decline of Native American populations made it easy for colonists to seize large areas of land formerly used by the indigenous people. During the Spanish-controlled period, and the Mexican-controlled period between 1821 and 1846, cattle ranching dominated the local economy. In the San Gabriel River watershed, the Rancho Azusa de Dalton and Rancho Azusa de Duarte lay, respectively, to

2451-636: A way to excite and educate children in Pre-K, the Little Stars program, first developed by Camp Fire Green Country, was introduced nationally in 2005. Designated for ages 3–5, Little Stars aims to builds confidence and a sense of belonging in children. In 2012, Camp Fire underwent a re-branding, changing the traditional flame logo changed to a more contemporary "Spark Mark." Camp Fire has nationally developed youth development programs that are delivered through local and statewide councils and community partners across

2580-531: A week for an hour, learning to work and play together through service projects. Camp Fire has numerous youth-development programs that are delivered through local and statewide councils and community partners. The program levels are: Official national recognition items are one of Camp Fire's defining features, aimed to help children and adults build self-esteem and have pride in their accomplishments. For their participation, growth and achievements, youth receive items such as beads, emblems, pins, and certificates. At

2709-565: Is a co-ed youth development organization. Camp Fire was the first nonsectarian, multicultural organization for girls in America. It is now gender-inclusive, and its programs emphasize camping and other outdoor activities. Its informal roots extend back to 1910, with efforts by Mrs. Charles Farnsworth in Thetford, Vermont and Luther Gulick , M.D., and his wife, Charlotte Vedder Gulick, on Sebago Lake , near South Casco, Maine. Camp Fire Girls, as it

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2838-576: Is adjacent to El Dorado Park East Regional Park. San Gabriel River (California) The San Gabriel River is a mostly- urban waterway flowing 58 miles (93 km) southward through Los Angeles and Orange Counties , California, in the United States. It is the central of three major rivers draining the Greater Los Angeles Area , the others being the Los Angeles River and Santa Ana River . The river's watershed stretches from

2967-620: Is approved by the American Camping Association . Community Family Club is a program designed by Camp Fire to provide developmental programs for the whole family. The goal is to include at least one adult family member or a supporting adult from the community with every child who attends. Siblings of all ages, infants through teens, are included. Community Family Clubs also provide opportunities to create strong partnerships with corporations, schools, faith-based communities, child care settings and other community organizations to advance

3096-555: Is diverted into the first of several spreading grounds that recharge the local San Gabriel Valley aquifer , an important source of local water supply. The usually-dry riverbed then continues in a southwesterly direction, passing the ruins of the 1907 Puente Largo or "Great Bridge" that once carried Pacific Electric interurban trains, and under Interstate 210 into the flood control basin behind Santa Fe Dam . There are 17 drop structures or grade controls along this roughly 2-mile (3.2 km) stretch of river bed, to prevent erosion down

3225-518: Is one of the largest natural streams in Southern California, but its discharge varies widely from year to year. Between 1895 and 1957 the mean unimpaired runoff at Azusa was estimated at 114,000 acre-feet (141,000,000 m ), with a range from 9,600 to 410,000 acre-feet (11,800,000 to 505,700,000 m ). Historically, the San Gabriel River reached its highest flows in the winter and spring, with runoff dropping significantly after early June before rising again with November or December storms. Today,

3354-621: Is the nation's only organized and measurable introduction to service-learning. To date, over 100,000 children have participated in this program. The Teens in Action program is built on Camp Fire's tradition of recognizing youth as part of the solution to today's social challenges. Working together with young people, Teens in Action strives to improve the communities where youth live, to challenge them to learn new skills and provide leadership in areas never thought possible. Programs of this nature aim to inspire and honor community responsibility, contribute to

3483-473: Is to let the youth decide on their activities, allowing them to feel a sense of ownership with their camp schedule and helping them to become more proactive. It is Camp Fire's belief that any program activity that the group does together is not as important or lasting as the effects of being with a group of peers and a supportive adult in an environment where they are able to share their feelings and learn from experience. "The organization shall endeavor to aid in

3612-677: The Camp Fire Girls series, which portrayed many of Camp Fire's activities, rituals, and ceremonies, including their summer camps. In the 1980s, Camp Fire was featured in the Carolyn Keene and Franklin Dixon 's Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys Camp Fire Stories . Laura Lee Hope also featured Camp Fire in a Bobbsey Twins . In 1991, Archie Comics published a special Archie comic in celebration of Camp Fire's 75th anniversary with

3741-540: The Metro C Line , then crossing under SR 91 at Bellflower . The San Gabriel River Bike Trail parallels the river starting at Whittier Narrows for 28 miles (45 km) to the Pacific Ocean at Seal Beach. From Cerritos the river flows south-southeast until reaching its confluence with Coyote Creek , the largest tributary of the lower river, which drains much of northwest Orange County. A short distance below Coyote Creek,

3870-641: The San Andreas Fault (the boundary between the North American Plate and Pacific Plate ) and its subsidiary fault and fracture zones. The San Gabriel Mountains are a fault block mountain range, essentially a massive chunk of bedrock dislocated from the North American Plate and lifted up by movement along the San Andreas. The rock is mostly of Mesozoic origin (65–245 million years old), but

3999-578: The San Gabriel Valley , and the southern third, the coastal plain of the Los Angeles Basin , are separated by the Puente Hills and Montebello Hills . With the exception of some recreation areas and lands set aside for flood control, the valleys are almost entirely urbanized. Approximately 2 million people live in the watershed, divided among 35 incorporated cities. Rainfall is slightly higher in

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4128-586: The Santa Ana River . Once every few decades, a particularly intense storm would cause the rivers to burst their banks simultaneously, inundating the coastal plain in a continuous sheet of floodwater. The historical floodplain encompassed much of the San Gabriel Valley and a huge expanse of the Los Angeles Basin stretching from present-day Whittier to Seal Beach. The thick sediments of the lowland also trap an extensive local aquifer system. Historically,

4257-655: The West Fork of the San Gabriel. Its furthest tributary, the Prairie Fork, originates at 9,648-foot (2,941 m) Pine Mountain in the Sheep Mountain Wilderness to the southwest of Wrightwood . Draining a high, remote, subalpine valley characterized by extensive meadows, it flows west to join with Vincent Gulch, below which the stream is officially known as the East Fork. Here it turns abruptly south, flowing through

4386-489: The last ice age when the regional climate was much wetter. The montane forests are home to large mammals such as deer and black bears. Due to conservation policies put in place by the 19th century, the upper San Gabriel watershed was never subjected to heavy logging. Also in the San Gabriel River watershed is the 17,000-acre (6,900 ha) San Dimas Experimental Forest , a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve where forest hydrology has been continually studied since 1933. Lower down in

4515-413: The 27,800-acre-foot (34,300,000 m ) Morris Reservoir . A small hydroelectric plant in the city of Azusa is supplied with water from a diversion of the San Gabriel River, located directly below San Gabriel Dam. The reservoir water levels fluctuate widely at the upper San Gabriel Reservoir, which serves mainly for flood control and sediment control. During the dry season the reservoir is often kept at

4644-688: The BSA made Explorers a co-ed program. By 1974, Camp Fire's membership was at 274,000 in 1,300 communities of the United States. Camp Fire Girls expanded its horizons in 1975, welcoming boys to participate in all Camp Fire activities. While boys were invited to Camp Fire Girls Horizon Conferences in the late 1960s and early 1970s, official membership was not offered to them until 1975, when the organization became co-ed. Camp Fire decided that boys and girls should be together in one organization, so that they learn to play and work alongside each other and appreciate their similarities and differences in positive ways. In 1975,

4773-563: The Bluebirds became Starflight. The first official Camp Fire Girls handbook was published in 1913. During World War I, Camp Fire Girls helped to sell over one million dollars in Liberty Bonds and over $ 900,000 in Thrift Stamps ; 55,000 girls helped to support French and Belgian orphans, and an estimated 68,000 girls earned honors by conserving food. The first local Camp Fire Girls council

4902-660: The Camp Fire Girls of America changed its membership policy to being co-ed and its name to Camp Fire Boys and Girls. In 1977, Camp Fire's head office moved to its current location in Kansas City from New York. Teens in Action was introduced in 1988 as a one-time social issue campaign to energize the older teen program. The first Absolutely Incredible Kid Day , a call to action for all adults to communicate their love and commitment to children through letters, took place in 1997. In 2003, to further its commitment to inclusiveness, Camp Fire USA began translating its curricula to Spanish. As

5031-490: The City of Long Beach to the Navy for $ 1 in 1965 to build a new naval hospital, replacing its World War II-era facilities located on Pacific Coast Highway on the facilities later used by the (closed) Brooks College and now as student housing at Cal State Long Beach . It became known for its alcoholism treatment program which launched in 1967 and became known as the hub of the military's dependency program. Perhaps its most famous patient

5160-549: The Devore campground, above Cogswell Reservoir. Below Cogswell Dam, the river is paralleled by Forest Route 2N25, a one-lane paved road open only to non-motorized traffic (except for maintenance and emergency services). The river flows east through a twisting canyon, forming the southern boundary of the San Gabriel Wilderness . It receives the tributaries of Chileno Canyon, Little Mermaids Canyon, and Big Mermaids Canyon from

5289-563: The East Fork and West Fork, the San Gabriel River flows through the deep San Gabriel Canyon, the only major break in the southern part of the San Gabriel Mountains. Although this stretch of the river was once free-flowing, today is it impounded by major reservoirs for water supply and flood control. San Gabriel Dam , a 325-foot (99 m) high rockfill dam, forms the 44,183-acre-foot (54,499,000 m ) San Gabriel Reservoir . The concrete gravity Morris Dam , just downstream, creates

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5418-566: The East Fork, grew to include "a boarding house, two or three stores, blacksmith shop, butcher shop, etc." A flood in November 1859 destroyed the settlement, but four months later it was re-established as the town of Eldoradoville , near the junction of the East Fork and Cattle Canyon. The period from 1859 to 1862 was the most prosperous of the San Gabriel gold rush; Wells Fargo stages alone shipped some $ 15,000 ($ 457,800 in 2023 dollars) worth of gold per month out of Los Angeles County, most of it from

5547-535: The Narrows, the river continues flowing south through a somewhat-more-open valley, receiving several tributaries including Devil Gulch and Allison Gulch, before reaching Heaton Flat, a popular trailhead and the end of the East Fork Road , which parallels the lower section of the river. The river receives Cattle Canyon, its biggest tributary, and then turns sharply west, flowing past the Camp Williams Resort and

5676-400: The Pacific Ocean to spawn, and it was known as one of the "best steelhead fishing rivers in the state". Irrigation development that dried up the river, and later damming and channelization for flood control, have contributed to the near extinction of steelhead in the San Gabriel basin. Since the 19th century rainbow trout have been planted in the upper forks of the San Gabriel River to provide

5805-535: The San Gabriel Canyon long before California became a U.S. state, gold was first confirmed in the upper San Gabriel River around April 1855, by a party of prospectors who had entered the mountains via Cajon Pass . The Los Angeles Star soon reported of their findings: There has been some excitement this past week about the new gold diggings on the headwaters of the San Gabriel. We have met several persons who have been prospecting and although they found gold of

5934-481: The San Gabriel Freeway. Recreation Commission member Milton B. Arthur is credited with ensuring that the site was acquired by the City for a park before it was developed into homes. The Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine Department administration offices moved to the site of El Dorado Park West in 1962, beginning in a renovated home on the property after the City purchased the land. Most of Area I opened to

6063-445: The San Gabriel Mountains, is steep and mountainous; it receives the most precipitation of any part of the basin – 33 inches (840 mm) per year – and as a result is the source of nearly all the natural runoff. Elevations reach up to 10,064 feet (3,068 m) at Mount San Antonio (Mount Baldy), the highest point of the range. During the winter, many elevations above 6,000 feet (1,800 m) are covered in snow. The middle third,

6192-449: The San Gabriel River basin for thousands of years at villages like Puvunga , relying on the abundant fish and game in riparian habitats. The river is named for the nearby Mission San Gabriel Arcángel , established in 1771 during the Spanish colonization of California . Its water was heavily used for irrigation and ranching by Spanish, Mexican, and American settlers before urbanization began in

6321-438: The San Gabriel Valley than the coastal plain due to its proximity to the mountains; however, the climate as a whole is very arid, with only moderate precipitation in winter and nearly none in summer. The lower watershed consists primarily of alluvial plains that once experienced seasonal flooding from the San Gabriel River, creating vast swamps and wetlands. Today, very little of this original environment remains. The San Gabriel

6450-403: The San Gabriel Valley, resulting in a severe decline of the water table as farmers drilled hundreds of wells. The San Gabriel Valley aquifer is now an important source of domestic and industrial water, and groundwater recharge operations are conducted using both local runoff from the San Gabriel River, and water imported through Los Angeles's aqueduct system. The San Gabriel River once supported

6579-543: The San Gabriel diggings. John Robb, who ran a saloon in Eldoradoville, claimed he "made more money by running the sawdust from the floor of the Union Saloon through his sluice box than he was able to make from real mining, so prodigal and careless of their pokes were the miners and gamblers of those days." Camp Fire (organization) Camp Fire , formerly Camp Fire USA and originally Camp Fire Girls of America ,

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6708-468: The San Gabriels in later years, such as at the 1896 Big Horn Mine at Mount Baden-Powell , and the 1913 Allison Mine on Iron Mountain high above the East Fork, where several tunnels of up to 1,000 feet (300 m) in length remain. Settlements of considerable size were established in very rough country along the upper San Gabriel River. Prospect Bar, located 4 miles (6.4 km) up the narrow canyon of

6837-477: The Spanish. Disease severely reduced the native populations, and by the beginning of the 19th century, most of the surviving Gabrieliño had entered the mission system. In 1830, nine years after California had become a part of Mexico , the indigenous population had fallen to about a quarter of what it had been before Spanish colonization. In order to attract settlers to the region, Spain and later Mexico established

6966-479: The Tongva described them as a peaceful people. Anthropologists believe the Tongva may have been some of the more advanced native inhabitants of California, establishing currency and complex trade systems with neighboring tribes, cultivating trees and plants for food, and having a formal government structure. Indian Agent B.D. Wilson wrote in 1852 the Tongva knew "how to meet the environmental challenge without destroying

7095-463: The West Fork flows at a much lower elevation than the East Fork and is the smaller of the two rivers in terms of water volume. The West Fork flows east in a fairly straight course for its entire length. From its headwater, the river quickly descends to the Cogswell Reservoir , where Devils Canyon Creek joins from the north. The Gabrielino Trail parallels the river from Red Box Saddle as far as

7224-472: The WoHeLo Award is a medallion named for Camp Fire's watchword "WoHeLo". WoHeLo is derived from the words work , health , and love . Each year, approximately 200 Camp Fire youth throughout the nation receive the WoHeLo Award. A member may apply for the award after completing four major long-term projects called Reflections, and three self-selected projects, called Advocacies, dealing with an area of concern of

7353-424: The ability to find a community support group for raising their families, and also provides positive family interaction base on structured, educational and fun experiences and activities. Started in 1997, Absolutely Incredible Kid Day (AIKD) is a national annual campaign in which adults write letters of love and support to the young people in their lives. This event is held the third Thursday of March, to correspond to

7482-514: The aquifer was quite pressurized and close to the surface; natural artesian wells existed in many places. At the southern end of the San Gabriel Valley, groundwater rose to the surface due to the damming effect of bedrock at the Whittier Narrows and formed a perennial stream that ran across the coastal plain to the Pacific. In the 19th century, irrigated agriculture was developed on a large scale in

7611-459: The area although people from some other groups, such as the Chumash, were also present at the San Gabriel mission. Native Americans fleeing the mission system took refuge in the upper canyons of the San Gabriel River where a significant resistance movement persisted for many years. This culminated in the San Gabriel mission uprising in 1785, led by Tongva medicine woman Toypurina , ultimately crushed by

7740-616: The arrival of Spanish explorers in the region, the native population is estimated at 5,000–10,000. Mount San Antonio provided a visual reference for the boundary of the Tongva (Gabrielino) people in the west and the Yuhaviatam people to the east. Most of the San Gabriel River lay in traditional Tongva territory, although the Chumash (who inhabited areas further west) also used the area. Tongva villages such as Puvunga were located on high ground above

7869-520: The availability of space in the downstream channels. Below the Whittier Narrows Dam, the river flows south-southwest across the coastal plain, roughly defining the border of Los Angeles County and Orange County . It flows through Whittier and Pico Rivera and under the Interstate 5 to Downey , where the river becomes a concrete channel. It turns due south, crossing under Interstate 105 and

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7998-446: The best quality, differ very much as regards to the richness of the mine. The Crab Hollow diggings are now considered the best and will pay from two to five cents to the pan. The river remained quiet for a number of years, as drought conditions reduced streamflow and made placer mining difficult. The winter of 1858-59 was a wet one, and soon hundreds of gold seekers from both Los Angeles County and Kern County further north descended on

8127-651: The camp in the summer of 1910. Both the Vermont group and the Maine group would lead to the creation of the organization formally called Camp Fire Girls in 1912. On March 22, 1911, Dr. Gulick organized a meeting "to consider ways and means of doing for the girls what the Boy Scout movement is designed to do for the boys." On April 10, 1911 James E. West issued a press release from the Boy Scouts of America headquarters announcing that with

8256-436: The coastal plain, had the highest population density. Villages in the San Gabriel Valley included Alyeupkigna , Amuscopopiabit, Awingna , Comicranga, Cucamonga , Guichi, Houtgna , Isanthcogna , Juyubit , Perrooksnga, Sibagna , and Toviseanga . The village of Sejat was located at the Whittier Narrows. Puvugna was situated around present-day Long Beach , near the river's mouth. The first explorers to make contact with

8385-526: The coastal plain. California became a U.S. state in 1850, two years after the Mexican–American War . One of the decisive battles of the war was fought on January 8, 1847 on the San Gabriel River, which was the last line of defense for Mexican Californio forces led by Mexican Governor-General José Flores , tasked with defending the pueblo of Los Angeles. American forces, led by General Stephen W. Kearney under Commodore Robert F. Stockton , crossed

8514-515: The community's 150th anniversary, which would be celebrated the following summer. The pageant's organizer, William Chauncey Langdon, promised the girls that they too would have an organized role in the pageant, although no organization similar to the Boy Scouts existed for girls at the time. Langdon consulted with Mrs. Charles Farnsworth [Charlotte Joy (Allen) Farnsworth, known as "Madama" ], preceptress of Horace Mann School near Thetford, Vermont. Both approached Luther Halsey Gulick M.D. about creating

8643-488: The country. The third requirement for a Camp Fire WoHeLo Award is to "know Camp Fire". Youth are required to read the History of Camp Fire, tour the office of their council, or follow another approved method of understanding the services Camp Fire provides. In 2004, the WoHeLo Award was expanded to Teens in Action members, allowing all high-school-aged Camp Fire members to work toward the award. Service Learning has always been

8772-527: The crest of the range between Mount Islip and Mount Hawkins, more than 7,000 feet (2,100 m) above sea level. Cedar Creek flows south from Windy Gap , 7,588 feet (2,313 m), to join with Soldier Creek, which continues south past Falling Springs to join with Coldbrook Creek, forming the North Fork. The North Fork continues south for 4.5 miles (7.2 km) past Valley of the Moon Plantation, forming

8901-504: The deepest layers are up to 4 billion years old. However, the uplift of the present mountain range did not start until about 6 million years ago. The mountains are still rising as much as 2 inches (51 mm) per year due to tectonic action along the San Andreas Fault. The Puente and Montebello hills are even younger, no more than 1.8 million years old. As the hills formed, the San Gabriel River maintained its original course, cutting

9030-660: The development of the floodplain, the river channels down the alluvial slope were poorly-defined at best and frequently changed course with winter storms, leaping back and forth between several different ocean outlets. In some years it joined with the Rio Hondo , which flows parallel to the San Gabriel and also passes through the Whittier Narrows , and flowed into the Los Angeles River; in others it would swing south toward either Alamitos Bay or Anaheim Bay , or even east towards

9159-520: The early 1900s, eventually transforming much of the watershed into industrial and suburban areas of greater Los Angeles. Severe floods in 1914, 1934, and 1938 spurred Los Angeles County, and later the federal government, to build a system of dams and debris basins and to channelize much of the lower San Gabriel River with riprap or concrete banks. There is also an extensive system of spreading grounds and other works to capture stormwater runoff and conserve it for urban use. Approximately one-third of

9288-416: The early levels, Camp Fire leaders help youth choose activities and guide them in earning the recognition items. As teens, members select their own activities and develop their own action plans for earning recognition items. For adults, recognition items signify outstanding achievement or the number of years they have been adult Camp Fire USA members. Adults in programming or board positions are recognized on

9417-427: The east and west of the San Gabriel Canyon mouth. Rancho San Francisquito , Rancho Potrero Grande , Rancho Potrero de Felipe Lugo , Rancho La Puente , and Rancho La Merced were located further south in the San Gabriel Valley. Rancho Paso de Bartolo was situated in the Whittier Narrows area, and Rancho Santa Gertrudes , Rancho Los Coyotes , Rancho Los Cerritos and Rancho Los Alamitos occupied various areas of

9546-536: The east, before passing under SR 60 . The river then enters the Whittier Narrows , the natural water gap between the Puente and Montebello Hills that forms the southern entrance to the San Gabriel Valley. Here it is impounded by the Whittier Narrows Dam , which serves primarily for flood control. The Rio Hondo also flows through the Whittier Narrows, to the west of the San Gabriel. The Rio Hondo drains most of

9675-418: The environment." The abundant water available in the San Gabriel River basin, a rarity in arid Southern California, was noted by early Spanish explorers and made it an attractive place for Europeans to settle later on. Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo sailed past the mouth of the San Gabriel River in 1542; although he did not land here, he did make contact with the native Tongva, who rowed out in their canoes to greet

9804-704: The expedition. The first Spanish party to actually cross the river was the Portolà expedition , led in 1769 by Captain Gaspar de Portolà . Juan Crespí , a missionary traveling with the expedition, described their first impression of the San Gabriel River: We then descended to a broad and spacious plain ... After traveling for an hour through the valley we came to an arroyo of water which flows among many green marshes, their banks covered with willows and grapes, blackberries, and innumerable Castilian rosebushes ... It runs along

9933-418: The flow of the San Gabriel River has been dried up in places by dams, diversions, and groundwater recharge operations, and increased in other sections by wastewater run-off. The East Fork , 17 miles (27 km) long, is the largest headwater of the San Gabriel River; the U.S. Geological Survey considers it part of the main stem . However, it is colloquially known as the "East Fork" to distinguish it from

10062-472: The foot of the mountains, and can be easily used to irrigate the large area of good land ... The valley ... is surrounded by ranges of hills. The one to the north is very high and dark and has many corrugations, and seems to run farther to the west. The expedition had to build a bridge across the river because the channel was too swampy and muddy, making it difficult to move their horses and supplies. The area came to be known as "la puente" (the bridge), from which

10191-510: The foothill zones, chaparral and brush dominate. The Puente Hills , which bisect the lower San Gabriel watershed, contain some sensitive plant communities such as coastal sage scrub and walnut forests. Wildfires are a natural part of plant communities in the San Gabriel River watershed. After the flood of 1938, an intense program of wildfire suppression began, since burned areas tend to erode quickly during storms, causing landslides and mudflows down tributary canyons. Like many other areas of

10320-532: The formation of habits making for health and vigor, the out-of-door habit, and the out-of-door spirit." Luther Gulick The Counselor in Training (CIT) program is available to all youth over 16 years of age who have an interest in becoming a counselor. The CIT program provides youth with leadership skills, self-confidence, decision-making skills and camping basics. Camp Fire's CIT program and manual are frequently used by not only Camp Fire but also other organizations, and

10449-452: The founding date of Camp Fire. In previous years, Absolutely Incredible Kid Day developed a following, including athletes, entertainers, and celebrities who have championed the cause by writing letters to America's youth, including former presidents Bill Clinton George W. Bush , Oprah Winfrey , Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee Jerry Rice , and astronaut and former Senator John Glenn . On social media, Absolutely Incredible Kid Day uses

10578-404: The future of American volunteerism, and encourage a sense of caring for others. The principles of Teens in Action are based on youth–adult partnerships and learning through empowering experiences. Its intent is to build strong ties between teens and their families, schools and communities, and to put a spotlight on issues of concern to youth. This program is based on the idea that young people are

10707-407: The hashtags #KidDay and #AIKD. Many names have been used within Camp Fire to identify different age groups. For many years, Camp Fire's youngest elementary school members were known as Bluebirds. In 1983, a club program for kindergarteners was introduced, called Sparks. In 1989, these two age groups were combined, and a new program level for kindergarten, first, and second graders called Starflight

10836-705: The idea to start the Camp Fire Organization. Camp Fire is the largest coeducational nonsectarian camp provider, operating more than 110 environmental and camp programs throughout the United States, and annually serving more than 34,000 school-age youth. Its outdoor experiences help children work in groups, make friends and build self-esteem, while learning about ecology, conservation and the interrelationships of all living things. The Camp Fire camping and environmental education experience teaches youth to work in teams and make friends, while building self-esteem and good decision making skills. A common Camp Fire approach

10965-441: The key to the future and are making a difference in the world. Hold on to Health is a Camp Fire program that helps to teach children to make healthy decisions regarding exercise and eating. It also encourages children to get their families and other youth involved in becoming healthy. Since Camp Fire's inception, it has been about getting girls out in the wilderness to learn. The Gulick family had formed Camp WoHeLo before they had

11094-588: The largest Tongva villages, Asuksangna (meaning "place of the grandmothers") was located at the mouth of the San Gabriel Canyon. The West Fork of the San Gabriel River Canyon formed part of a trade route that crossed the San Gabriel Mountains, enabling the Tongva to trade with the Serrano people in the Mojave Desert to the north. Many other villages were located near the San Gabriel River. The San Gabriel Valley, with its fertile soils and higher rainfall than

11223-537: The largest wildfire in Los Angeles County's history, was mostly concentrated west of the San Gabriel watershed, but did burn much of the upper West Fork. With urban development expanding toward mountain areas, the threat of property damage continues to increase. The San Gabriel River historically supported large populations of native fish, including the largest runs of steelhead in Southern California. Steelhead once migrated over 60 miles (97 km) upriver from

11352-467: The local level for their important roles in Camp Fire. Youth are able to earn beads while completing projects on the “Camp Fire Trails" as well as emblems. Previously, once the participants earned ten of one type of bead, they were awarded a larger one of the same type to represent the ten smaller ones. By 2006, there was one bead for each of the Camp Fire Trails. Bead colors Established in 1962,

11481-540: The loss of sales tax revenue as well as competition with their own shopping malls, the center opened in 2000. Area I includes six baseball diamonds , several picnic areas, two playgrounds , a 15-court tennis center, two basketball courts , a skateboard park , a duck pond , a disc golf course, soccer fields , and a community center . Area II includes lakes, paddle boats , an archery range, group picnic areas, overnight camping facilities, and bicycle and walking trails. Area III contains lakes, group picnic areas,

11610-478: The member chooses. Sometimes the youth's symbolgram, a symbol created by the youth to represent themself, is used on the ceremonial attire. Throughout the years, Camp Fire has appeared in many novels written for youth. Irene Ellion Benson wrote one of the first books to incorporate Camp Fire, called How Ethel Hollister Became a Campfire Girl , published in 1912. Benson published six more books about Camp Fire between 1912 and 1918. In 1913, Margaret Vandercook started

11739-560: The merger failed. Grace Seton quit the group over the rejection of her committee's draft of a handbook, followed by Linda Beard in September 1911 over differences with the Gulicks. However, there was an organization meeting held by Lina Beard on February 7, 1912 in Flushing, New York of a Girl Pioneers of America organization. Camp Fire Girls of America was incorporated in Washington, D.C, as

11868-555: The mission was soon attached to the river as well as the San Gabriel Mountains, which had been previously called the Sierra Madre by the Spanish. The original site suffered chronic flooding and was moved to its present site in San Gabriel , 5 miles (8.0 km) northwest, in 1775. The mission eventually controlled 1,500,000 acres (610,000 ha) of land extending from the foot of the mountains as far as present-day San Pedro . Under

11997-519: The modern-day city of La Puente takes its name. Following the Portolà expedition, Spain claimed California as part of its empire, and the San Gabriel River was referred to as "Río San Miguel Arcángel". Mission San Gabriel Arcángel , the fourth in a chain of missions along the California coast, was founded in 1771 by Junípero Serra , along the San Gabriel River near present-day Montebello . The name of

12126-479: The most "Honor Beads" on the way around the board (not necessarily the person who ended the game). Camp Fire Girls celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1960 with the "She Cares ... Do You?" program. During the project, Camp Fire Girls planted more than two million trees, built 13,000 birdhouses, and completed several other conservation-oriented tasks. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Camp Fire Girls, in connection with their Golden Jubilee Convention celebration,

12255-594: The mountains, most of the streams are locked in artificial channels, and the vast majority of the original wetlands have been lost to urban development. Less than 2,500 acres (1,000 ha) of wetlands remain in the San Gabriel River watershed, with the greatest decline in the coastal floodplain zone. Most remaining wetland habitats are either immediately adjacent to the river, or within the Whittier Narrows and other flood control basins, providing habitat to birds and small mammals. In addition, riparian and wetland restoration projects have been completed or are in progress along

12384-469: The mouth of San Gabriel Canyon. This has combined with smaller alluvial fans from other drainages along the front range of the San Gabriels to form the flat valley floor. In the San Gabriel Valley, riverine alluvium deposits can be up to 10,000 feet (3,000 m) deep. On the coastal plain, San Gabriel River sediments are interbedded with those from the nearby Los Angeles River as well as marine sediments left behind from ancient sea level changes. Prior to

12513-402: The nation. Programs are specific to community needs and some may not be available in all communities. The five outcome-based program areas include: Small-Group Clubs and Mentoring Opportunities; Leadership Development; Camping and Environmental Education; Child Care; and Self-Reliance and Service–Learning Classes. In Small-Group Clubs and Mentoring Opportunities, boys and girls usually meet once

12642-415: The needs of children, youth, and families across the country. Families come together once a month to share a meal and participate in a recognition ceremony designed to recognize both individual and group accomplishments. The club then breaks into age-level groups for an activity session led by a team of parents who volunteer for the short-term assignment for that month. This program offers parents and guardians

12771-423: The north, and then the much larger Bear Creek, which originates at Islip Saddle near the 8,250-foot (2,510 m) summit of Mount Islip . Less than a mile (1.6 km) below Bear Creek, it is joined by the North Fork before flowing into San Gabriel Reservoir , where it joins with the East Fork. The North Fork is the shortest and steepest of the three major forks. It begins as a series of streams falling off

12900-488: The northwest. The Iron Fork tributary joins from the west roughly in the middle of the Narrows. Near the lower end of the Narrows, the river passes under the Bridge to Nowhere , a 120-foot (37 m)-high arch bridge that was abandoned after the huge flood of 1938 washed out a highway under construction along the East Fork. The bridge remains today as a popular destination for hikers and bungee jumpers . After emerging from

13029-413: The only natural lake in the San Gabriel Mountains . The North Fork valley provides the route for Highway 39 , which until 1978 provided automobile access from San Gabriel Canyon Road to the Angeles Crest Highway . Since then, the upper part of the road north of Crystal Lake has been closed due to chronic landslides and erosion. As of 2016, there are no plans to reopen the road. Below the confluence of

13158-679: The park and connects with the San Gabriel River Bike Trail at various locations. Both the Coyote Creek Bicycle Path and the San Gabriel River Bicycle Path cross the El Dorado Park Estates neighborhood. The Long Beach Police Department maintains a police academy on the northern end of the park, complete with a pistol range. Camp Fire operates a 7-acre developed camping facility including

13287-468: The policy of reducción , the purpose being to "reduce or consolidate the Indians from the countryside into one central community", the Spanish incentivized Native Americans to joining the mission system first via gifts, but also often by force. Native people worked on farms and ranches of the mission lands, and were converted to Christianity. The Spanish name "Gabrieliño" generally refers to the Tongva people of

13416-446: The public in 1964, including a golf course . A branch of Long Beach's public library opened in 1970. Area II opened to the public on February 6, 1971; Area III opened in July 1974. During the 1984 Summer Olympics in neighboring Los Angeles , the park was the site for the archery competitions. A temporary venue was set up as a result. 70 acres at the north end of the park was sold by

13545-496: The reach of winter floods. A typical village consisted of large, circular thatched huts known as "kich" or "kish", each home to multiple families. During summer, the villagers would travel up the San Gabriel Canyon into the mountains to gather food and other resources needed to pass the winter. The San Gabriel River itself also provided sustenance to Native Americans with its steelhead trout and game animals attracted by this rare permanent water source. The abundant plant life around

13674-409: The river and its marshes, especially tule , were used to build dwellings and canoes. The Tongva often set brush fires to clear out old growth, improving forage for game animals. They also made oceangoing canoes (ti'at) using wooden planks held together with asphaltum or tar from local oil seeps . At least 26 Tongva villages were located along the San Gabriel River, and another 18 close by. One of

13803-678: The river bed reverts from concrete to earth. It passes under Interstate 405 and SR 22 , past Leisure World and Joint Forces Training Base - Los Alamitos (Los Alamitos Army Airfield), and under the Pacific Coast Highway . It empties into the Pacific Ocean between Alamitos Bay and Anaheim Bay (to the south), on the boundary of Long Beach in Los Angeles County, and Seal Beach in Orange County. The San Gabriel River, its canyons, and its floodplain are relatively young in geological terms, and owe their existence to tectonic forces along

13932-464: The river transports large volumes of sediment from the mountains into the San Gabriel Valley, ranging from fine sands, gravels, clays, and silt to car-sized boulders. Starting in the Pliocene , about 5 million years ago, the Los Angeles Basin experienced considerable tectonic subsidence; at the same time, the San Gabriel River was depositing a huge alluvial fan , essentially an inland delta, radiating from

14061-656: The river under heavy fire, but were able to force the Californios from their defensive position in under ninety minutes. After taking control of the river, the Americans were able to take Los Angeles on January 10, and the Mexicans surrendered California three days later. This campaign is now remembered as the Battle of Rio San Gabriel . Although it was rumored for many years that Native Americans and Spanish explorers had discovered gold in

14190-471: The river's east bank almost all the way to its mouth in Seal Beach . Throughout the San Gabriel Valley, the river flows mainly in an earth-bottomed channel between artificial concrete or riprap banks. Shortly below Interstate 10 at El Monte , the river is joined from the east by Walnut Creek , which restores a small perennial flow. Below this confluence it curves west and receives San Jose Creek , also from

14319-425: The river. By May 1859, claims were staked along 40 miles (64 km) of the San Gabriel Canyon. In the early days, access to the diggings proved difficult, as the rocky San Gabriel River bed was the only way into the rugged mountains. In July 1859, stagecoach service was established to bring in miners and their supplies. Between 1855 and 1902, an estimated $ 5,000,000 ($ 153 million in 2023 dollars) worth of gold

14448-461: The river. The San Gabriel River Wetland Restoration Development intends to construct by 2018 an artificial wetland and bioswale system near El Monte which will provide a recreation area and wildlife habitat and buffer against pollution. Above elevations of 7,000 feet (2,100 m), the San Gabriel Mountains support some pine and fir forests, remnants or relicts of a huge evergreen (coniferous) forest that once covered Southern California during

14577-604: The rugged San Gabriel Mountains to the heavily-developed San Gabriel Valley and a significant part of the Los Angeles coastal plain, emptying into the Pacific Ocean between the cities of Long Beach and Seal Beach . The San Gabriel once ran across a vast alluvial flood plain, its channels shifting with winter floods and forming extensive wetlands along its perennial course, a relatively scarce source of fresh water in this arid region. The Tongva and their ancestors inhabited

14706-409: The south. At its mouth, the river emptied into a broad estuary surrounded by thousands of acres of permanent marsh and swamp land, the result of a band of bedrock running parallel to the coast, forcing groundwater to the surface. In mountain areas, the San Gabriel River channel is often too narrow to support significant vegetation, as winter floods tend to scour the channel down to bare rock. Below

14835-558: The success of the Boy Scout movement, a group of preeminent New York men and women were organizing a group to provide outdoor activities for girls, similar to those in the Boy Scouts. In 1911, the Camp Fire Girls planned to merge with the Girl Scouts of America , formed by Clara A. Lisetor-Lane of Des Moines, Iowa , and Girl Guides of America (of Spokane, Washington ) to form the Girl Pioneers of America, but relationships fractured and

14964-472: The two rivers sometimes joined the other, flowing to various outlets. The Rio Hondo sometimes changed course to join the San Gabriel River; alternatively, the San Gabriel sometimes shifted course into the Rio Hondo, merging into a single watershed with the Los Angeles River. Whittier Narrows Dam controls the outflow from both rivers into their artificially fixed channels. During storms, water is distributed based on

15093-622: The valley's relatively steep slope. Past the Santa Fe Dam – which when dry is used as the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area – the river flows through Irwindale , where it is the site of several major gravel quarries, which have operated in the San Gabriel Valley since the early 1900s to mine the rich alluvial sediments deposited by the river over millennia. From here Interstate 605 , the San Gabriel River Freeway, parallels

15222-505: The water gap of the Whittier Narrows. Composed of ancient, highly fractured and unstable crystalline rock, the San Gabriel mountains are subject to tremendous amounts of erosion. Rapid erosion caused by heavy winter storms has created the dramatic canyons of the San Gabriel River. In the headwaters, streams often follow fault traces; the West Fork and part of the East Fork run along the San Gabriel Canyon Fault, which extends in

15351-458: The water used in southeast Los Angeles County today comes from the river. The upper San Gabriel has been intermittently mined for gold since the 1860s, and its deep gravel bed has been an important source of construction aggregate since the early 1900s. The river is also a popular recreation area, with parks and trails in the many flood basins along its course. The headwaters of the San Gabriel River have retained their natural character and are

15480-501: The western United States, this has caused a large amount of tinder and debris to accumulate, increasing the risk of fire. Drought conditions in the first decade of the 21st century led to huge fires much larger than would have occurred naturally. In 2002, the Curve Fire burned 20,000 acres (8,100 ha), much of it in the North Fork of the San Gabriel River, closing Crystal Lake Recreation Area for several years. The 2009 Station Fire ,

15609-410: The western half of the San Gabriel Valley, approaching the San Gabriel River at the Whittier Narrows; south of there, it swings to the southwest and joins the Los Angeles River . In the Whittier Narrows, they are connected by a short channel through which water can flow in both directions. The Rio Hondo is generally considered a separate stream and tributary to the Los Angeles River , but historically

15738-436: The youth member's choosing. The first must be to Camp Fire; the second cannot be to Camp Fire; and the third can either be in Camp Fire or outside of Camp Fire. Each of the three Advocacies must involve leading, teaching, serving, and speaking out. Many councils have removed the requirement that Advocacies must be completed to the Camp Fire program, citing that opportunities do not always exist for members enrolled in all areas of

15867-579: Was Betty Ford , who was admitted for drug and alcohol dependence in 1978. Another famous patient was Nazi war criminal Andrija Artukovic . This hospital closed in 1994 along with the closing of the Long Beach Naval Shipyard and Naval Station and disbanding of the Long Beach Naval Fleet. Rather than returning the land to park use, the city proposed a shopping mall. After years of legal battles by neighboring cities, who were concerned with

15996-433: Was a natural outgrowth of an appreciation for differences and cultural inclusiveness. The theory was that such symbolism enabled—and even encouraged—self-reflection and personal growth. All Camp Fire members between third and sixth grade are encouraged to choose a name that best reflects their personality and aspirations. At this time they are also encouraged to choose a symbol or "symbolgram". Clubs are encouraged to choose

16125-437: Was created. The Little Stars program for pre-schoolers was added in 2005. The tradition of Bluebirds has been preserved as a Camp Fire mascot for all ages. Native American culture influenced the early years of Camp Fire, serving as the inspiration for ceremonial activities and attire, camp and council names, respect for nature and the environment, and the use of symbols by many councils. For Camp Fire, Native American symbolism

16254-480: Was formed in 1918 in Kansas City, Missouri . Kansas City would later become the national headquarters for Camp Fire in 1977. In 1926, Parker Brothers produced a Camp Fire Girls board game. There were no turns in the game; everyone played at the same time. The game ended when someone entered the "Log Cabin Council Fire", which could only occur on an exact count. The winner of the game was the person who had collected

16383-722: Was known at the time, was created as the sister organization to the Boy Scouts of America . The organization changed its name in 1975 to Camp Fire Boys and Girls when membership eligibility was expanded to include boys. In 2001, the name Camp Fire USA was adopted, and in 2012 it became Camp Fire. Camp Fire's programs include small group experiences, after-school programs, camping, as well as environmental education, child care, and service-learning; They aim to build confidence in younger children and provide hands-on, youth-driven leadership experiences for older youth. In 1910, young girls in Thetford, Vermont watched their brothers, friends, and schoolmates—all Boy Scouts —practice their parts in

16512-505: Was removed from the San Gabriel River. Mining along the San Gabriel River began with simple gold panning, but soon developed to more advanced methods. Flumes were constructed to carry water to sluices , long toms, and hydraulic mining operations that separated gold from river gravel; dams and waterwheels helped maintain the necessary head to drive these extensive waterworks and clear the riverbed so that gold-bearing sands could be excavated. Some hard rock (tunnel) mining also occurred in

16641-428: Was used by the U.S. Navy as a torpedo test site; the concrete launch ramp remains today and is easily seen from Highway 39, which runs through the canyon. The river emerges from the San Gabriel Canyon at Azusa , a short distance below Morris Dam , where it reaches the wide and gently sloping alluvial plain of the San Gabriel Valley . At the mouth of the canyon, the entire flow of the river, except during wet seasons,

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