BLUE ROBIN,
THE GIRL PIONEER
BY
RENA I. HALSEY
ILLUSTRATED BY NANA FRENCH BICKFORD
BOSTON
LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO.
Published, March, 1917
Copyright, 1917
By Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co.
All rights reserved
BLUE ROBIN, THE GIRL PIONEER
Norwood Press
BERWICK & SMITH CO.
NORWOOD, MASS.
U. S. A.
BLUE ROBIN THE GIRL PIONEER
IS
AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED
TO
MISS LINA BEARD
FOUNDER
AND
CHIEF PIONEER
OF
THE NATIONAL INCORPORATED
ORGANIZATION OF
THE GIRL PIONEERS OF AMERICA
WHAT ARE “GIRL PIONEERS”?
The first public meeting of the National Organization ofthe Girl Pioneers of America was held by the founder,Miss Lina Beard, in the quaint old Pioneer meeting-houseon Broadway, in Flushing, New York, February 8, 1912.
The aim of the Organization of Girl Pioneers is: Tocultivate in girls the sterling qualities displayed by ourearly pioneer women; to create a desire in them fora happy, broad, and useful life and to show them howto attain it; to give them things to do that are interesting,wholesome, and that will strengthen character; and todevelop a love for out-of-door life by showing them howto live it.
The watchword of the Girl Pioneer is, “I Can.”
The principles upon which the organization is foundedare not simply taught as precepts, they are found andpracticed in all the delightful activities of the movement.Outdoor life with its limitless avenues of interest: camping,trailing, woodcraft, learning to know the wild life ofthe open, its plants, its flowers, birds, common wild animalsand insects; the stars and the meaning of theshadows, the use of nature’s material in handicraft; allthese and many more are opened to the Girl Pioneer, andby actual contact she is finding the beauty of truth and thewonder of reality. By her membership in this large organizationshe is learning to be less self-centered, learningto work with others and for others, and to share her enjoymentswith others. By the joyous participation infield-sports, and such recreation as rowing, swimming,2fishing, riding, kite-flying, stilt-walking, and the more con