Dianne Long,
A Hero In Our Midst

Dianne Long, an avid nature-lover and people person, has been impacting and changing the lives of individuals for over thirty-one years in more ways than one. She does not view her years of service as something she should do, but something that must be done as an everyday American who wants to make a difference. She combined her love for nature and children and became involved with Camp Fire USA.

Dianne first got involved with Camp Fire USA’s Lone Star Council in Dallas, Texas when her daughter Kristen started the first grade. She felt that her daughter would benefit from Camp Fire USA’s program that helps children develop planning and decision-making skills, as well as skills related to their individual strengths and interests. After seeing first-hand the benefits that the council offered her daughter, she decided to volunteer as a leader for her daughter’s club in 1975.

“I led the group and it seemed the longer I stayed in the program, the more I began to see the underlying benefits of it,” said Dianne. “I just wanted to give back to the community, while spending quality time with my daughters. I never imagined that I would stay involved for over thirty years!”

Dianne not only impacted her own children’s lives through the program, but touched many children along the way, helping them learn skills in leadership, compromising, negotiation, goal setting and evaluating their success.

Dianne spent 10 years at the Central Dallas Day Camp during summers and would lead two-day camps in conjunction with the Junior League in Dallas. She would also frequently take Camp Fire USA children to Camp Ellowi, where she taught archery.

“Dianne has a passion for sharing her love and knowledge of nature and the outdoors with the children,” said Albina Ramirez, Camp Fire USA Lone Star Council’s financial support assistant.

During the Christmas holidays, Dianne’s club children wanted to learn about clowning and developed their own clown faces. Since the children had so much fun learning the art of clowning and make-up artistry, she decided to take their learning to another “service-oriented” level. Dianne decided to take the children to the local nursing homes, and they were able to bring joy to the tenants through their clowning and presented each senior with a homemade present for the holidays.

One story that sticks out in the mind of Dianne was when a child whose parents were uninvolved and hardly present in the little girl’s life came to Camp Fire USA’s Lone Star Council. The shy and awkward child came to the council because a neighbor noticed the girl’s need for positive attention, care and guidance in her life. Dianne immediately took an interest in the young girl and involved her in the Lone Star’s Council’s annual candy sale to raise money for the organization. In a matter of days, this young girl went from being quiet and withdrawn to confidently walking up to the doors of her neighbors in the community and selling candy.

“The transformation in this child was tremendous,” said Dianne. “Sometimes you can tell a child how wonderful they are until you are blue in the face, and it does not sink in. But, other times, they just have to be given the direction to do something, even as simple as selling candy, to develop the self-esteem they need to succeed in life.”

As Dianne’s daughters grew up and out of the Camp Fire USA program, Dianne stayed committed to the organization’s cause. Just this year, Dianne finished up her third term on the Board of Directors for Camp Fire USA’s Lone Star Council. She makes a commitment to keeping the board on track and focused on the kids and the programming that makes Camp Fire USA so beneficial to young people.

“I understand the value of our youth development program, and I know that what we are doing is making a difference and changing lives,” said Dianne. “I feel that it is my responsibility to keep the focus on the children and Camp Fire USA Lone Star Council’s leadership programs.”

Although Dianne is honored to be receiving this award for what she has done to connect with others and impact many children’s lives, she feels that she’s been given the real gift through volunteering.

“The children have allowed me a chance to learn so many new things, and I have gained so much by being a Camp Fire USA leader to children,” said Dianne. “It’s humbling to be considered a hero, because I feel that it is the children and people around me who have helped me become a better person. There is no greater feeling in the world, than to give back to others.”