Edith Bourgaize Dennis became a Girl Scout in a Conimicut troop at the age of 10 ½, becoming an assistant troop leader at 16. At Camp Hoffman as a camper in 1925 she wore a middy blouse, pleated bloomers, and high socks, which met her bloomers. Later, her camp name was “Key” as a nature counselor. She was President of the “Golden Eaglets” and helped troops with badge work.
Her work for the Boy Scouts in 1939 on a 10 month basis allowed her to spend summers at Camp Hoffman. In 1940, she led a group of eight bike hostelers up the Connecticut River to Northfield, Massachusetts and onto Boston; in 1941 she went to Camp André to bike and attend the Western Hemisphere Conference and in 1942 she was a day camp trainer in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Later she was a nature consultant at Camp Edith Macy.
As executive of the Warwick Girl Scouts in 1942, she helped set up six day camps for girls from the city.
During the war years, the Martha’s Vineyard Sailing Camp was on Long Pond at “Wind-in-the-Pines” Camp, until 1944 when she and her husband moved back to the Vineyard.
Edith returned to Camp Hoffman as director in 1945, and in 1948 hosted International Girl Scouts and Girl Guides at Hoffman.
After her daughter Wendy was born in 1949, Edith helped out at Rocky Hill School. When her husband was transferred to the Philadelphia area, Edith became a Brownie leader, then Director of the new Philadelphia Camp in the Poconos.
In the 1960’s, Edith was District Director for Plymouth Bay Girl Scout council in Taunton for 4 years. She was promoted to Program Director and later retired in 1977 when she then became a Girl Scout Volunteer.
Edith Bourgaize Dennis
1912 - 1997