An affirming and nurturing childhood experience that has shaped and positively impacted Hassinger’s life and work is her participation as a Camp Fire Girl. Camp Fire was America’s first nonsectarian and multicultural organization for girls. Camp Fire (formerly Camp Fire Girls) is an organization that believes every youth should be given the opportunities and tools to discover who they are, become strong leaders, and contribute to their community. Camp Fire was created to “guide young people on their journey to self-discovery.” The artist has explained: “My grandmother became a leader of a Camp Fire Girls group This experience is forever with me.” The underlying philosophy of Camp Fire Girls and the basis of the projects and multigroup meetings was the culture of Native America.

Hassinger learned such essential life skills while a Camp Fire Girl as adaptability, craft-making, survival, interdependence, and how to interact and “be” with nature. Camp Fire is also where Hassinger presumably encountered sit upons, handmade and waterproof seat cushions generally used in camping. The artist has taken this concept to create Sit Upons (2010/2015), using The New York Times newspapers, and has brought them to the interior space. She has also used the Sit Upons to interact with those who experience her work, in essence activating the Sit Upons as a performance work. The Sit Upons offer a repose of sorts that gives respite and stillness regardless of what the news reports.