Attribution:

Original Source: Camp Fire

Author: Camp Fire


Published on: February 3, 2025

Disclaimer: This post is republished with permission from Camp Fire.

“Almost constantly.” 

That’s how often nearly half of all American teenagers say they’re online. 

From TikTok to Reels to Youtube to Snapchat, there’s a literal never-ending stream of content, ready and waiting to be consumed at any given moment, by anyone who has access to a device (which, let’s be honest, is basically all of us).  

Having a constant barrage of entertainment, information, infotainment, and everything in between makes it more challenging than ever to separate fact from fiction. Now is the perfect time to reflect on how we consume media—and how we can help kids become responsible digital consumers.  

What Is Misinformation and Why Does Media Literacy Matter? 

Misinformation refers to false or misleading information that spreads—sometimes intentionally, sometimes not. It’s everywhere online, and its consequences can be significant, influencing opinions, decisions, and even public policy. 

This is where media literacy comes in. Media literacy is broadly defined as: the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media in various forms. Being media literate empowers you to: 

• Spot fake news and misleading claims. 
• Make informed decisions based on credible information. 
• Recognize financial motives behind content. 
• Contribute positively to online spaces. 
• Avoid scams and exploitation. 

By improving your media literacy skills, you can protect yourself from misinformation while also fostering a safer, more respectful online environment. 

How Parents and Caregivers Can Help  

Parents and caregivers play a vital role in helping youth develop media literacy skills. Here are some ways we can provide support to the young people in our lives: 

• Encourage open conversations: Create a safe space for youth to discuss what they see online without fear of judgment. Ask questions like, “Tell me about where you heard that?” or “How could we figure out if it’s true or not?” to spark critical thinking. 
• Teach fact-checking tools: Introduce youth to resources like FactCheck.org, Snopes, or Media Bias/Fact Check, and practice using them together.  
• Model responsible media use: Show how you evaluate sources by discussing why you trust certain outlets or double-check information before sharing. Consider using/checking Ground News which rates the political slant of every news piece. 
• Highlight the importance of diverse perspectives: Encourage youth to follow a variety of credible sources to get a fuller picture of any issue. Look at different media outlets and international news to see how things are framed from all perspectives.  
• Set healthy boundaries: Help establish (and model!) limits for screen time and social media use to prevent information overload and promote balanced habits. 

The Role of Algorithms: How Social Media Shapes What You See 

When you scroll through social media, the content you see isn’t random. It’s curated by algorithms, which prioritize posts based on engagement and your past behavior. While this can make your feed more personalized, it also means you’re often shown content designed to keep you scrolling—not necessarily what’s most accurate or balanced. 

Why it’s important to understand how algorithms work: 

• Algorithms often amplify sensationalized or polarizing content—when the goal is to get more clicks, anything that provokes emotion (good or bad, true or misleading), is a plus for the algorithm. 
• They may trap you in an “echo chamber,” showing you only viewpoints you already agree with. 

How Parents and Caregivers Can Help 

• Discuss how algorithms work: Explain in simple terms how platforms prioritize content and why it’s important to diversify information sources.  
• Encourage mindful scrolling: Help youth recognize when they’ve been online too long and suggest alternatives like going for a walk or engaging in offline activities. 
• Monitor for echo chambers: Talk to youth about the importance of exposing themselves to different viewpoints and avoiding content that reinforces one-sided perspectives. 
• Lead by example: Share how you take breaks from social media and curate a balanced feed to set a positive precedent. 

Read more: Caring for your mental health when the algorithm has other ideas 

Recognizing and Evaluating Bias in Media 

Not all media is created equal. Bias exists in many forms, including political, cultural, and commercial. Recognizing bias is key to understanding the full picture. 

Common types of media bias: 

• Political bias: Favoring one political ideology over another. 
• Commercial bias: Using sensationalized or clickbait headlines to drive traffic and/or generate revenue. 
• Cultural or societal bias: Framing issues based on specific cultural norms or prejudices. 

3 quick steps to evaluate media: 

1. Cross-check sources: Look for the same story on multiple credible outlets, such as AP News or Reuters. 
2. Research the author: Check their credentials and any potential conflicts of interest.  
3. Analyze the language: Be wary of emotionally charged words or headlines designed to provoke outrage. 

How Parents and Caregivers Can Help 

• Teach youth to recognize bias: Show examples of biased headlines or articles and discuss how to spot them. 
• Promote cross-checking: Encourage youth to verify stories with multiple outlets before accepting them as true. 
• Provide balanced sources: Share news from diverse perspectives and explain the value of understanding all sides of an issue. 
• Practice evaluating together: Review an article or video with your child and discuss whether it’s credible and unbiased. 

Staying Safe on Social Media 

At Camp Fire, we take child safety very seriously, and that most definitely includes online safety. 

American youth spend nearly five hours per day on social media, putting them in contact with numerous viewpoints, messages, ideas, and people—usually without a trusted adult by their side to help them evaluate and process what they’re consuming.  

This means it’s more important than ever to initiate (and continue!) the conversation with kids about how to stay safe online. It takes a healthy mix of critical thinking, awareness, and proactive habits to safely navigate social media these days.  

Here are some key ways you can help kids stay secure and informed: 

• Discuss privacy settings: Teach youth how to adjust their privacy settings to control who can see their content. 
• Talk about oversharing: Share examples of why it’s important to keep personal details private. 
• Encourage skepticism: Remind youth to question the authenticity of accounts. Teach them to seek answers to critical questions such as: Who created this content? Why was it made? Who benefits from it? 
• Provide tools for emotional awareness: Help youth recognize when a post is trying to manipulate their emotions and discuss ways to respond thoughtfully. 
• Share red flags or potential pitfalls to watch out for: For example, teach them to spot fake profiles with generic usernames, minimal activity, or unusual posting patterns as well as phishing/scam tactics.  

ScreenReady® With AT&T 

Our collaborators at AT&T have taken a proactive role in developing tools and resources to help people of all ages stay safe online. We encourage you to explore their extensive collection of information:  

• Digital Literacy. 
• Digital Safety tools for all ages. 
• Digital Citizenship video series, tailored for tweens/teens. 
• Digital Parenting tools.   

Becoming an informed consumer of information isn’t just about avoiding fake news—it’s about taking control of your online experience. By practicing media literacy, recognizing bias, and building healthier, safe habits, you can help yourself and navigate today’s digital landscape with confidence. 

We hope you’ve been inspired to take the first step toward helping yourself and the youth in your life become smarter, more critical media consumers.  

How will you commit to fostering a safer, more informed online community in 2025 and beyond?  

Additional Resources: 

Safer Internet Day 

The News Literacy Project 

The post A More Informed Youth: Media Literacy in 2025 & Beyond appeared first on Camp Fire Central Puget Sound.

As always, we can’t wait for classic camp traditions like roasting churros over the fire, tie-dyeing, and, of course—lanyards! Last summer’s new additions,
including scavenger hunts and beach games, were a huge hit, so they’re making a comeback. Plus, we’re stepping things up this year with even more exciting activities—including GaGa Ball at all of our sites!

Our Day Camps wouldn’t be the same without our incredible volunteers. Each summer, dedicated teens spend one to four weeks leading groups of campers—many of them returning as staff once they turn 18! We’re especially grateful for team members like Jupiter, who will be with us for all of summer 2025—her third year on staff and her 14th year at Carkeek!

If you’re 18 or older and looking for a summer filled with adventure, fresh air, and meaningful connections, consider joining our team. We’d love to have you!

Corey Gerberdolan (She/Her)
Day Camp Director

Register for Day Camp

Join our team!

The post Day Camp Spotlight appeared first on Camp Fire Central Puget Sound.

A Lifelong Love Begins

Camp Sealth has permeated our family’s lives for more than 30 years. I started working at camp during college and my sister Anne soon followed. We made
some of the best friends we have ever had at camp. It was my first real job and gave me a real grounding on how to help children grow and become independent in a safe, fun, and caring environment.

Once I had my children, I couldn’t wait for them to turn five so I could send them to the magical place that is Camp Sealth. They came home with stories that were so familiar to me yet wonderful to hear again through their eyes. The songs were the same ones I had sung to them in their earliest years. They kept going back to camp each summer and joined the staff team as teenagers.

I volunteer because camp is what we do in my family! I love going to Camp Sealth each summer because it is isolated and peaceful and played such a huge role in my family’s lives. I donate because I feel like I am making a difference for other families and because I believe that EVERY child, regardless of ability to pay, should have the magical camp experience.

– Sarah Methner, alumnus, board member, donor and volunteer

Give Today

Volunteer With Us!

The post Why I Give to Camp Fire appeared first on Camp Fire Central Puget Sound.

“I started selling Camp Fire Candy as a kid in the 1990s and learned valuable skills—sales techniques, perseverance, and handling rejection,” shares volunteer Group Leader Amanda Wedvik.

“It also taught me the importance of goal-setting and how to reach your goals. As I now teach my children and group members how to sell, I see how in-person interactions help kids develop communication skills they don’t always practice in today’s digital world. Whether knocking on doors and getting to know their neighbors or speaking with new people at a grocery store site sale, they’re building confidence and learning valuable life skills.”

Amanda leads the Fun Fires, a Starflight & Adventure group in Bonney Lake that sold over 1,100 units of Camp Fire candy this year. “I appreciate how the annual candy sale fundraiser connects the kids of today to Camp Fire’s long history. While selling candy out in the community, we meet so many alumni who love to talk with our youth and reminisce. One parent in my group was in Camp Fire as a kid like me and now our children are in the same group – a full-circle moment!”

Now that Camp Fire is concluding their 75-year partnership with Brown & Haley, Amanda is sad to see the mints go but excited to see what is next. The fundraiser raises critical funds each year to directly support Camp Fire groups and programs. Proceeds allow groups to raise dollars for group activities, purchase emblems and vest and even for those super sellers a week at Camp Sealth!

Last chance ever to get Camp Fire Mints!

The post The Sweet Benefits of Camp Fire’s Candy Fundraiser appeared first on Camp Fire Central Puget Sound.

Emmaline and Irenee are the dynamic duo behind “The Flickers,” a Camp Fire group that has been blazing its own trail since re-forming in 5th grade during the height of COVID-19. Now in 8th grade, they are already making strides
toward earning the prestigious WoHeLo Award, the highest honor in Camp Fire. This award requires them to complete three advocacies each of which require work in four categories:

• Lead
• Teach
• Serve
• Speak Out
  

For their first Advocacy, The Flickers are once again organizing You & Me Camp, an annual event at Camp Sealth for Camp Fire youth and families. They are planning a Jungle theme this year after prior success in 2023 with their “By the Salish Sea at Camp Sealth” theme.

For the Lead aspect of You and Me Camp, The Flickers have planned, designed and organized the themed activities, movies, workshops and snacks, recruited volunteers and worked with Camp Fire staff to ensure the event would serve the youth who were attending.

To fulfill the Teach aspect of this advocacy, The Flickers will teach the volunteers the steps necessary for leading each activity, allowing the volunteers to lead/teach youth participants on their own. They have also taught youth participants at the weekend over the past three years, leading workshops such as craft projects, slime making, and scavenger hunts.

For the Service aspect of this advocacy, You and Me Camp serves the Camp Fire Group Program community, teaching them new skills and providing fun activities for them to enjoy.

Finally, for the Speak Out category, as hosts of the weekend, they make announcements about the weekend to participants and are available to help the attendees as they are able. They also provide direction at the activities they are leading.

“Earning the WoHeLo Award is a big challenge, but I’m excited to push myself and grow as a leader.”
– Irenee

You & Me Camp was previously known as Dad Kid Weekend and was rebranded in 2020 in an effort to be more inclusive of all family structures.

The post Group Program Spotlight appeared first on Camp Fire Central Puget Sound.

In today’s challenging political climate, community support is more important than ever, especially for young people. Camp Fire provides a safe and nurturing environment where youth can find stability, mentorship, and emotional support. Through our programs, young people learn resilience and build the skills needed to navigate uncertainty, while creating lifelong connections within a caring community.

Community involvement is vital for personal well-being and growth, and Camp Fire has been fostering these connections for over 100 years. We’ve built a strong community where youth and families come together to connect with each other and with nature. These in-person interactions are essential for developing meaningful relationships and promoting mental and emotional health, things that virtual spaces can’t fully replicate.

Our success depends on the dedication of adult volunteers who give their time and energy to support our programs. We need volunteers to help with service weekends at Camp Sealth, assist with our day camps and summer camp, and lead activities that inspire our youth. The mentorship of caring adults has always been at the heart of our mission, guiding young people on their journeys of self-discovery and empowerment.

Being part of the Camp Fire community also enriches one’s cultural and social understanding, as engaging with diverse groups fosters empathy and broadens perspectives. By supporting Camp Fire, you are not only improving your own life but strengthening the impact of our community in shaping informed, compassionate, and resilient leaders for tomorrow. Your involvement makes a lasting difference!

We hope to see you at some events this year.

Rick Taylor (he/him)
Executive Director

The post The Power of Community appeared first on Camp Fire Central Puget Sound.

This winter, after a lengthy battle with cancer, we lost a beloved lifetime Camp Fire friend, Jan “Kanga” Milligan. Jan began her journey as a Camp Fire Girl, was a camper, a summer counselor, and came to Camp Sealth as director from 1993-2008. Under her leadership, camp grew exponentially, serving more youth and families.

She established a school-year outdoor education program, added Camp Fire group events, welcomed non-profit group retreats, and grew summer camp participation. The thriving Camp Sealth we know today is due in huge part to Jan’s vision.

Jan’s leadership style focused on the “camper experience”. She embodied the values of Camp Fire and instilled them in her staff, embracing small-group programming, camper choice, and building connections to the natural world. She advocated for kids with disabilities and developed programs to support their inclusion at camp.

Jan led by example and was willing to take on any task, no matter how big or small, with a determination to keep camp running smoothly. She could cook breakfast for a full dining hall, dig a ditch, make a garbage run, or deep clean a bathroom. Perhaps her favorite self-assignment was mowing the grass, including one late-night mower excursion in the orchard.

Along with designing camp programs, Jan was passionate about the site and facilities that supported them. Her attention to detail was apparent throughout camp: refreshed coats of paint in matching colors, thoughtful updates to facilities, the addition of a volleyball court and the GaG Ball pit. The hundreds of wooden bunk beds were a multi-year project, built onsite by our maintenance staff to replace old metal spring cots. Jan was most proud of managing a rebuild of the seawall, removing old timbers and replacing them with more natural rockery.

With her forestry degree and love of the outdoors, Jan encouraged staff and campers to be stewards of Sealth’s woods, wetlands and waterfront. Her handwriting can still be found in parts of camp on carved wooden trail signs.

Throughout her retirement, Jan continued to stay involved at Camp Sealth, most notably organizing the sewing and replacement of curtains in all of the cabins. She and her husband Doug contributed many hours on maintenance projects for the Wrangler unit.

Jan’s commitment to Camp Sealth spanned more than five decades, and she had a unique ability to unite the people and traditions that spanned those years. She appreciated camp’s past as a girls’ camp, its present as a place for all, and envisioned what could be accomplished in the future.

She had a gift for seeing the potential in young people, and for placing them in positions to grow their skills and confidence.

Jan will be missed deeply and we are dedicated to fulfilling her biggest wish of all, that Camp Sealth continues to be a place where young people can go to make memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.

Help Us Honor Jan’s Memory & Celebrate Her Legacy

Share Your Favorite “Kanga” Story

Send to Carriek@campfireseattle.org. These will be compiled and shared at a later date.

Give Service to Camp Sealth

Jan championed camp work parties and expressed a wish to see them grow. Join us on Saturday, April 19th or Saturday, May 3rd (a special day in honor of
Jan!) and help get camp ready for summer.

Join us in honoring Jan

The post Long-time Camp Sealth Director Leaves a Legacy appeared first on Camp Fire Central Puget Sound.

What’s New?

• Every camper will receive two patches per session! Each youth who attends camp will be given two unique patches per session to take home as a reminder of their time at Camp Sealth.
• No online patch sales. To keep our patch system fair and meaningful, patches will no longer be available for purchase online.
• Limited in-store sales. If there are leftover Camp Sealth patches at the end of the season, they may be available for purchase in our onsite camp store—so be sure to have your camper check while they are here!

Which Patch will my camper leave with?

Campers will receive the following patches based on the camp they attend:

• Classic Camp – Camp Sealth Annual Patch and either Arts and Craft Patch (A&C), Archery Patch (progression 1 or 2), Outdoor Living Skills (OLS) Patch, or Waterfront Patch. The specific patch received depends on which activity the camper has engaged with the most.
• Adventure – Camp Sealth Annual Patch and Adventure Patch
• Explorer – Camp Sealth Annual Patch and Explorer Patch
• Kiwanis – Camp Sealth Annual Patch and Kiwanis Patch
• Splash – Camp Sealth Annual Patch and Splash Patch
• Bullseye – Camp Sealth Annual Patch and Archery Patch Progression 2 or Progression 3
• Nocturnal – Camp Sealth Annual Patch and Nocturnal Patch
• Proud2BeMe – Camp Sealth Annual Patch and Proud2BeMe Patch
• Beginner Horse – Camp Sealth Annual Patch and Horse Progression 1
• Intermediate Horse – Camp Sealth Annual Patch and Horse Progression 2
• Advanced Horse – Camp Sealth Annual Patch and Horse Progression 3
• Lil Buckaroos – Camp Sealth Annual Patch and Lil Buckaroos Patch

We’re excited about this update to your camper’s experience and ability to earn new patches. Our hope is that it enhances the camper experience by ensuring that every child has a tangible memory of their time at camp each year. We can’t wait to see all of the smiling faces this summer, patches in hand!

Have any questions? Feel free to reach out—we’re happy to help!

See you at camp!

The post Exciting Changes to Our Camp Sealth Summer Camp Patches! appeared first on Camp Fire Central Puget Sound.

Original Source: Camp Fire


Author: Camp Fire
Published on: January 1, 2025

Disclaimer: This post is republished with permission from Camp Fire.

Change is one of the few constants in life, but knowing that doesn’t make it any easier to deal with—especially for young people.

Adolescents and young adults come face-to-face with life’s uncertainties on multiple fronts: academic pressures, career choices, evolving relationships, and global challenges like climate change or social justice issues. Dealing with these challenges can be particularly overwhelming, leading to anxiety, stress, or even a sense of helplessness.

If we’re being honest, though, it’s not just kids who struggle with change—adults definitely do too!

We recently had a conversation with Dr. Tyanna Snider, pediatric psychologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and contributor with The Kids Mental Health Foundation, about how to thrive in the face of uncertainty.

Her advice?

“Thriving starts with us as caregivers or trusted adults.”

It Starts With Self

Strengthening your own self-care muscles is key

If we want to be effective role models for the young people in our lives, we first and foremost need to ensure we’re leading from a place of centeredness.

“Taking care of ourselves is crucial—checking in with how we’re coping, managing our emotions, and making time for self-care,” Dr. Snider says.

“When we’re in a good place, we can show up as our best selves for the kids in our lives.”

At Camp Fire, we are continually working toward a world where every child thrives to their fullest. As we enter a new year full of new challenges, opportunities, and changes, let’s explore how we can model the skills we all need to face uncertainty with courage and resilience.

The Science of Uncertainty: Why Does It Feel So Hard?

Before we dive into the how behind dealing with change and uncertainty, let’s take a quick look at why it feels so scary to face the unknown.

A key fact to understand is that human brains are designed to seek patterns and predictability.

This trait helped our ancestors survive by allowing them to anticipate threats and plan ahead. It’s what helped early humans outsmart predators and evade environmental dangers, for example.

Of course, in today’s world, we’re no longer worried about outrunning saber-toothed tigers; however, we do face plenty of complex and unpredictable challenges on the daily.

And when we do, that same evolutionary survival instinct kicks in. Sensing a change or unpredictable situation, our brains’ fight-flight-or-freeze response activates to keep us safe.

Our bodies are pumped full of adrenaline and cortisol, triggering all sorts of physical reactions:

Racing heart, tense muscles, shallow breathing, sweaty palms, heightened senses; or shutting down completely, becoming numb and cold with skin turning pale and heart rate plummeting.

The amygdala, often called the brain’s “fear center,” is in charge of assessing threats and activating our fight-flight-or-freeze response. When we encounter an uncertain situation, the amygdala treats it as a potential danger, even if there’s no immediate threat to our survival.

While this is an important survival response, repeated and/or prolonged uncertainty can lead to chronic stress, which comes with loads of negative mental and physical health impacts. Chronic stress is linked to all sorts of negative health issues like depression, anxiety, weakened immune function, and even cardiovascular problems.

Here’s the good news, though: our brains are extremely adaptable, and there are many ways to cope, grow, and even thrive in the midst of change and the unknown.

Foundational Practices for Emotional Regulation & Connection

Studies in neuroscience show that emotional regulation skills, such as mindfulness and self-awareness, can help calm the amygdala and shift our response from a fear-based reaction to a more centered and regulated one.

Techniques like deep breathing, journaling, and focusing on the present moment activate the prefrontal cortex, allowing us to make thoughtful decisions rather than reacting out of fear.

By learning to manage our nervous system, we can transform uncertainty into opportunities for growth and self-discovery.

At Camp Fire, we consider these practices to be essential pieces of our foundation. Let’s explore some of the core practices we use to help youth connect to self, others, and the outdoors in a healthy, balanced way. Hopefully, you can identify a variety of strategies to use for yourself and the young people in your life.

Connecting to Self

One of the first steps to coping with uncertainty is building a stronger connection with yourself. This means tuning into your thoughts, emotions, and values. Two core ways we promote connection to self at Camp Fire is through mindfulness and emotion coaching.

1. Practice Mindfulness

According to the Oxford Dictionary, “mindfulness” is a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.

There are many ways to practice mindfulness. Some of them include:

• Journaling: Writing down your thoughts can be a powerful way to process your feelings and gain clarity. Try prompts like “What’s one thing I can control today?” or “What am I feeling right now, and why?”

• Meditation/Breathwork: Another way to connect with self is through grounding techniques. These simple practices bring you into the present moment and remind your brain and body that you’re safe. Start with deep breathing: inhale for four counts, hold for four, and exhale for four. Or try a body scan—close your eyes, focus on each part of your body, and notice any tension you’re holding. It’s a quick way to calm racing thoughts.

• Artistic Expression: Art, music, and writing are powerful outlets. You don’t have to be an expert—doodle your feelings, write a song about what’s bothering you, or create a playlist that matches your mood. These activities allow you to explore what you’re feeling without needing to put it into words, making them especially helpful when emotions feel too big to articulate.

2. Emotion Coaching

One of the foundational practices that Camp Fire uses to train staff is called to emotion coaching: a process where adults help young people be aware of and name their emotions. The goal is to help them understand their feelings, navigate them successfully, and make choices they feel good about.

“One of the best things we can do as adults is to start conversations. This allows kids to feel heard and recognize that their thoughts and feelings are important,” Dr. Snider explains.

Some guidelines for emotion coaching include:

• Help kids name their emotion. A resource like the Feelings Wheel can be helpful in pinpointing a more precise feeling.
• Offer a listening ear rather than a solution—resist the urge to “fix” it for them! “Resist the urge to problem-solve! Sometimes, kids just want to be heard, comforted, or reassured,” Dr. Snider says.
• Suspend judgment. There are no “good” or “bad” emotions! Emotions are simply signals that tell us something needs attention.
• Get at the root. Help them talk through the cause of their emotion: What happened to make you feel this way?
• Help them determine what they need to move forward. Often, this means encouraging them to try a mindfulness practice as described above.
• Celebrate joy, accomplishments, and proud moments too; it’s not just the tricky feelings that need to be named!

Learning to acknowledge and process emotions in a regulated way is a huge emotional intelligence skill that will pay dividends throughout a person’s life.

Children with high emotional intelligence demonstrate important skills such as self-regulation, empathy, motivation, communication, problem-solving, and relationship management—all important pieces one needs to thrive no matter what life brings our way!

Building Strong Community Connections

“Perhaps the secret of living well is not in having all the answers but in pursuing unanswerable questions in good company.” -Rachel Naomi Remen

We weren’t meant to face life’s challenges alone. Supportive relationships buffer stress; in the absence of protective relationships, tolerable stress can lead to toxic stress. While having a support system can make a huge difference when dealing with uncertainty, finding that connection isn’t always simple.

Young people are feeling more isolated and lonelier than ever in today’s society, particularly youth from marginalized segments of our population.

Here are some ways young people can find a sense of community and support:

1. Peer Support Groups or Youth Organizations

Peer support groups offer a safe space to share experiences with others who understand. These groups can range from mental health-focused circles to interest-based organizations like environmental clubs, creative collectives, or advocacy groups. Young people may also seek out identity-based groups to find a sense of belonging. For example, many Camp Fire affiliates offer 2SLGBTQ+ clubs.

2. Group Activities

Participating in group activities fosters a sense of belonging and shared purpose. Local libraries, community centers, or nonprofit organizations often organize free or low-cost events or group gatherings for youth. These activities not only provide social support but also create a sense of accomplishment, which can be grounding in times of uncertainty.

3. Volunteering

Giving back is a great way to shift your focus, build meaningful relationships, and make a difference in the community. You can help young people identify volunteer opportunities by reaching out to local organizations or by checking a website like VolunteerMatch.

Talk It Out: Encourage the young people in your life to share their feelings with someone they can trust—a friend, family member, or mentor. Often, just being heard can make a situation feel less overwhelming.

At Camp Fire, we are serious about fostering connection and a sense of belonging for all youth. Some of the practices we train our staff to incorporate in our group gatherings include the following:

• Welcoming young people with warm greetings, using first names, and actively orienting them to the day’s activities
• Sharing pronouns and encouraging youth to share theirs
• Prompting discussion with low-risk (even silly!) questions and get-to-know-you activities
• Practicing active listening, which includes allowing time for silence and reflection in group settings

Dr. Snider emphasizes how important it is for adults to establish predictable routines like these.

“Routines provide a sense of security and predictability, which can help alleviate the anxiety that stems from uncertainty. When kids feel in control of certain parts of their day, it can ease the discomfort of things they can’t control.”

Building Resilience Together

Change and uncertainty are a part of life, but they don’t have to derail us. By focusing on connection—to ourselves and to others, we can build resilience and find strength in the midst of the unknown.

We’d love to hear from you! How do you cope with uncertainty? Share your favorite strategies in the comments or join us at one of our upcoming events. Together, we can face the future with resiliency and strength, one step at a time.

Additional Resources from the Kids Mental Health Foundation

• Helping Kids Cope with Strong Emotions
• Starting the Conversation with Kids
• 7 Ways to Cultivate Happiness
• Mooderators – The Kids Mental Health Foundation

The post Coping With Change Through Connection appeared first on Camp Fire Central Puget Sound.

We are incredibly saddened to share the news that Jan Milligan, our longtime former camp director has passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Jan was surrounded with love from those whose lives she touched deeply. Her husband of 47 years, Doug was by her side and ensured that she was able to spend her final days at their beautiful home on Vashon Island.

Jan first discovered Camp Sealth in the 1960s as a camper and joined the staff team. She spoke fondly of the friends she made, describing how they planned each session’s adventures together. A week with a canoe overnight in 5th grade was a favorite memory. Jan especially loved waterfront living and sailing on Colvos Passage. Fellow staff members became her lifelong friends.

In the 1970s, she directed Camp Nawakwa, a Camp Fire camp in southern California. It was here that Jan met Doug, who was a lifeguard/maintenance staff member. This was the start of a lifelong partnership and his many decades of stewardship of camp facilities.

Jan served as Camp Sealth’s director from 1993-2008 and under her leadership camp grew serving many more youth and families. She established a school-year outdoor education program, added more Camp Fire group events and welcomed other non-profit groups who hosted retreats at camp. She also grew summer camp participation; her team remembers her creatively finding ways to add additional campers to already full sessions. The thriving Camp Sealth we know today is due in huge part to Jan’s vision.

Focusing on the “camper experience” guided Jan’s leadership style. She embodied the values of Camp Fire and instilled them in her staff, embracing the philosophy of small-group programming, camper choice, and building connections to the natural world. She advocated for kids with disabilities and developed programs to support their inclusion at camp.

She expected the best from herself, and taught her staff to strive for the same. As Jan grew Camp Sealth’s year-round team, she mentored young adults who were starting their own careers. Her straightforward communication style came from a clear vision of what was best for camp, and was balanced with kindness. Jan knew when to make an encouraging comment, and when to leave treats for staff who’d had a challenging day.

Jan led by example and was willing to take on any task, no matter how big or small, with a determination to keep camp running smoothly. She could cook breakfast for a full dining hall, dig a ditch, make a garbage run, or deep clean a bathroom. Perhaps her favorite self-assignment was mowing the grass, including one late-night mower excursion in the orchard.

And while directing the day-to-day operations of a 400-acre camp is a big job, Jan also had a playful side. She once donned a veil and played scratchy violin at the funeral of a beloved camp truck. She was known to communicate in code over the camp walkie talkies with phrases like, “the moose is on the pickle!”
Having learned to play guitar as a camper, she gave informal lessons in her office. She could play many camp songs from memory, sometimes encouraging new learners, “it’s just a G chord progression!” A lover of Hawaii, Jan occasionally served camper-appropriate drinks “on the lanai” of the health house. In the fall, she and her staff would dress up for the Vashon Halloween parade. Years later, she said of the camp director job, “It was hard work … but we had a lot of fun.”

Along with designing camp programs, Jan was passionate about the site and facilities that supported them. Her attention to detail was apparent throughout camp: refreshed coats of paint in matching colors, thoughtful updates to facilities, the addition of a volleyball court and later the Gaga pit. The hundreds of wooden bunk beds were a multi-year project, built onsite by our maintenance staff to replace old metal spring cots. With her forestry degree and love of the outdoors, Jan also encouraged staff and campers to be stewards of Sealth’s woods, wetlands and waterfront. Her handwriting can still be found in parts of camp on carved wooden trail signs.

Among many facilities projects, Jan was most proud of managing a rebuild of the seawall, removing old timbers and replacing them with more natural rockery. She also played a major role in the last capital campaign that included renovations of Rounds Hall and construction of the new Birdcage crafts center. Through it all, her husband Doug pitched in with maintenance projects on his days off from work as a firefighter-paramedic. During busy summers, the two would carve out time for date nights at picnic dinner.

Jan and Doug remained on Vashon after she retired from Sealth. They continued giving service – and making friends – through organizations like the Rotary and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Jan also volunteered at Camp Sealth, most notably organizing the sewing and replacement of curtains in all of the cabins. She and Doug have also contributed many hours on maintenance projects for the Wrangler unit.

Jan’s commitment to Camp Sealth spanned more than five decades, and she had a unique ability to unite the people and traditions that spanned those years. She appreciated camp’s past as a girls’ camp, its present as a place for all, and envisioned what could be accomplished in the future.

She had a gift for seeing the potential in young people, and for placing them in positions to grow their skills and confidence. Former staff members have numerous stories of how she gently pushed them to do new things and take on leadership roles. She was a mentor and friend to so many who worked with her. Ask alumni who knew Jan, and they’ll tell you that Camp Sealth – and Jan’s guidance – shaped their choices in everything from careers to parenting techniques to how they lead their own groups of people.

Our hearts go out to those who knew Jan, and we are thankful for the gifts she shared. We will grieve her loss deeply and dedicate ourselves to fulfilling her biggest wish of all, that Camp Sealth continues to be a place where young people can go to make memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. Jan lived this, and loved this, and we will miss her forever.

Honor Jan’s Memory

Share Your Favorite “Kanga” Story

Send to Carriek@campfireseattle.org. These will be compiled and shared at a later date.

Give Service to Camp Sealth

Jan championed camp work parties and expressed a wish to see them grow in the coming years. Mark your calendar for Saturday, April 19th and help get camp ready for summer!

Donate to the Jan Milligan Memorial Fund

Doug has established a memorial fund to support maintenance projects at Camp Sealth – another special and lasting way to honor Jan.

Attend the Jan Milligan Celebration Event

A public memorial event for Jan will be held on May 3-4 at Camp Sealth.

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