“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
– Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

In light of last week’s election results, I have found myself struggling to process this election and the myriad of emotions that have come along with it.

I have also spent a considerable amount of time thinking about how our children are faring in the aftermath.

Our youth – just like us – are increasingly hearing a relentless emphasis on our differences, making them seem impossible to bridge.

It’s a lot to take in.

I want to encourage you to reach out to your community during this time. Check in on your neighbors and friends. Reach out to your colleagues. Do not isolate from each other. Community can help us cope in an oftentimes frightening and scary world.

I also want to encourage you to talk openly about the election results with the youth in your life. Open communication helps youth stay connected and makes them feel less alone and isolated. Simply knowing that caring adults in their life are also struggling to process their feelings is a huge step towards connection and healing. EmbraceRace has some wonderful resources to help you navigate these tough conversations.

Lastly, I want to reassure you that Camp Fire is as committed as ever to the young people and families we serve. Our passion and work remains the same.

For more than a century, we have nurtured young leaders by providing a safe space for ALL youth to find their own voice, to step outside their comfort zones, and to enact change that makes life in their communities better.

Now more than ever, our community needs safe spaces like ours where youth can find not only belonging and community connection, but perhaps most critical in light of the election – civic engagement and the courage to use their voices to stand up for what they believe.

The post Camp Fire Remains As Committed As Ever appeared first on Camp Fire Central Puget Sound.

Tune in below to stay current with Day Camp, Group Program, and Teen Programs.

Day Camp Updates

Day Camp 2022 will welcome back Golden Gardens, and add 2 more weeks to Carkeek! Of course, there will be songs, tie dye, cooking, and exploring all of Seattle’s natural beauty and wonders! Keep your eyes open for registration, which is expected to open in late January.

Meet Sammie

Samantha “TAVIE” Hagen is the new Day Camp Manager for Camp Fire Central Puget Sound! She has been in the camping industry since 2009 and has worked with various organizations such as Camp Fire Columbia, Outdoor School, and Girl Scouts. Samantha has served in a variety of positions with her most recent being the Youth & Recreation Programs Director, overseeing day camp, youth sports leagues, and after-school care. Her passions include all things Day Camp, Pixar, animals, nature, and creating summers that have lifelong memories for all who attend! Samantha is very much looking forward to continuing her career with Camp Fire and looking forward to getting to know all of you!

Learn more about our Day Camps

Group Program Updates

Events

This year, Camp Fire is able to bring back some favorite events from past years as well as host some new ones. After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, You & Me Camp is coming back in March of 2022! This time, attend for the whole weekend or opt to come for Saturday only. Also returning is our Group Campout! Join Camp Fire and friends on June 11th and 12th for a weekend of group camping at Deception Pass State Park.

We have also been hosting a couple of series of traveling events called “Give Group a Go” and “an Afternoon Outdoors”. Camp Fire staff member, Ali, travels around Puget Sound delivering programming in public parks. If you are curious about Camp Fire Group Program, consider attending our next Give Group a Go event! All of our events can be found on our website calendar.

Programming

Also new this year is our monthly emblem subscription program! Program participants are mailed one new-to-Camp Fire emblem each month along with an activity packet, and some activity supplies. Topics range from Leave No Trace, to astronomy, archaeology, baking, and more! Those enrolled in any part of Group Program may opt into this exploratory add-on!

Groups

In addition to our classic volunteer-led Camp Fire Groups, we also offer independent memberships and one virtual group for youth in K-3rd grade. This virtual group meets once per month on Zoom and is enrolled in the emblem of the month program. Independent memberships are open to youth of all ages and are a terrific option for those who want to participate in Group Program but have busy schedules, aren’t connected to a group, or wish to explore the program on their own!

Explore more of Group Program!

Teen Program Updates

Community Programs Manager, Alex, has been cooking up some quality programming for middle school and high school students! To get the full scoop on this year’s teen programs around Seattle and at Camp Sealth, check out our previous blog post titled “Teen Leadership in 2022!” for more info on winter, spring and summer offerings just for teens!

View our Teen Leadership blog post

The post This Year’s Scoop on Teen Programs, Day Camp, and Group appeared first on Camp Fire Central Puget Sound.

“Now pick it up and throw it!” … “Where?!” … “Straight ahead!” The room rumbles with laughter as dozens of teens and tweens duck and dodge, some nailing their targets, others missing spectacularly.

It’s Teen Takeover at Camp Sealth, a youth leadership retreat for middle schoolers. More than 40 youth from across Western Washington spent the first weekend in May immersed in all kinds of fun and games, learning leadership lessons from one activity to the next.

Giving and taking directions during blindfolded dodgeball, they honed their communication and active listening skills, while building trust. Later on, they constructed water balloon catapults, collaborating creatively, stepping up with their own ideas, and allowing room for others to contribute theirs.

As an introspective art project, they created “leadership pizzas” by listing values they strive to uphold as leaders in the “crust” and coloring in the “slices” as part of a self-assessment of their
strengths and opportunities to improve.

“Before this, I really hadn’t thought about what I need to work on,” says Nyla Math, a sixth
grader from Southeast Seattle. She feels good about how flexibly she can work with people and
wants to get better at staying calm.

Nyla’s big sister, Mel, a seventh-grader, aspires to be a positive, inclusive, supportive, kind, aware and patient leader. Both girls are eagerly awaiting their chance to step up as Counselors-
in-Training at Camp Sealth, where they’ve had a blast at overnight camp several summers in a row.

In addition to Teen Takeover, our only leadership retreat tailored specifically to middle schoolers, kids in sixth, seventh and eighth grades can take part in monthly Teens in Action meetings and service projects throughout the year.

With your continued support, we will keep working to expand year-round leadership
opportunities for Camp Fire youth.

Donate Today!

The post All Fun and Games… and Leadership Lessons Too appeared first on Camp Fire Central Puget Sound.

The Teen Leadership Retreat is a weekend-long conference-style event that also features your favorite camp activities and service projects that are designed to equip teens for the years ahead! This unique retreat is from Saturday, January 15^th to Monday, January 17th at Camp Sealth on Vashon Island, WA, we hope to see you there! Past or current participation in Camp Fire is not required; all teens in grades 9-12 are welcome.

Learn More and Register

Our Top Reasons to Attend!

This event is a great stepping stone for those who want to become camp counselors one day!

1. Leadership Skills

The Teen Leadership Retreat is a great way to continue to grow your leadership skills! We will be offering multiple great workshops to prepare you for the rest of the year and beyond. Dive into our Communication & Team-building workshop where you will learn about different types of communication and how to be a more assertive communicator. Learn about how to set your short and long-term goals and budget time management to reach those goals through our Goal Setting & Time-Management workshop! Allow your mind to create a positive atmosphere wherever you go from our Mindset  & Fighting Negativity workshop. We have these and many more workshop offerings for you to become the leader we know you can be!

2. Camp Experiences and Nature 

Can’t wait for summer camp to start? Want to get outside during the gloomy winter months? Come explore with us at Camp Sealth’s nearly 400 acres and you will get to experience some of our summer camp activities like archery, arts & crafts, and outdoor cooking skills! This is sure to make the cloudy winter days feel a little brighter!

3. New Friends

With such a wide range of schools in the area, Camp Fire Teen Leaders come from all over the King County Region and beyond! This is a great weekend to meet new and old friends from around the area. We will be having great icebreakers and team-building opportunities for you to jump right in and create lasting friendships!

4. Find Your Spark

While at the retreat, you will be going through leadership workshops, participating in multiple service projects, and getting to try some classic camp activities. This will be a great time to try new activities and learn more about what you find interesting! After this retreat, you will have a better understanding of yourself and be well on your to finding your spark!

5. Change of Pace

This is a great opportunity to get away from your set schedule, meet new friends, and try new things. Some of the best experiences and memories come from getting out of your comfort zone and diving right into the activities. At the retreat, you will still have time for homework and socializing, but the schedule will keep you active and create opportunities you would not find at your home!

We Hope To See You There!

Come prepared to have a wonderful weekend full of workshops, friends, and community service! Registration is currently open and financial aid is available!

Financial Aid

More Information and Registration

Questions?

Contact Alex Kirschner, Community Programs Manager, at (206) 826-8919 or alexk@campfireseattle.org.

The post 5 Benefits of the Teen Leadership Retreat appeared first on Camp Fire Central Puget Sound.

We’re hosting a new event, mixing things up to make our main fundraiser of the year welcoming to all generations and all types of Camp Fire friends — more fun and interactive than ever.

If there’s just one thing you do to support Camp Fire this year, please join us at Spirit and S’mores on October 26, 6 to 9 p.m. at Herban Feast’s Sodo Park.

Set in a beautifully rustic century-old building, this Camp Fire-centric cocktail party replaces the annual breakfasts and game nights we’ve hosted for years. Come and enjoy lawn games and other fun activities, tasty appetizers, signature cocktails, lots of Camp Fire spirit, and all the s’mores you can eat.

When you support Camp Fire, you make summer camp possible for hundreds of kids whose families can’t afford it. You help us maintain and upgrade our historic cabins and other facilities. You give more teens in our year-round programs life-changing opportunities to build confidence and leadership while giving back to their communities.

Thank you for all you to do support Camp Fire.

Hope to see you at Spirit & S’mores!

Rick Taylor
Executive Director

Learn More and Purchase Tickets

The post Join Us to Celebrate the Spirit & S’mores of Camp Fire! appeared first on Camp Fire Central Puget Sound.

Learn More and Register

Workshop Highlights:

Do you have lofty goals for the coming school year? Are you looking to learn more about who you are? Do you want to keep that positive upbeat attitude throughout the school year and become a leader you know you can be? At the Summit, we will explore how to accomplish these goals!

Mindset Management & Fighting Negativity

Teens will get a better understanding of how their own mindset and negativity can create more barriers to a situation they are trying to overcome. After this workshop, they will leave with tips and strategies on how to calm their mind, so they can process a situation in a clearer light.

Communications & Teambuilding

With a communication quiz and a teambuilding exercise, teens will get a better sense of how to work with others who have different communication and learning styles from their own. They’ll also be able to better understand their own communication styles!

Goal Setting

Our last touching point at the Summit will be goal setting! Teens will spend time learning how to set a goal, which goals are feasible, as well as the process of keeping themselves on track to meet those goals. By the end of the day, teens will have their future goals on sight and ready to tackle the school year!

We Hope You Can Join Us, Teens!

Come prepared to get real with yourself! This will be an introspective journey that will shed light onto the remarkable capabilities you have as a teen leader. Take ownership in your leadership development. Leave changed.

“Becoming a leader is synonymous with becoming yourself. It is precisely that simple, and it is also that difficult.”

Warren G. Bennis

Learn More and Register

The post Becoming a Leader and Finding Yourself appeared first on Camp Fire Central Puget Sound.

By Kristen E.

When first trying to decide on an advocacy for my WoHeLo Award, I had a hard time deciding what to do, until I thought about the time I volunteered at Treehouse with my basketball team. Treehouse is an organization that helps youth in foster care by providing them with support and helping them create opportunities for them to pursue their dreams so they can become productive members of the community. Treehouse takes donated clothes and supplies, then puts them into a free store where families with foster children can come and pick up essential items.

Treehouse has made volunteering so much fun! I had enjoyed my volunteer time so much that I wanted to do something to help them. After looking at their website, I found out that there were many different ways to take action. I chose to do a gently used clothing drive, as well as host a volunteer session.  I held the clothing drive at my church because there are many families with different aged children who attend.

Along with hosting a clothing drive, I also organized a clothing exchange with my Camp Fire group and some of my other friends. We all brought bags of gently used clothes and exchanged a few items with one another. All the clothes that were left were added to my clothing drive.

Once all the clothes were collected, my mom and I took the clothes to Treehouse! They were so nice and very thankful to receive all the clothes we had collected. We even got to tour their warehouse and storage area with one of their volunteers.

For the last part of my advocacy, I organized a group volunteer session. I asked my group and my extended family members to help. We all sorted the donated clothes, tagged them and entered them into Treehouse’s inventory system.  The time went by quickly and we had so much fun while we were doing something so meaningful!

Helping Treehouse in any way you can, can go a long way. Treehouse is grateful for anything you can do whether that is hosting a drive, volunteering, or donating clothes.  I would definitely recommend Treehouse as an advocacy!

If you would like to learn more about Treehouse, you can visit their website.

Thank You, Kristen!

We would like to thank Kristen for taking the time to write us this amazing blog about her successful clothing drive for Treehouse!

Starting in 9th-grade, teens who participate in Group Program or our various Teen Leadership Programs are eligible to begin earning their WoHeLo Award. The WoHeLo Award is Camp Fire’s highest achievement and is given to teens who complete the requirements by demonstrating leadership skills, self-confidence, respect for others, organizational skills and a desire and ability to make a difference in the world.

Feel free to contact us today for more information on Group Program!

The post Choosing Treehouse appeared first on Camp Fire Central Puget Sound.

Hands on Service Learning

The road trip allows for teens to earn about 24 hours of community service throughout the week through a variety of different cause areas. By planning a diverse week of projects, teens can begin to identify the areas that resonate with them personally to help build meaningful connections for their future volunteer efforts. Teens will also learn about what it takes to operate different types of nonprofit or service organizations.

Camp Fire also makes an effort to seek out service projects that might not otherwise be available to teens, providing the necessary supervision so that teens can safely explore new projects in a small group environment. This trip also builds upon our long-standing tradition of Teen Leadership in Camp Fire, providing opportunities for youth to be leaders in their current lives by going out into their communities.

Connect to Nature, Unplug & Build Social Skills

The Spring Break Road Trip is also an opportunity for teens to get outside and explore, and in Camp Fire, we camp! Since spring weather can be a little unpredictable, all of our sleeping accommodations are indoors with heat to protect us from the elements. However, teens will still have a chance to cook their meals over the fire or a Coleman stove. Teens also get to help meal plan and learn to work with their teammates so that everyone has a role.

Part of the benefit of selecting these types of accommodations, typically at State Parks or our own facilities at Camp Sealth, is the proximity to some of the most beautiful natural scenery in the state. We’ll take a few moments each day to explore the natural world around us, be it with beach time, hikes, sunsets, and more.

While we’re out exploring, teens will truly be “unplugged!” One of the biggest benefits from a week on the road is that we leave the cell phones behind. Parents can reach our staff at both the office and on the trip in case of emergency, but teens will be device free! It’s an opportunity to practice real, live “facetime” social skills with other teens, be it in the van while we’re traveling, over a game of cards during a sudden rain shower, or over s’mores around the fire.

After attending the Spring Break Road Trip, I felt like I learned and experienced so much in the span of 5 days! From figuring out how to cook dinner for 9 on a Coleman stove to learning about the different non-profit organizations to bonding with my fellow road trippers – every experience was new and exciting and provided me with challenges to overcome!

Annika, 2016 Spring Break Road Trip Participant

Don’t miss out – we’ve got a few spots left!

Learn more about our trip itinerary on our blog or more details about what to expect, and register to join us this April 10-14 on the road!

Questions?

Carson Cross
carsonc@campfireseattle.org
(206) 826 -8919

The post Why We Travel – Spring Break Service Road Trips appeared first on Camp Fire Central Puget Sound.

Trip Itinerary & Service Projects

Day 1 – April 10

Depart from our West Seattle office for our first service stop in Tacoma, WA. After the project, we will continue on to our first night’s accommodations at Dosewallips State Park where we will stay in cabins to protect us from unpredictable spring weather – never fear, no tents here!

Tacoma Rescue Mission

Our service project series will kickoff at the Tacoma Rescue Mission. TRM serves homeless and hurting people in Tacoma and Pierce County. Camp Fire teens will spend their time providing volunteer service to help prep meals as well as serve those meals during the lunch hour.

Day 2 – April 11

Wake up and cook a leisurely breakfast before taking some time to explore Dosewallips State Park, featuring beautiful forest and acres of adventure. We will pack up the van, but stay onsite to provide service to the state park! Afterwards we will hit the road and head to our second lodging destination, Twin Harbors State Park.

Dosewallips State Park

Dosewallips State Park is a 1011 acre, year-round camping park with 5 miles of shoreline on Hood Canal and the Dosewallips River. The park is unique in that it offers both freshwater and saltwater activities. All camp areas are grassy and located in scenic, rustic settings.

We will spend our day with park rangers cleaning up campsites. This project involves removing invasive blackberry, raking out sites, picking up large limbs and general campsite spruce up. We will be in the beautiful park, experiencing amazing nature.

Day 3 – April 12

Wake up, eat breakfast and pack up before heading to our next service project in Aberdeen, WA. Afterwards, we will head back to Dosewallips State Park for a fun evening for exploring and reflection.

Stevens Elementary School

Stevens Elementary, home of the Huskies, is part of the Aberdeen School District. Teens will spend a full day in the school volunteering in various classrooms. We may find ourselves listening to students read, working on school maintenance projects as well as making new and engaging bulletin boards.

Day 4 – April 13

Wake up for an early start back up north for our next day service project. After we wrap up our project, we’ll load up for a drive to Camp Sealth on Vashon Island, WA where we’ll treat ourselves to a special dinner in town before spending our last evening together. Activities might include a campfire, movie night, board game extravaganza and more!

Capitol Land Trust

Capitol Land Trust works in southwest Washington to conserve the animals and natural habitats through the support of the community. Teens will work on a special project to help remove invasive species and learn about the environment that they are helping to protect.

Day 5 – April 14

Spend the day volunteering in the Vashon community before heading back to Seattle for pick-up at our West Seattle office.

Vashon Maury Food Bank

The Vashon Maury Food Bank offers a plethora of services to Vashon Island residents including grocery delivery, weekly grocery distribution, food planning education and summer picnics in the park.

Camp Fire teens will spend their time in the food bank garden and will be helping get the garden ready for Spring! We will be cleaning garden beds, planting seeds and even quite possibly helping to tear down a dilapidated garden shed!

Register Now!

Check out our event page to learn more about this awesome trip and register now as space is extremely limited!

Register Now

Questions?

Please contact Carson Cross, Community Program Coordinator, at (206) 826-8919 or carsonc@campfireseattle.org with questions.

The post 2017 Spring Break Road Trip Itinerary appeared first on Camp Fire Central Puget Sound.

Check out all our opportunities below!

Teens in Action

Teens in Action is a year-round leadership program for teens to come together, build leadership skills, earn service hours and have fun!

Teens in Action members have monthly meetings that are a great way to socialize and learn something new while participating in fun workshops.  Each meeting will have it’s own topic that is chosen by you! Some meeting ideas could include community service, the environment, creative arts, healthy living and more!

There are also some great benefits that come with being a Teen in Action member! As a member you will receive volunteer opportunities, discounts on Camp Fire and Camp Sealth events, as well as Camp Fire youth membership benefits!

Groups Forming Now! Learn more.

Teen Service Days

Put your school holidays to good work in the community! Upcoming days include the MLK Day of Service & President’s Day!

Register today! 

Teen Leadership Retreat

The Teen Leadership Retreat takes place every year in January and is geared towards teens who want to learn more about leadership and get involved in Camp Fire. No previous participation in Camp Fire programs is required. 

Workshop offerings include resume and interview skills, hands-on leadership opportunities through challenge initiatives, conflict and communication strategies, stress coping techniques, time management and planning strategies, environmental stewardship and sustainability leadership, and more!

Teens will also get the chance to participate in some classic summer camp activities including arts and crafts, archery, hiking, games, disc golf and more. We’ll also be gathering around the camp fire for s’mores, singing and bonding!

Spots are limited! Register Today! 

Spring Break Road Trips

We are excited to be offering three Spring Break Service Trips in 2017! These trips will feature 4-5 service projects across the region from a variety of cause areas, such as environmental stewardship, youth or senior citizen organizations, animal advocacy, food resources and more.

All activities, food and sleeping accommodations are included in the trip!

Teens who register by December 31st can elect to serve as a Team Captain and assist in planning the trip! If you are interested in serving as a Team Captain, make sure you indicate your interest when registering.

• Spring Break Service Trip 1: April 3rd-7th
• Spring Break Service Trip 2: April 10th-14th
• Spring Break Service Trip 3: April 17th-21st

Summer Teen Leadership

Opportunities abound at our exceptional summer teen leadership programs at Camp Sealth and our numerous Day Camps throughout  the Seattle area.

Learn more & Apply Today!

Questions?

Contact Rebecca Bobko, Director of Community Programs, at (206) 826-8934 or rebeccab@campfireseattle.org

The post Calling All Teens! appeared first on Camp Fire Central Puget Sound.