Camp Fire

CAMP FIRE FIRST TEXAS INVESTS IN NORTH TEXAS COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME AND OUTDOOR LEARNING PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH WHILE ALSO OFFERING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS. WE ENVISION A COMMUNITY IN WHICH EVERY CHILD HAS EQUITABLE ACCESS TO THE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THEY NEED TO SUCCEED AND THRIVE IN A RAPIDLY CHANGING WORLD.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS-CAMP FIRE FIRST TEXAS OFFERS YOUTH PROGRAMS SERVING CHILDREN FROM AGES 4-17 YEARS, INCLUDING AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, TEEN PROGRAMS, ALL-DAY SUMMER CAMPS AND SCHOOL BREAK PROGRAMS. AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS HAVE STEM FOCUSED ACTIVITIES, TINKER SPACES AND MEANINGFUL ADULT INTERACTION, YOUTH ARE ENCOURAGED TO EXPLORE THEIR INTERESTS IN A PROJECT BASED APPROACH. ADDITIONALLY, EACH SITE PROVIDES HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE AND DEDICATED TIME FOR OUTDOOR EXPLORATION. IN 2022, CAMP FIRE PROVIDED AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING FOR 14 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGED SITES WITHIN IDEA CHARTER SCHOOL, FORT WORTH ISD, AND ALEDO ISD. THE SCHOOL YEAR PROGRAM SERVED 528 STUDENTS. TEEN IN ACTIONS SUMMER ON THE MOVE PROVIDED CAMP FIRE FIRST TEXAS FIRST FREE SIX-WEEK SUMMER DAY CAMP PROGRAM FOR 89 RISING 7TH-12TH GRADE STUDENTS INCLUSIVE OF COLLEGIATE AND TECHNICAL SCHOOL TOURS, CAREER DISCOVERY TOURS, STEA EXPERIMENTS, HEALTH RELATIONSHIP PROGRAMMING, AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OPPORTUNITIES.

OUTDOOR PROGRAMS-CAMP EL TESORO OFFERS OVERNIGHT SUMMER CAMP, DAY CAMP, SCHOOL-AGE OUTDOOR LEARNING DAYS, FAMILY CAMPING, CAMP RENTALS AND RETREATS. OUR OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTER AT EL TESORO IS AN OUTDOOR LABORATORY WHERE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS CAN COMBINE THEIR EFFORTS AND EXPERTISE TO LEARN ABOUT AND CARE FOR THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. KNOWLEDGE GAINED THROUGH HANDS-ON OUTDOOR LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND APPLICATIONS SET THE STAGE FOR A LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT AND CREATE SOLUTIONS TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES THAT ARISE.EL TESORO OVERNIGHT CAMPS PROVIDE AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE FOR CAMPERS TO EXPLORE THE OUTDOORS, MAKE NEW FRIENDS AND AWAKEN THEIR SENSE OF ADVENTURE. INTENTIONAL MOMENTS AT CAMP ENCOURAGE YOUTH TO STEP OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE, TRY SOMETHING NEW AND FIND MORE:CAMP EL TESORO NATURE DAY CAMP PROVIDES INTERACTIVE, OUTDOOR ADVENTURES THAT ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO FLEX THEIR MINDS AND MUSCLES. UNIQUE WEEKLY FOCUS AREAS ALLOW CAMPERS TO DISCOVER OUR WORLD FROM THE NATURAL (TREES, BUGS, BONES AND ROCKS) TO THE TERRESTRIAL (SOLAR SYSTEM) AND ECOLOGICAL (RECYCLING, GOING GREEN). ART, SCIENCE AND GOOD-OLD FASHIONED EXPLORATION WILL FILL MORNINGS WHILE AFTERNOONS ARE A MIX OF SWIMMING AND ADVENTURE WITH ARCHERY, HORSEBACK RIDING, CANOEING AND MORE.EL TESORO DE LA VIDA, A WEEK-LONG RESIDENT GRIEF CAMP FOR CHILDREN AGES 7-17, HELPS CHILDREN LEARN THE SKILLS TO COPE WITH LOSS AND GRIEF ALONGSIDE THEIR PEERS. THE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF 90% TRADITIONAL CAMPING ACTIVITIES SUCH AS HORSEBACK RIDING, ARCHERY, CANOEING, HIKING, NATURE STUDY, SWIMMING, CRAFTS, SPORTS AND GAMES. THE OTHER 10% OF ACTIVITIES ARE STRUCTURED TO HELP CHILDREN THROUGH THE NATURAL GRIEVING PROCESS. CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS LEAD SMALL GROUP SESSIONS AND ARE ON-SITE AT ALL TIMES TO PROVIDE COUNSELING AND SUPPORT.

EARLY EDUCATION WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS-CAMP FIRE FIRST TEXAS PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL CAREER DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS, COURSES AND CONFERENCES FOR DIRECTORS, OWNERS AND TEACHERS WORKING IN CHILD CARE CENTERS AND FAMILY HOME CHILD CARE PROGRAMS. THESE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, SKILL ADVANCEMENT AND NETWORKING. COURSES ARE HIGH-QUALITY AND LED BY REGISTERED EARLY CHILDHOOD INSTRUCTORS IN PERSON AND VIRTUALLY. THE CAMP FIRE FIRST TEXAS EARLY EDUCATION APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM (EEAP) IS AN EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER PATHWAY BUILDING PROGRAM. THE FIRST U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM FOR EARLY EDUCATORS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, THE EEAP INCLUDES PAID ON-THE-JOB-LEARNING, COUPLED WITH EDUCATIONAL COURSES AND ONE-ON-ONE COACHING IN THE CLASSROOM FROM A CAMP FIRE MENTOR.MORE THAN 90% OF BRAIN DEVELOPMENT OCCURS IN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF LIFE. CAMP FIRE SCHOOL READINESS HELPS MAKE THE MOST OF THOSE YEARS BY PROVIDING ON-SITE MENTORING, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS TO EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN TARGETED AREAS THAT WILL FEED INTO FORT WORTH ISD. THE PROGRAM IMPROVES CHILD CARE TEACHERS UNDERSTANDING OF CHILD GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. THIS ENABLES THEM TO PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT AND TEACHING THAT ENCOURAGES CHILDRENS SKILL DEVELOPMENT, BUILDS LITERACY SKILLS AND INCREASES INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THE PROGRAMS WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS TO SUPPORT CHILDRENS PREPARATION FOR KINDERGARTEN.