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(CONT ON SCH. O)

EARLY EDUCATION WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT (EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION) - PROVIDES A VARIETY OF SERVICES RELATED TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS (CHILD CARE TEACHERS AND DIRECTORS). PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE. MORE THAN 5,000 EARLY EDUCATORS CONTINUTED ADVANCING THEIR PROFESSION THROUGH NEW HYBRID APPRENTICESHIP, MENTORING, AND ONLINE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS. THE EARLY EDUCATION APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM IS THE FIRST EARLY EDUCATION APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, REGISTERED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR IN 2019. THE EEAP PREPARES TEACHERS FOR PROGRESSION IN THE QUALITY OF TEACHING AND IN A CAREER PATHWAY. APPRENTICES WILL COMPLETE 2000 CONTACT HOURS AT AN APPROVED PLACEMENT SITE AND 240 RELATED INSTRUCTION HOURS. GRADUATES WILL BE PREPARED TO OBTAIN THEIR CHILD DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE CERTIFICATION, AND US DOL CERTIFICATION EARLY EDUCATOR. APPRENTICES SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING THE PROGRAM WILL RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION ELIGIBLE FOR UP TO 9 TRANSFERABLE COLLEGE CREDIT HOURS AT TARRANT COUNTY COLLEGE DISTRICT AND 33 HOURS AT TARLETON STATE UNIVERSITY TOWARD AN AAS OR BAAS DEGREE IN CHILD AND FAMILY STUDIES. IN TARRANT COUNTY, WHERE ONLY 21% OF LICENSED CHILD CARE PROVIDERS ARE PART OF A QUALITY RATING AND IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM, THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM FACILITATED BY CAMP FIRE FIRST IS WORKING TO COUNTERACT THOSE TRENDS AND INCREASE BOTH THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN AND THE INCOME FOR EARLY EDUCATORS. CAMP FIRE'S SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF EARLY EDUCATION AND SCHOOL READINESS IN CHILDREN AGES 0 - 5 ATTENDING PARTICIPATING CHILDCARE CENTERS IN LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS THAT FEED INTO FORT WORTH ISD ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. WHILE THE PROGRAM IS FOCUSED ON THE WHOLE CHILD, THE EVALUATION CONCENTRATES ON EARLY LITERACY AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. CHILDREN SERVED WILL ENTER SCHOOL BETTER PREPARED IN LANGUAGE, LITERACY, AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS THAN THEIR FORT WORTH ISD PEERS, AS MEASURED BY TESTS ADMINISTERED BY THE FORT WORTH ISD. DURING THE 2021-22 YEAR, THE SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM SERVED 726 CHILDREN FROM UNDER-RESOURCED NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE FORT WORTH ISD. CAMP FIRE 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. EARLY CHILDHOOD MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE (ECMI) SUPPORTS THE LEARNING AND MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES OF CHILD CARE PROGRAM DIRECTORS AND OWNERS SEEKING STATE DIRECTOR CERTIFICATION. THOSE WHO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE ECMI PROGRAM ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THEIR STATE-RECOGNIZED CHILD CARE ADMINISTRATOR'S CREDENTIAL. CAMP FIRE MEMBERS HAVE A 99% PASS RATE ON THE STATE-CERTIFICATION EXAM. THE COURSE IS OFFERED WEEKLY WITH ROLLING TOPICS SO YOU CAN START AT ANY TIME. THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE (CDA) CREDENTIAL IS THE MOST WIDELY RECOGNIZED CREDENTIAL IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (ECE). CAMP FIRE FIRST TEXAS IS THE COMMUNITY LEADER WHEN IT COMES TO ASSISTING EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONALS IN RECEIVING THE BEST FIRST STEP IN THEIR CREDENTIALING PROCESS AND IS AN APPROVED COURSE THROUGH SEVERAL WORKFORCE COMMISSIONS FOR TEXAS RISING STAR PROGRAMS. CAMP FIRE REPOSITIONED THE COURSE CURRICULUM TO ENSURE OUR STUDENTS RECEIVE THE MOST UP-TO-DATE AND COMPREHENSIVE INSTRUCTION. THIS A KEY STEPPING-STONE ON THE PATH OF CAREER ADVANCEMENT IN ECE. THE CDA CREDENTIAL EDUCATION AND CAN BE EARNED WITH AN ENDORSEMENT FOCUSING ON INFANTS AND TODDLERS, PRESCHOOLERS OR FAMILY CHILD CARE.

OUTDOOR PROGRAMS - CAMP FIRE FIRST TEXAS OFFERS A VARIETY OF OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS AT CAMP EL TESORO, THE COUNCIL'S 223-ACRE FACILITY IN GRANBURY, TEXAS. EL TESORO HAS WELCOMED MANY GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES AND HAS CONNECTED COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS WITH NATURE SINCE 1934. SUMMER OVERNIGHT AND DAY CAMP PROGRAMS AT EL TESORO INCLUDE LEADERSHIP TRAINING, HORSEBACK RIDING, SWIMMING, CANOEING, KAYAKING, ARCHERY, CREATIVE ARTS, HIKING, OUTDOOR SKILLS, NATURE ACTIVITIES, SPORTS ALONG WITH OTHER TRADITIONAL CAMP EXPERIENCES. THE CAMP ALSO HOSTS EL TESORO DE LA VIDA, A UNIQUE WEEK-LONG GRIEF CAMP FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE LOST A LOVED ONE. DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, YOUTH FROM SURROUNDING SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS PARTICIPATE IN OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT THE TEXAS OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTER (TXOEC), LOCATED AT CAMP EL TESORO. THESE PROGRAMS FOCUS ON OUTDOOR LIVING SKILLS, TEAM BUILDING, AND AN APPRECIATION OF NATIVE TEXAS LANDS AND NATURAL RESOURCES. THE TXOEC CURRICULUM SUPPORTS TEKS AND STAAR STATE EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS AND SERVES AS A COMPLEMENTARY ADDITION TO TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM TEACHING. IN 2021, 629 CAMPERS ATTENDED CAMP EL TESORO. IN ADDITION TO THE 629 CAMPERS AT OUR 6-WEEK SUMMER SESSION, 77 CAMPERS ATTENDED CAMP EL TESORO DE LA VIDA, OUR BEREAVEMENT CAMP FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS - PROGRAMS SERVING CHILDREN AND YOUTH AGES 4-17 YEARS INCLUDING AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, TEEN PROGRAMS, AND ALL-DAY SUMMER PROGRAMS WHEN SCHOOL IS OUT OF SESSION. AGE-APPROPRIATE CURRICULA PRODUCED BY CAMP FIRE NATIONAL ARE FOLLOWED IN AFTER SCHOOL AND TEEN PROGRAMS, WITH ENHANCED CURRICULA SUPPLEMENTS PROVIDED BY THE FIRST TEXAS COUNCIL. CURRICULUM IS BASED ON RESEARCH FROM, AMONG OTHERS, THE SEARCH INSTITUTE AND STEP-IT-UP-TO-THRIVE. THIS RESEARCH INDICATES THE TYPES OF EXPERIENCES YOUTH NEED TO HAVE IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE AND FOCUSES ON THRIVING INDICATORS, WHICH ARE ASSESSED AT THE PROGRAM AND YOUTH LEVEL. DIAMOND HILL STATION (DHS) IS THE LOCATION OF AN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM PROVIDING ACTIVITIES DESIGNED IN KEEPING WITH THE CHILD'S AGE, DEVELOPMENTAL LEVEL, MATURITY, AND PERSONALITIES. LOCATED ON THE CAMPUS OF DIAMOND HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, DHS IS A STATE LICENSED CHILD CARE CENTER AND SERVES CHILDREN AGES 4 - 13 YEARS OF AGE. IN AN IMPOVERISHED ARE VIOLENCE, GANG INVOLVEMENT, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND AN ALARMING SCHOOL DROP-OUT RATE, DHS OFFERS YOUTH IN THE DIAMOND HILL NEIGHBORHOOD LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND A CHANCE TO DEVELOP IN POSITIVE WAYS. SERVICE LEARNING, FIELD TRIPS, AND EXPERIENTIAL ACTIVITIES CONNECTED TO SCIENCE, MATH, TECHNOLOGY, CREATIVITY AND LITERACY ALONG WITH TUTORING AND HOMEWORK SESSIONS ARE AMONG THE SUPERVISED ACTIVITIES AT DHS. AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, SIMILAR TO THE PROGRAMS OFFERED AT DHS, ARE HELD ON THE CAMPUSES OF TEN FORT WORTH ISD, IDEA PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS, AND ALEDO ISD SCHOOLS. PRE-K EXTENDED DAY PROGRAMS OFFERED AT TWO IDEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS PROVIDE A HALF-DAY PROGRAM WITH A TEA APPROVED CURRICULUM, FROG STREET, TO COMPLEMENT AND SUPPLEMENT THE IDEA PRE-K HALF-DAY PROGRAMS. MANY OF THOSE STUDENTS ALSO ATTEND CAMP FIRE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING. SUMMER DAY CAMP PROGRAMS WERE OFFERED AT DIAMOND HILL STATION AND AT MCANALLY INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL IN ALEDO. THE PROGRAMS WERE SHORTENED TO FOUR WEEKS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND OFFERED A MUCH NEEDED OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH TO INTERACT IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. THE PROGRAMS INCLUDED A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE SCIENCE, ARTS, LITERACY, AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. TEENS IN ACTION IS A SCHOOL COMPLETION PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES SERVICES FOR STUDENTS AT SERIOUS RISK OF DROPPING OUT IN THE 7TH THROUGH 12TH GRADES. OFFERED IN COOPERATION WITH THE FORT WORTH ISD, TEENS IN ACTION SERVICES INCLUDE WEEKLY SMALL GROUP SESSIONS TO ADDRESS TRUANCY ISSUES, LIFE SKILLS TRAINING AND MONITORING ATTENDANCE, GRADES AND BEHAVIOR REPORTS. IN ADDITION, YOUTH ACTIONIZE PLANS THEY HAVE CREATED TO INFLUENCE OR RESPOND TO COMMUNITY NEEDS THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED.