Camp Fire Child Development Center is celebrating its 25-year anniversary. That’s 25 years of imagination, belly-laughs, playground games, snuggles, and story time.

But is also so much more than fun.

Camp Fire has served as a leader in youth development in our community for more than 100 years. When the Child Development Center opened in 1993, it opened yet another pathway for hundreds of youth to find their spark and become the leaders of tomorrow.

And that’s exactly what our former youth (now young adults!) are doing.

Meet Lauren Titsworth! Lauren attended the Camp Fire Child Development Center from 2000-2003 (ages 2-4).

Camp Fire: Do you have any memories of being at the Child Development Center?
Lauren: I remember having a close group of friends that I would look forward to seeing every day and that there were times that my mom and dad would come and do things as a family on special days.

CF: Do you still keep in touch with any of your friends from the Child Development Center?
LT: I keep in touch with four of my friends from the CDC. One lives in Austin and the other three still live in north Fort Worth.

CF: Where are you living now?
LT: I live in Keller, Texas but I’m in Manhattan, Kansas for school most of the year.

CF: Are you currently in school or working?
LT: I go to college at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas and will graduate in 2022 with my masters in Interior Architecture and Product Design, a minor in Regional and Community Planning, and an International Studies Focus.

CF: What piece of advice would you have for emerging young adults?
LT: It sounds cheesy, but I would tell them to find a dream and stick to it no matter how much work it takes. I’ve known I wanted to be an architect since the 5th grade, so middle school and high school was all about working to get into architecture school. Currently in college it’s all about doing everything I can to learn the material and design beautiful and immersive spaces. My next big dream is living abroad after I graduate, so I’m currently looking into what I need to do to make it happen both professionally and financially.

CF: What would you say is your greatest achievement?
LT: I would say that I have two. The first is designing and implementing the first community garden for the city of Keller. I tied in my Girl Scout Gold Award with something I was passionate about and designed an ADA accessible community garden behind the senior center. It gave me the ability to look into landscape design and introduce me to a smaller scale of community planning. The second is being awarded Youth Volunteer of the Year by Fort Worth Sister Cities. I was, and still am, heavily involved in the program and have a large passion for culture, travel and international friendships. Being Youth Volunteer of the Year meant that I was able to make lasting connections between cultures and in turn that has meant that I am confident enough to travel solo to see my friends in other countries like Mexico, Germany and Italy.

CF: Why do you think quality early childhood education like the Camp Fire Child Development Center is important?
LT: I think it’s important because at an early age you’re tapping into and cultivating lots of potential. I work with kids ages 3-6 during my summer job and have found that allowing kids to explore and helping them understand the world around them is the best thing you can do for them. My mom recently found a paper from when I was about 3 or 4 that said my favorite part of Camp Fire was art class. I firmly believe that I was able to tap into my creative side and that has stuck with me ever since.  Whether its art, science or reading, I think that early childhood education can help children develop skills and interests that stick with them on into their adult years.

Interested in touring the Camp Fire Child Development Center? Contact us to set up your tour today.