As a working parent when my children were younger, I remember the many times I relied on after school programs to help me be the working parent I needed to be. There were enriching experiences that provided complementary education for my children, and countless, wonderful care providers who became a small part of our busy lives. I am so thankful for programs like Camp Fire for being available to offer licensed care – and peace of mind.
My daughter and I were in the car the other day and I asked her, “Do you remember being in the after school programs when you were little?” She said “Of course Mom” in a very teenager kind of way… However, as we sat there I saw her looking back in her mind, finding the friends she had made, the songs she sang and the memories of the amazing staff that helped her with her homework from time to time. As we sat there at that stop light I watched the little girl from oh so long ago, shine through her eyes, and she quietly laughed. She then said, “I met by best friend Maddie there. Those were good times.”
In an article from Education Week, the benefit of after school programs is really explored. “After school programs are often seen as an effective way to keep children safe and supervised. Experts also believe that the after-school hours are an opportunity to further engage students in academic, social, and physical activities.” As former U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley noted, “Children’s minds don’t close down at 3 p.m.”
Some parents think after school programming is just ‘babysitting’. But at Camp Fire, our programs provide a number of learning opportunities – including STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), Genius Hour, Trail Time, Tinker Spaces, Maker Spaces, and more. These activities help young minds grow and light their spark.
If you are part of the majority of working parents out there, I hope your take away from this is – while we would all love to be with our children right after they get out of school, we have fantastic programs like Camp Fire After School programs out there to help you!
Chris Peoples is the administrative assistant for the Youth Development division at Camp Fire First Texas. Before coming to Camp Fire, Chris worked as an original equipment manufacturer account manager for Hamilton Company in Nevada. After beginning a degree in special needs education, Chris discovered her passion for youth development which helped guide her in her move to Camp Fire. Chris is now pursuing a degree in teaching.
