We love Camp El Tesoro. From our 7-year-old’s point of view it is “AWESOME!!” From a parent’s point of view, we are more than pleased. I give you my life every day and every day you return him kinder, more aware of nature, happy and tired!
Camp El Tesoro Day Camp Parent
I used to have my kids in other after-care programs, and I can say without doubt that Camp Fire is the best place for my kids. They simply love it. The site directors are great people. They manage the children and they respect them.
After School Program Parent
Camp Fire is always one call away. When Camp Fire helps me grow as a director, we all grow – my staff, our kids, their families – everyone.
Ontara, Child Care Director, Camp Fire School Readiness
THRIVE{OLOGY}
Our Proven Path to Youth Success
Discover sparks, gain self-confidence, and learn life-changing life skills to thrive now! Thrive{ology} is our research-based program framework founded on the pillars of Social Emotional Learning (SEL), and it works:
01.
IDENTIFY YOUR SPARKS
Sparks are the things that make you come alive! What excites you, gives you energy, motivation, and purpose? It can be an activity (basketball) or a cause (social justice).
02.
DEVELOP A GROWTH MINDSET
Learn to push past obstacles, take risks, believe you can learn a new skill at any time, and don’t give up. Kids and adults with a growth mindset are more successful in life.
03.
LEARN GOAL MANAGEMENT
Decide what you want to strive for and determine how to get there. Learn to adjust your plan if needed or what kind of support and accountability you want.
04.
TAKE TIME TO REFLECT
Find your “aha moments,” whether it’s learning from a mistake or failure, realizing why you were successful, what you like or don’t like, what you want, what you’re proud of…
WE’RE ALL ABOUT THE NOW
Most youth organizations talk about preparing kids for the future or future leadership positions. This is great, but we believe kids and teens are leaders now. They don’t need to wait for the future to shape the world.
We help youth be the best 7-year-old they can be, or the best 17-year-old. We guide kids and teens of all ages to boost their confidence and unlock their potential so they can thrive—where they are now.
Thrive{ology} is our research-based approach to teaching every kid or teen how to be a better friend, student, son, daughter, member of society, sister, brother…today.
Every Camp Fire program across the country uses Thrive{ology} to teach youth to identify sparks, develop a growth mindset, learn goal management, and take time to reflect.
As they learn these life-changing life skills, kids and teens are also more likely to:
TRAINED, CARING STAFF
We call our highly-trained staff and volunteers Spark Champions. Their mentor-like support is key to helping your kids thrive and teaching them critical life skills.
Youth need people in their lives who challenge growth, provide support, share power, and expand possibilities. By providing this support and challenge, Camp Fire’s leaders serve a foundational role in building youth’s ability to thrive.
Youth also see Camp Fire staff as their Spark Champions. In a 2016 survey, 83% of youth said adults in Camp Fire encourage them to explore the things they are interested in, and 82% of youth said adults in Camp Fire help them solve problems instead of telling them what to do.
We’re experts at developing thriving, successful youth.
INCLUSION
We welcome every kid, from every family, from every walk of life.
We take pride in our long-standing commitment to inclusivity and diversity, no matter the ability, background, race, sexual orientation, gender, religion, non-religion, or any other category people use to define themselves or others.
We were the first multiracial, multicultural, and nonsectarian organization for girls in America when we began in 1910. Today, we strive to continue in that spirit and welcome everyone to Camp Fire.
Camp Fire’s Statement of Inclusion: Camp Fire believes in the dignity and the intrinsic worth of every human being. We welcome, affirm, and support young people and adults of all abilities and disabilities, experiences, races, ethnicities, socio-economic backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, citizenship or immigration status, religion and non-religion, and any other category people use to define themselves or others.
Young people want to shape the world.
Camp Fire provides the opportunity to find their spark, lift their voice, and discover who they are.
In Camp Fire, it begins now.
Light the fire within
