We’re kicking off 2023 by looking back on 22 moments that were highlights for Camp Fire First Texas in 2022.
Some pretty amazing things were accomplished last year. We exceeded our giving and growth goals. But more importantly, we partnered with thousands of North Texas children, teens, and early childhood educators to help them write new chapters in their life stories.
So, with a little help from some of our staff, let’s take a look back…
1. Camp Classic Trail Run
For the Camp Classic Trail Run, we dined on a great meal provided by Jon Bonnell the night before and even had s’mores for dessert to fuel up for the run.
On race day, a cold morning gave way to a beautiful bright winter day as about 200 runners and walkers enjoyed the trails at Camp El Tesoro for 5 or 10k. After the race, we met at Revolver Brewery and handed out awards to the winners of each age group.
– BRIAN MILLER, Vice President Outdoor + Facilities
2. School-Based Day Camps
Summer Day Camp 2022 was a highlight for Camp Fire First Texas because we welcomed back 150 campers between our three locations. Our enrollment was limited during the previous two summers as we navigated day camp during a pandemic.
This summer, we brought back field trips and visited many fun and enriching locations as we explored our communities, all while learning more each week about our great state, Texas. Additionally, we had weekly visitors from local colleges, amazing bubble parties, and daily STEM activities.
– MELANIE MARSHALL, Senior Director of Afterschool Programs
3. Teens in Action Summer On the Move
Teens in Action Summer On the Move was a great success and definitely a highlight of our program year. I loved how we were able to host a summer day camp experience where we were able to incorporate all our 5 Pillar components throughout the week. The ultimate highlight was having our youth at the various schools we serve come together and be on the #TIAonthemove journey with us!
– AMBER ROBINSON, Teens in Action Program Specialist
4. Early Education Apprenticeship Program Graduation
This graduation was the second and the largest graduation thus far for the Early Education Apprenticeship Program. The program had 20 graduates complete the program. Because of the apprentice’s hard work and the program’s management, it has managed a 97% retention rate.
This graduation was a highlight for Camp Fire and the various communities it serves to show its commitment to early education workforce development. Because of this, the field of Early Education has now gained over 20 new qualified professionals.
– KAREA SCROGGINS, Early Education Apprenticeship Manager
5. Lake Leo at Camp El Tesoro
Lake Leo has become one of camp’s greatest attractions. From the scenic view and the wildlife it brings in, to hearing the cheers and laughter as children learn to navigate the kayaks and canoes. The sheer joy and excitement of seeing a child catch their first fish will melt your heart.
– VESTAL ODOM, Camp El Tesoro Site Director
6. School Readiness Program (2021-2022) Celebration
The School Readiness Program 2020-2021 celebration was a highlight because we could connect with each other in person and be in community with those doing the same work. Additionally, we were able to celebrate our collective success, with a number of our School Readiness centers achieving 4-star ratings for the Texas Rising Star Program.
– DR. TONI STURDIVANT, Vice President of Early Education
7. El Tesoro de la Vida Benefit Dinner
This year’s El Tesoro de la Vida Benefit Dinner brought together nearly 400 supporters to raise scholarship funds so that no child is turned away from grief camp. The highest auction item of the evening was a quilt handmade from a volunteer’s t-shirts collected over two decades of camp.
It was a heart-touching night filled with the shared experiences of loss, a celebration of a lifetime of memories, and hope for the future as we raised funds for youth to experience camp and share about the death of their loved one.
– SARA MITCHELL, Associate Marketing Director
8. Day Camp at Camp El Tesoro
Camp El Tesoro’s Nature Day Camp provides campers an opportunity to learn about themselves and connect with nature.
In 2022, almost 300 kids from the Granbury area were exploring Fall Creek, Zuni Cabin, and Mt. Loma while participating in activities like hiking, archery, shelter building, and swimming. Many campers return each year to see how camp has changed and how they can grow in their skills learned from previous summers.
– JEN SMITH, Outdoor Education Coordinator + Day Camp Director
9. Alumni Dinner – Back to the Brazos
The Alumni Dinner was a great event that brought many generations of staff and campers back to Camp El Tesoro. It was fun to show alums who had not been to camp in years all of the facility updates, including Lake Leo.
The best part was seeing alums reconnect with friends they had not seen in years, including several of our former camp directors. We enjoyed a great meal prepared by our facilities staff and shared a beautiful evening of reminiscing by Lake Leo.
– BRIAN MILLER, Vice President Outdoor + Facilities
10. Lights On Afterschool
Lights On Afterschool was so important to Camp Fire First Texas this year. Our families had a chance to come inside our programs again and see some of the amazing things our kids have been doing and spend some quality time connecting with our Camp Fire staff and families!
– TAMMIE HANKERSON, Program Director
11. Afterschool Programs
Camp Fire Licensed Afterschool Programs make the most of children’s out-of-school time. Through 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.
With ten sites serving Fort Worth ISD and Aledo ISD, Camp Fire First Texas was proud to provide homework help, trail time, special events, and more, helping students discover their spark outside of school hours.
12. Texas Outdoor Education Center
In 2022, the Texas Outdoor Education Center at Camp El Tesoro provided 33 school groups with hands-on, outdoor science school opportunities. Teachers chose lessons related to science, community building, and recreational activities. Students were provided opportunities to do hands-on science learning through dissecting owl pellets, creating streams in our Weathering and Erosion Stream Tables, and learning how nocturnal animals adjust to being out at night during a Night Experience.
Some schools, at the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year, chose activities more related to creating classroom and advisory group cohesion through team building and challenge course activities, such as the Rock Wall at the high ropes course and Whale Watch low element. Beyond learning about nature and their classmates, students also had the opportunity to canoe or kayak on Lake Leo, shoot archery, and learn how hard it is to start fires by bow drill or flint and steel.
One teacher mentioned, ‘We love this trip for our students because it provides hands-on, engaging learning while also being a great experience that some of our students would never have otherwise.’
– JEN SMITH, Outdoor Education Coordinator + Day Camp Director
13. Arts Village at Camp El Tesoro Under Construction
The Arts Village is something I’m proud to be a small part of. Seeing a fond historic part of camp being brought back to life to bring joyful memories to people who once enjoyed their weeks of camp in those cabins to now witnessing children intent and focused on creating their masterpieces, whether a bird house or soon to be modeled piece of clay. The possibilities are endless of what spark could be ignited in their creativity in the new Arts Village!
– VESTAL ODOM, Camp El Tesoro Site Director
14. Two Years of Success Under President and CEO Lauren Richard
Lauren Richard took over as President and CEO of Camp Fire First Texas on Oct. 12, 2020, during the pandemic. Although she knew the task before her would be daunting, she also knew that CFFT could weather the challenges by focusing on the people who make the mission possible.
“What I’ve learned in leading us through that crisis is that if you have the right people involved with your organization, you can really weather any storm. Our staff, supporters, volunteers, and everyone in the community all came together to make sure we were able to provide amended services to folks who still needed us.”
– LAUREN RICHARD, President and CEO
15. Overnight Camp at Camp El Tesoro
Eight weeks of camp made summer ’22 a success for Camp Fire First Texas!
El Tesoro’s overnight camp inspired boys and girls to let their curiosity be their guide – to nature, their world, and what they can accomplish! Age appropriate activities developed confidence in our campers while they built new skills and make new friends in the outdoors. The wide range of activities from horseback riding and archery to crafts, swimming and drama created opportunities that showed each camper they can achieve whatever they set their minds to.
16. Grief Camp at Camp El Tesoro
It’s nearly impossible to explain the magic of grief camp to someone who hasn’t experienced it, but the magic is everywhere. It’s in the group therapy where the kids can safely process their loss and trauma with other kids who can relate… It’s in the smiles and belly laughs that coincide with the tears and broken hearts… However, the best magic is in all the growth and healing that happens right in front of your eyes over the course of six short days.
– ERICA CONNOLLY, El Tesoro de la Vida Volunteer
17. Fall Camping Weekend at Camp El Tesoro
In October, families and friends enjoyed hiking, zip lines, s’mores and traversing Lake Leo at Camp Fire Camp El Tesoro. The exciting weekend was designed to maximize guests’ time and allowed them to experience all camp has to offer.
18. An Artists’ Christmas
On November 4, Camp Fire hosted the 38th Annual An Artists’ Christmas gala at the Fort Worth Convention Center for an evening of art, music and dancing. Chaired by Camp Fire Board Member Erma Lee, with honor chairs Betsy and Tom Price, the event featured performances by Four Day Weekend and Trey & The Tritones, a silent auction of 97 original works of art, and a live auction with unique trips and experiences. Nearly 450 guests came together to support Camp Fire’s outdoor, out-of-school and early childhood workforce development programs to help fulfill our vision for a community in which every child has equitable access to the quality learning opportunities they need to succeed and thrive.
– TAMARA CLEMENT, Director of Development
19. CNM A Night of Light Awards
Camp Fire First Texas was honored to receive the CNM first place award for Data-Driven Decision Making presented by EY at CNM’s annual A Night of Light Award Ceremony at Energy Square in Dallas. Camp Fire has partnered with CNM (previously Center for Non-Profit Management) for years, digging deep into our data to improve our Early Education programs and it works! Not only have our programs improved in quality, we have excelled in setting and accomplishing strategic goals based on research and data analysis.
Because of how we plan our work and work our plans, 2019 launched the first Early Education Apprenticeship Program in the state of Texas. CNM has been instrumental in these efforts and outcomes. What began with 20 apprentices has grown to 81 in 2022. This award has been years in the making; we are proud to be partners with CNM.
– JULIA SUMMERS, Vice President of Development
20. Breakfast with Santa
Breakfast with Santa was a fabulous morning with lots of new families visiting camp for the first time. And so many coming back for their annual tradition.
– SARA MITCHELL, Associate Marketing Director
21. Holiday Market
We were so excited to have 21 vendors register for our first Holiday Market. Though a few couldn’t make it, we filled up Main Lodge with 17 vendors. Guests loved shopping the variety of homemade goodies that our vendors offered. It was such a fun way to kick off the holiday season!
– JESSICA SIMPSON, El Tesoro Business Manager + Assistant Camp Director
22. YOU!
That’s right. Camp Fire First Texas wouldn’t exist without the people who support us, the people we partner with, and most of all, the people who work hard to turn our mission and vision into reality.
As 2022 comes to a close, we could not have imagined what this year would bring. We are incredibly grateful for the families who trust us to provide out-of-school time and outdoor learning programs for their children, the organizations and foundations that sponsor and support our work, the early childhood educators who are dedicated to building their careers, and to our leadership and staff for their creativity, diligence, and passion.
To everyone who is a part of Camp Fire First Texas, THANK YOU for an incredible year in 2022!
We can’t wait to see what we accomplish together in 2023.
About Camp Fire First Texas
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.
