Organization: Camp Fire First Texas
Mission: YOUNG PEOPLE WANT TO SHAPE THE WORLD. CAMP FIRE PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND THEIR SPARK, LIFT THEIR VOICE, AND DISCOVER WHO THEY ARE. (CONT ON SCH. O)
Activities: 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. Programs include: School Readiness provides on-site professional development, mentoring, educational materials and equipment to child care programs in low-income communities. This program helps improve child care teachers understanding of child growth and development which enables them to provide an environment that encourages childrens skill development. In additionthere is a director focused component that focuses on business and leadership development. The primary purpose of the program is to increase school readiness of children entering FWISD. Each year this program works with approximately 1200-1400 children ages birth to five to help them enter school better prepared to succeed. Early Education Apprenticeship Program is a 1-2-year teacher preparation and college preparedness program for early childhood educators interested in improving skills, and/or moving along their educational and career pathway. Graduates earn a DOL issued certificate and are eligible for up to 33 hours at partner college and universities. Community Professional Development offers early childhood professional development workshops, seminars, conferences, CPR and First Aid classes to child care center staff, administrators, after school program staff, and family child care providers on Saturdays and occasional weeknights and weekdays. On average 3,500 early childhood educators receive training through this program annually. Early Childhood Management Institute has been designed for the new or experienced child care director interested in acquiring or enhancing management skills. Upon successful completion of the 6-day, 50-hour program, participants are eligible to receive a Child Care Administrators Credential. Additional, director-level series and workshops are offered throughout the year focusing on increasing management and leadership capacity. Coaching/Mentoring Certification is designed for anyone who works directly with early childhood teachers to improve their skills - directors, mentors, educational specialists, curriculum specialists, etc. At the completion of this 42-hour course, participants are better equipped to use a strengths-based and reflective approach to helping others grow professionally. The Child Development Associate Course is offered to help child care providers interested in improving their professional status. Camp Fire helps CDA candidates by providing 120 clock hours of early childhood training including creating a portfolio required to apply for the CDA credential. One course session take place on campus at a local community college where CDA candidates are introduced to the college campus and continued advancement in the profession through higher education. In 2019, an overall total of 13,702 adults participated directly in Early Childhood Education programs, impacting over 68,510 children.
Outdoor Programs Camp Fire First Texas offers a variety of outdoor experiences for youth and adults at Camp El Tesoro, the Councils 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 2019, 9,234 children, youth and adults participated in the Camp Fire First Texas outdoor programs.
Youth Development Programs - programs serving children and youth ages 6 weeks-17 years including a child development center, after school programs, teen programs, and all-day summer programs when school is out of session. Frog Street, a nationally recognized curriculum, is implemented in the child development center and the IDEA Pre-K extended day programs. National Camp Fire age appropriate curricula 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 childs age, developmental level, maturity, needs and capabilities. 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 area characterized by 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, 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 nine 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. 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. Child Development Center: A Community Demonstration School serves as a professional development and observation site for child care providers, college and high school students, administrators, and educators. Infants and pre-school children are cared for on a daily basis at the Child Development Center, emphasizing quality care, family involvement, and school readiness. During 2019, 2772 youth and adults participated in small group programs. Effective December 2019, Camp Fire First Texas ceased operations of the Child Development Center. As we looked at refining our mission and doing what we do best, we took the opportunity to analyze our own operations. In doing so, we realized that we can more effectively execute our strategic plans, driven by our promise, by leasing our childcare center to an organization, whose mission aligns with ours.
NTEE category: Education
Secondary category: Youth Development