Fireside News July, August, September FIRESIDE NEWS PENSACOLA, FLORIDA July, August and September 2017 Issue BACK TO SCHOOL At Camp Fire, the students are supervised by trained, qualified and caring adults. The staff is looking forward to another exciting year of learning and fun. Students start a new school year and Camp Fire AfterSchool program gets into the action on August 10 in Join Camp Fire Today! Escambia County and August 14 in Santa Rosa County. In Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Center 850-256-0953 After-School programs, Camp Fire kids complete Camp Fire PSC Child Development homework assignments, develop new Center 850-484-1524 skills, enhance reading abilities and Camp Fire at Longleaf make new friends. Children enjoy both 850-476-1760 indoor and outdoor experiences with Camp Fire at Scenic Heights opportunities for planning and carrying 850-476-1760 out projects. Additionally, children Camp Fire Milton 850-564-1649 participate in games, arts & crafts, songs and nature activities. Snacks are provided daily. In Camp Fire, it begins now Page 1
Fireside News July, August, September Calendar of Events July 2017 7/1-7/31 Wild and Wise Nature Camp 7/1-7/31 Program Quality Assessment & Observations 7/4 Independence Day 7/30 International Friendship Day August 2017 8/1 8/11 Wild and Wise Nature Camp 8/1 National Night Out Legion Field & Guy Thompson Center 8/4 LAST DAY OF CAMP 8/10 Escambia County Schools Begin 8/14 Santa Rosa Schools Begin 8/14 VPK at PSC and Century begins 8/19 Program Quality Assessment and Observations due to HQ September 2017 9/1-30 National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month 9/4 Labor Day 9/10 Grandparents Day 9/11 Patriot Day 9/22 Autumn begins 9/30 Day of Play at Maritime Park National Night Out Sponsored by: Target America s Night Out Against Crime Tuesday, August 1st, 2017 6:00 P.M. 8:00 P.M. Legion Field, 1301 W Gregory St., Pensacola and Guy Thompson Community Center, 5629 Byrom St., Milton, will have tables at the Pensacola and the Milton events. Veterans Day Parade 11 November 2017 VPK starts August 14 Our VPK starts August 14, 2017 in Century and Pensacola. is proud of our dedicated staff in the Camp Fire VPK program and Camp Fire youth. The students have fun learning and preparing for their futures. Camp Fire is committed to our promise to help youth lift their voices There s not enough words in the dictionary to describe how much I love what this school has done for my son. I ll be sad for him to leave, says Ms. Lose (at PSC). Two of mine have been there. One more will be going next year. I can t even say enough good things about Camp Fire in Century. Wonderful Century VPK Graduates people. Kids come out of there more than ready for Kindergarten. Not to mention they are happy and feel loved, and proud of themselves, states Ms. Whorff. Page 2
Fireside News July, August, September Camp Fire Gulf Wind InterACTION Program will present this exciting, FREE after-school program in Santa Rosa and Escambia Counties, in schools that elect to offer it this fall. One day a week for a total of 8 weeks, young teens will gain valuable insights and knowledge, improve their communication skills and make a difference in their community; all while doing fun, hands-on activities and meeting new people. After School Program to start at Scenic Heights Elementary School Ask your child s middle school principal if that school is offering this FREE, research-proven program! For More Info: Kevin Mann Program Director (850) 476-1760 Executive Director/CEO of Camp Fire Gulf Wind, Inc., and Principal Shelly Cox of Scenic Heights Elementary School (SHES) announced in June that Camp Fire will offer after school programs for children ages K 5th grade at SHES. Camp Fire s research-proven Thrive{ology} framework will help the students find their spark and light the fire within. Jana Willams will be our director at the Scenic Heights Elementary After School. This after school program joins Camp Fire s current sites at Pensacola State College, Longleaf Elementary, Century, and Milton. Camp Fire youth programs provide a safe, supportive environment to reinforce the parent s role. The program begins when school starts August 10. What is your connection with Camp Fire? Are you a Camp Fire Alumni? Whether you spent your summer at camp, OR discovered Camp Fire after-school programs, OR earned emblems in a club, you will always be a part of the Camp Fire family. Being a part of the Camp Fire family, means we share one Camp Fire experience no matter where you were a member. We invite Camp Fire Alumni to reconnect today and share your story. Sign up in the Wo-He-Lo Room on the Camp Fire website at http://campfirekids.com/ Page 3
Fireside News July, August, September Child Abuse Prevention Month Blue pinwheels lined Industrial Boulevard in Century, leading from Highway 4 to the Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Center in honor of April being Child Abuse and Neglect month. In recognition, Camp Fire lined the street with blue and white pinwheels because there s no excuse for child abuse. NorthEscambia.com photo. Volunteer Appreciation We love our volunteers! These giving, caring people exemplify the Camp Fire Motto: Give Service. Their contribution of time, joy and love means so much to our Camp Fire children and youth, and to our staff. In the spring we gave certificates of thanks to Ashley Salter, Kayla Mitchell, Raynesha Sampson, Angel Harris, Mary Matthews, Shirley Simpkins, Bruce Campbell Sand & Gravel, and August Whorff. PSC Volunteers we thanked included: Danialle Traywick, Kayla Mitchell, Raynesha Sampson, Angel Harris, Mary Matthews, and Shirley Simpkins. Camp Fire Car Show Our First Annual Camp Fire Car Show was a success! We had 30 cars entered and everyone had a great time at the Milton in May event! Special thanks to our sponsors: Circle K; City of Milton Parks and Recreation; and Downs Paint and Body! Page 4
Fireside News July, August, September Milton InterACTION Our Milton InterACTION team had a booth at the Scratch Ankle Festival in April. Their booth was a ring toss to win sodas.but the patrons had to toss the ring onto the antlers worn by a moving Camp Fire kid! They earned some money for Camp Fire and had a blast. It was great fun! Food Resources Tammy Byrer, Martika Baker and Kevin Mann attended Feeding the Gulf Coast's training on how their system works on May 23. Partnering with Feeding America, FGC will provide food for youth across NWFL, including Camp Fire summer camp in Milton. Blue Wahoos Outing We had 40 Camp Fire kids and family members at our Blue Wahoos outing. Bentley Sanders of the Century Camp Fire Child Development Center threw out the first pitch! The kids ran after the Mississippi Mudbug, several got hats or balls, and we all had a great time! New Assistant Director at Camp Fire PSC Teswanna Johnson joined us on June 26 as the new assistant director at Camp Fire at PSC Child Development Center. Welcome! Page 5
Fireside News July, August, September Wild and Wise Camp Training Camp Fire CEO La-Vonne Haven delivered a strong foundation and belief in providing positive outdoors experiences for youth in our annual camp training. The Wild and Wise training was held on May 13, 2017 at the Camp Fire Gulf Wind HQ. The Camp Fire core values and conviction that children need a connection with the natural world are fundamental to all Camp Fire Programs. Hats off to all staff that attended! Longleaf has a busy spring The month of March was a smooth go for us. As we help prepare the ids for the Florida Standard Assessment Test (FSA), we colored sheets with encouraging words on them to hang them on the walls. The kids took them back to their classes to put them on the class walls. In April we continued to help prepare for the second half of the FSA. We made stress balls out of water beads and balloons for the second through fifth graders. In May we made Mother s Day gifts. K 1 made cards, and 2 5th made pendant cout of medium sized flat marbles and colorful pictures out of a magazine. Then we ended the year with at pizza and dance party. It has been an awesome year! Easter Egg Hunt The children at the Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Center recently attended an annual Easter Egg Hunt with the staff and residents at the Century Health and Rehabilitation Center. Photos from NorthEscambia.com. Arbor Day Camp Fire Milton kids as well as PSC and Century all planted Rose of Sharon trees for Arbor Day in April, showing Camp Fire s commitment to creating a more beautiful environment. Page 6
Fireside News July, August, September VPK Graduation VPK graduations at Century and PSC were May 9. Our 63 students learned so many things over the school year! Both Camp Fire centers went to extra lengths to honor our VPK students at the end ceremonies. Both Century Youth Learning Center and PSC Child Development Center created an exceptional graduation celebration for their VPK students. Family and friends came out to congratulate the VPK students and celebrate with refreshments after the graduation. Congratulations to all the VPK students! Camp Fire Gives Service Camp Fire Youth gave service in May by cleaning up around the PSC Child Development Center. The kids really enjoyed the exercise and liked helping keep the environment healthy. They gathered several bags of trash from around the center grounds. Page 7
Fireside News July, August, September CAMP FIRE CORE VALUES Children and youth are our most precious resources. We believe in an approach to youth development that builds assets and empowers individuals. We believe that the best youth development occurs in small groups where children and youth are actively involved in creating their own learning. We are committed to co-education, providing opportunity for boys, girls, and families together. We provide caring, trained, mentors to work with children and youth. We are inclusive, welcoming children, youth and adults regardless of age, religion, socioeconomic status, disability, or other aspects of diversity. We respect and celebrate Nature. We foster leadership, engaging children and youth to give service and make decisions in a democratic society. We provide safe, fun, and nurturing environments for children and youth. We enrich parents and other adult lives by expanding their skills and encouraging them to share their talents and to build relationships with children and youth. We respond to community needs with our programs and expertise We advocate on behalf of children, youth and families. Published and produced by: CAMP FIRE GULF WIND, INC. 1814 Creighton Road Pensacola, FL 32504 850-476-1760 Fax 850-476-6614 info@cfgulfwind.org www.campfirekids.com Have some special news you would like to share with Camp Fire? Contact Libbi Crowe at LCrowe@CFGulfWind.org. Developing Youth to Their Full Potential Camp Fire s passion and purpose is to develop youth to their full potential. We are able to accomplish this by providing programs to youth through our community. Camp Fire youth engage in a fun, environmental summer program which introduces the campers to Florida wildlife and conservation. If you would like to help with the development of youth, please complete the form below and return it to: Yes, I want to help develop young people to their full potential and support the environmental summer camp program. Enclosed is my tax-deductible gift for: $25 $50 $75 Other $ This gift is in honor of: Please send an acknowledgement to: Name Phone: Company Name Address City State: Zip: Email Are you a Camp Fire Alumni? YES NO New/Increased gift 1814 Creighton Road Pensacola, Florida 32504-7212 Please list my gift as anonymous Please restrict my gift for: (purpose/ program) I would like more information about Camp Fire. I would like information about volunteer opportunities with Camp Fire. thanks you for your support. Page 8