FIRESIDE NEWS Camp Fire GULF WIND, INC. July-August-September 2015 PENSACOLA, FL Back to School!! VPK & After-School Camp Fire is the place where kids can have fun while learning lots of cool things. The children are so excited to be back with their friends and planning new activities for the school year. Camp Fire offers a safe supportive, positive environment for children to play and learn. The staff welcomes the children with new games, stories and learning goals. Youth especially enjoy exploring the outdoors through Camp Fire and Project WILD program activities. Here children learn to work and play together! Camp Fire encourages families to get involved with their children through fun family meals and group events. As always, each Center has special activities that parents are invited to attend PBS Stars with Camp Fire Kids with their children. This year, Camp Fire invites kids and their families to march in the Veterans Day and Christmas Parades with us. Sign up with your child s Director or Leader. There is always something fun and interesting happening at Camp Fire! For more information about ages, activities, schedules and pricing, please contact each center. Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Center 850-256-0953 Camp Fire PSC Child Development Center 850-484-1524 Camp Fire Milton Clubhouse 850-564-1649 What is your connection with Camp Fire? We are looking for you!! Are you a Camp Fire Alumni? Whether you spent your summer at camp, 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. 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/. Camp Fire Back to School Super Students Page1
CALENDAR & EVENTS Upcoming Dates and Reminders OCTOBER 10/1-31 Bully Prevention Month 10/6 National Children s Day 10/12 Columbus Day 10/16 United Way Day of Caring 10/16 Boss s Day 10/23-31 Red Ribbon Week 10/22 Lights on Afterschool 10/31 Halloween NOVEMBER 11/1 Daylight Saving Time Ends 11/2 Camp Fire Candy Sale Starts 11/3 Election Day Get out & Vote! 11/11 Veteran s Day & Parade Camp Fire Closed 11/20 Camp Fire 3 rd Annual Parade of Trees 11/26-27 Thanksgiving Holiday Camp Fire Closed 11/30 Camp Fire Candy Sale Ends DECEMBER 12/7 Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day 12/12 Christmas Parade - Pensacola 12/ 21 Winter Begins 12/24-25 Christmas Holiday-Camp Fire Closed COMING EVENTS Camp Fire Salute to Veterans! Veterans Day Parade Wednesday, November 11, 2015 9 am, downtown Pensacola Camp Fire families help us honor our veterans by participating in the Veteran s Day parade. Camp Fire Kids will march in a group and the younger children may ride in strollers or wagons. To sign up, please contact your child s Director or Leader no later than October 29, 2015. We will be wearing our Camp Fire light blue t-shirt and carrying small US flags. Should you have any questions, please contact Pat Madison at 850-476-1760 x 107 or email at pmadison@cfgulfwind.org. NOTE: No throws allowed. JANUARY 2016 1/1 New Year s Day Camp Fire Closed Community Family Club In today s rush, finding time for family activities can be difficult, especially with distractions from cell phones, television and work. Involvement in a Family Club allows you to devote energy in one direction spending time with your family. Your family will enjoy the fun family activities, meeting new friends and learning about your community. In the Camp Fire Family Club, youth and their families engage in earning awards for their accomplishments. Camp Fire Gulf Wind is committed to our promise to help youth lift their voices and shape the world, to light the fire within, and to help them develop to their fullest potential! To join the Family Club or for more information, contact the Pat Madison at 850-476-1760 or email pmadison@cfgulfwind.org. Join the fun!!! Page2
Day of Caring In the News for 2015... This year Camp Fire is excited to participate in the United Way Day of Caring on October 16 th. On the agenda for projects to be completed is the installation of three new sandboxes for PSC Child Development Center and wreath displays for the Parade of Trees. Additionally, we hope to have a few creative volunteers help to decorate a wreath and/or tree for the Parade of Trees. Camp Fire extends a heartfelt thanks to United Way of Escambia County for their support. Camp Fire 3 rd Annual Parade of Trees MARK YOUR CALENDARS! The date for the 3 nd Annual Camp Fire Parade of Trees, is Wednesday, November 18 - Friday, November 20, 2015. Pen Air Federal Credit Union has graciously committed to holding the event at the downtown branch, so all may view the trees. On Gallery Night from 3 pm to 8 pm, the trees and wreaths will be available for purchase with delivery service offered for the larger trees. No entrance fee! This year, Camp Fire invites community organizations, businesses and individuals to get involved and create uniquely decorated Christmas trees or wreaths to be sold to benefit Camp Fire youth development programs, such as the Family Club, Teen in Action, and Baby Think It Over. Thanks to generous donations from Danken, Inc., Camp Fire has trees, wreaths, and ornaments available for designers to use with their own decorations to create a one-of-kind tree or wreath. Each designer is encouraged to select a theme and title for their distinctive tree/wreath which will be posted with their name next to the decorated item. If you are interested in decorating a tree or wreath, please contact Pat Madison at 850-476-1760 x 107 or email pmadison@cfgulfwind.org. Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/paradeoftreespensacola?ref=hl. Camp Fire Christmas Parade Light your holiday spirit! Join Camp Fire for a festive time as Camp Fire families march in the Pensacola Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 12, 2015. This year, Camp Fire will have a float available for children to ride the parade route. Strollers and small wagons will be allowed for younger children. Children are asked to wear the Camp Fire red t-shirts. The Parade begins at 5:15 pm with everyone starting to line up at 4 pm. You will not want to miss the excitement! To participate, please sign-up with your child s Director or Leader no later than November 30, 2015. More information will be provided to those families taking part in the parade. Camp Fire, rising to tomorrow s challenge! Page3
LEARNING CENTERS & AFTER-SCHOOL NEWS PSC Child Development Center With school starting again, the VPK Superheroes are excited to settle in and learn about themselves. They enjoy learning new songs, the alphabet and cooperative play. The after-school students are looking forward to Science Fridays with fun experiments and hands-on activities. Additionally, Camp Fire staff and volunteers continue to offer homework help for students needing assistance. In October, the children will trick or treat on PSC Campus, visiting the many different offices for treats. Come November, the Camp Fire Kids march in the Veterans Day Parade and then, learn about Thanksgiving and celebrate with a luncheon for their families. Let s not forget Christmas and the exciting Parade! Longleaf After-School Program August 17 th started a new school year at Longleaf. The students and staff look forward to another exciting year of learning and fun. With a running start, Longleaf after-school students worked on a special project in remembrance of 9/11. In October, Camp Fire expects to start a weekly tutoring program to help struggling students with math, grammar, reading and writing. The Camp Fire Kids plan to learn more about autumn through fun hands-on activities and spend more time outdoors. The children will create handmade thank you cards for the veterans, police and firefighters. Also, the students look forward to the upcoming Veteran s Day and Christmas parades with great anticipation. Century kids at Cemetery Clean-up Milton kids at Pensacola Museum of Art Reno s Reptiles visit Camp Fire kids Century Youth Learning Center The Camp Fire Kids are so excited to be back with so many exciting plans for this year. During one week in October, the VPK children will learn trike and fire safety and participate in the St. Jude s Trikathon. Halloween ends the month with trick or treating at the Century Rehabilitation Center. In November, kids will create thank you cards for the veterans and sing patriotic songs at the Rehabilitation Center. The families always enjoy the Thanksgiving play the children produce and the wonderful feast shared by all. During December, the Camp Fire Kids like to sing Christmas carols and make decorations for their families. Milton Clubhouse Camp Fire welcomes Asha Eubanks as the District Director for Santa Rosa County. She will be working out of the Milton Clubhouse to develop youth programs in the Milton area. Asha worked with Camp Fire Gulf Wind, Inc. several years ago and has returned to help make a difference in Santa Rosa County. To contact Asha Eubanks or the Milton Clubhouse, call 850-564-1649 or email aeubanks@cfgulfwind.org. Page4
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. 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. Yes, I want to help develop young people to their full potential and support the environmental summer camp program. If you would like to help with the development of youth, please complete the form below and return it to: Camp Fire Gulf Wind, Inc. 1814 Creighton Road Pensacola, Florida 32504-7212 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 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 32534-7212 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 Pat Madison at the office at pmadison@cfgulfwind.org. City State: Zip: Email Are you a Camp Fire Alumni? YES NO New/Increased gift 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. Camp Fire Gulf Wind, Inc. thanks you for your support. Camp Fire Motto: Give Service Page5