We know that Sparks are talents, interests, commitments and qualities that give kids—and adults—energy and purpose. We also know that it’s important to talk to kids about their Sparks and support them in their passions. But why? Why is it so important? Why do Sparks matter? Because SPARKS lead to some pretty huge benefits. Research […]
Thirty-eight percent of kids don’t know what their spark is. They haven’t yet discovered what gets them excited, pushes them to learn and gives them purpose. We know that sparks are the first step to thriving—to creating a healthy, purposeful life. What can help kids find their spark? We can. But research shows that adults […]
If you’ve been around Camp Fire for half a minute, you’ve heard about sparks. And you know we’re not just talking about fire-building skills. We’re talking about life-building passions that put kids on the path to truly thriving. Sparks are talents, interests, commitments and qualities that give kids—and adults—energy and purpose. Simply put, sparks are […]
An Exploration of water All living beings need water. As humans, we cannot thrive when water is contaminated or is in hazardously low supply. Access to clean and healthy water is currently at the forefront of national and international conversations on health, equity, and environmental conservation. For many people, water is recreational. People enjoy swimming, […]
The New Year gives us an excuse to stay up late, dance a little, and eat a lot. It also invites us to imagine what the future could hold. In the face of so many challenges—from the ongoing pandemic to the effects of climate change—having a strong vision for the future is essential. We need […]
Quincy Henry and his wife, Whitni, started Campfire Coffee Co. in Tacoma, WA, with the goal of bringing campfire-roasted coffee (yes: micro-batch coffee roasted over an open fire!) to his home-turf and supporting a broader mission—creating more access to the outdoors for BIPOC and underserved communities. He had no idea there was a nonprofit with […]
Like we’ve talked about on the blog before, Camp Fire is actively and intentionally becoming an equity-focused organization. All of our five 18-month goals are directly related to equity. Why? Not only because it’s the right thing to do, but because we’ve seen how centuries of unaddressed economic injustice and structural racism has made it […]
The past eight months have been tumultuous and uncertain. With the Fall school-year approaching, COVID-19 still at large, and the 2020 election around the corner, everything continues to feel up in the air. However, one thing we have learned through this pandemic is that youth development organizations, like Camp Fire, are essential to the wellbeing […]
Camp Fire is part of the #InvestinKids campaign, a movement by 12 leading youth organizations to encourage people to give their voice, time and dollars to our country’s youth. And we’re all having to get creative about how to invest in kids when we’re social distancing to protect each other from the coronavirus. You can […]
It’s a universal human need. When we feel like we belong, we feel safe to be who we truly are—or who we truly want to become. We feel secure, seen and valued. We feel at home. At Camp Fire, we design our programs to develop a sense of belonging. It’s one of the seven essential […]