“Jayden came into our program two years ago with a big smile and an even bigger heart. He loves to sing, dance, and bring joy into every room he enters. His mom shared, ‘Some mornings are tough for him, but knowing he gets to go to afterschool keeps him motivated. Camp Fire is the reason he pushes through; it’s his favorite part of the day.’” – Camp Fire Heartland parent
“One of our most meaningful successes [last] summer came from a camper who had never experienced true friendships before attending [our camp]. Staff created a space where this camper felt fully accepted and understood. At pickup, their parent shared that the camper left in tears—not from sadness, but from joy—saying it was the best experience of their life. This moment reflected exactly why we invest in accessibility and inclusion: every child deserves to feel like they belong.” – Camp Fire Green Country staff
These two snapshots showcase why we do what we do. Having a safe space makes all the difference in the life and development of a young person. It is the reason young people show up at our programs across the country, the reason our staff pour themselves into their work, and the reason Camp Fire is a sought-after partner. And it is exactly what the pages that follow are designed to show.
Over the past year, our 41 affiliates across 21 states and D.C. served more than 100,422 youth and families across 627 program sites through overnight, day, and specialty camps; before- and after-school programs; teen leadership and service; and early childhood education. We also expanded our accessibility and inclusion efforts to create safe and welcoming spaces for LGBTQ2S+ youth, youth from low-income backgrounds, youth with disabilities, and Black, Indigenous, and Youth of Color at Camp Fire overnight camps. Our Equity in Action, Accessibility in Action, and gender-affirming spaces frameworks continued to be spotlighted in Stanford Social Innovation Review and at SXSW EDU, while being adopted across the youth development field in partnership with the American Camp Association. We deepened strategic partnerships to bring the Camp Fire experience into the school day, strengthen the mental, emotional, and social health supports offered by our programs, and bridge the digital divide. We have much to celebrate and big goals ahead!
Growing up is hard, but Camp Fire makes it better. Thank you for all you do to help make this work possible, for Jayden and all of our other young people like him.
Looking forward,
Shawna Rosenzweig, CEO | Camp Fire National Headquarters
