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Causes: Camp Fire, Children & Youth, Education, Elementary & Secondary Schools, Literacy, Youth Development Programs
Mission: Camp Fire USA provides girls and boys with opportunities to realize their full potentials and to grow up as caring, confident and responsible leaders in their communities. Camp Fire USA is a nonprofit organization founded nationally in 1910 by Luther Gulick, M.D., and his wife, Charlotte Gulick, as the first nonsectarian organization for girls in the United States. Camp Fire USA is the only national leading youth development organizations serving both boys and girls in 40 states and the District of Columbia. Locally, the Greater Bay Area Council has been meeting the changing needs of the youth in the Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and East Bay communities since its inception in 1912. Last year, the Greater Bay Area Council reached approximately 24,000 local boys and girls through its club program, day and resident camps, in-school self-reliance courses and outreach programs designed to assure that children in San Jose's ethnically diverse lower income neighborhoods would receive relevant Camp Fire USA programs. We are inclusive and open to every person in each community we serve. We work to realize the dignity and worth of each individual and to eliminate human barriers based on all assumptions that prejudge individuals. In addition, our program standards are designed and implemented to reduce sex-role, racial and cultural stereotypes and to foster positive intercultural relationships. In Camp Fire USA, we encourage every child to discover his or her talents and abilities in a safe and secure environment. We think it?s important that kids satisfy their need to belong. Camp Fire allows youth to be part of a group that helps them make friends, interact with adult role models and become concerned citizens in their communities. This is taught through fun, coeducational activities, such as camps, clubs and child care, as well as community service projects, which teach children through hands-on experience the value of volunteering and service learning.
Programs: Camp Fire USA provides four operating programs that help bring together children, families and their communities to build developmental assets which assists in shaping healthy communities. Our traditional club program is a group of youth that gather on a regular basis that incorporates environmental stewardship, leadership development, citizenship, community service, and outdoor skills in their curriculum through regular club activities, special events, short and long term projects, and camping experiences. Our outdoor programs, which include day camps and resident camp, provide a rich group living experience, an opportunity to discover and build individual skills, and an opportunity to experience a close involvement with the natural environment. Our Teen Leadership Corps (TLC) program intervenes in the lives of under-served high school-aged youth considered "at risk" of dropping out of school and falling into drugs and gang membership and takes steps to help prevent younger children becoming "at risk." We employ these teens,teach them leadership skills, good work ethics, and responsibility which then enables them to mentor younger children in their own "at risk" communities to prevent them from building the same negative behaviors they themselves may have grown up with. "I'm Safe and Sure" is a seven week course designed for kindergarteners and first graders who discover how to build self-reliance skills and teach them how to avoid becoming victims of crimes and dangerous situations and how to develop good citizenship skills. This program reinforces positive social attitudes and behaviors that are believed to deter children from criminal or other harmful behavior. Our comprehensive after school program is a 21st Century Community Learning Center in partnership with the City of San Jose's Park and Recreation Department and Grant Elementary School, offering tutoring, computer skills, arts and crafts, sports, games and recreational activities to over 125 K-5 graders for free. Our Youth Anti-tobacco, Anti-Drug, and Anti-Violence programs offer a variety of opportunities for youth to help themselves and their peers to develop practical, healthy and safe approaches in dealing with their life issues. All of the programs incorporate our basic program philosophies of working in teams, making good decisions, focusing on individual growth and development, appreciating support and guidance, giving a helping hand to make our community a better place, having fun with learning, caring, responsibility, integrity and leadership.
This organization's nonprofit status may have been revoked or it may have merged with another organization or ceased operations.
Supported by Grandparents For A Better World
US A Thinking Team works from two countries,
never asks for money or donations, designing
entertaining and inspirational programs helping other
organizations to meet medical and educational needs.
Recording radio programs for wounded soldiers and
parents in prison, Creating live theater programs,
Healing Art For Hospitals and Medical Centers
Director of Education is Sydney Gay Kislevitz
