LIASON REPORT

CAMPFIRE USA

Andrew Forbes

October 2015

Need for Program:CampFire supports StoryCounty families with school age youth through programs designed to develop life skills and social responsibilities. CampFire provides opportunities for school children to participate in guided and structured self-guided activities that build self-esteem, teach life skills, encourage physical activity and independence, and develop citizenship and leadership skills. CampFire provides a safe and secure environment for children to explore the outdoors.

Program Strengths: CampFire’s CampCanwita has a rich and strong history in StoryCounty. CampCanwita provides a wide variety of weekly camp themes during the summer months and additional sessions when local schools are not in session. CampCanwita provides volunteer opportunities for camp graduates. Staff members often return summer after summer and recently they have added some international staff based on feedback from parents. In addition to “typical” summer camp-type activities, the camp has added additional focus on literacy programs to its camps (camp library, set reading times, a literacy aide, etc.) and more exposure to science, technology, engineering, and math to help battle the “summer slide” andadd further value to the experience.

Program Challenges: Buildings at Camp Canwita were built in the 1920’s and though the facilities are in good shape, there is always the potential for significant maintenance.A local preschool has rented the facility for the past few years, and various infrastructure and HVAC updates were made to accommodate this. Bob Reid, Executive Director, feels that having the facility occupied on a more constant basis serves to help the facility’s upkeep. The “rent income” from this activity essentially offsets the additional utility costs incurred during a normally vacant time. The size of the camp is also a constraint as its capacity is approximately 65 students per week in the summer- a constraint which the camp found itself up against several weeks this past summer. The organization continues to focus on adding middle school-age programming, including the “Canwita Outrageous” camp implemented in recent summers. The need for middle school after-school program in Ames is also being weighed.

Financial Outlook: After a down year in Summer 2014, Camp Canwita saw record numbers last summer, with nearly 470 registered campers.There has also been a consistent increase in their year-round programs (school days off, etc.). Bob believes that some of the decline in recent years was due to Ames Community School District’s move to the “Digital Backpack” and elimination of take-home flyers given to the students in school. Parents weren’t necessarily taking the time to access the Digital Backpack, and the camp information was never seen. This year, however, Camp Fire was able to acquire mailing labels from the school district for use in direct mailings of Camp Fire literature. There has also been an increase in advertising/literature placed with local businesses and on campus and radio advertising with local radio and the ISU student radio station.

Camp Fire fees and ASSET dollars cover the cost of operation of Camp Canwita. Any profits are put towards scholarships. The agency is requesting approximately a modest increase in ASSET funding.

Internal Management Practices: Regular Board meetings are scheduled. An attempt is made to keep at least one Story County representative on the board, but as meetings are typically held in the Des Moines metro area, it has been difficult to maintain steady Story County representation. The board does currently have one ISU student as one of its Youth Members. The agency utilizes both internal and external assessments of its programs to foster continuous improvement.

General Assessment: CampFire provides a needed service to the community. The program provides excellent learning and enrichment opportunities for school age youth in StoryCounty. CampFire helps build future productive citizens.