Youth holding up animal art.

Animal art sparked creative fun for CFA youth Eliana Hilt.

When Eliana Hilt joined Camp Fire Afterschool at Bend International School for the 2023-2024 school year season, she wasn’t sure what to expect. What she was sure of? Once that school bell rang, she had an enrichment-packed place to go while her parents wrapped up their busy workdays. Pretty quickly, she found herself creating all kinds of connections.

“You don’t only make friends with the kids, you make friends with the counselors,” she says. “It’s really outdoorsy, too. We do a lot of activities outside—and it’s really good for you—and we learn about all sorts of things. This year we learned about animals and that was really fun.”

Kids raising shovels over a planter bed.

Time in the outdoors is core to CFA curriculum.

No doubt, Camp Fire strives to bring fun and learning to their afterschool game. But this program is much more than that—and it’s anything but a cookie-cutter daycare. Launching in September 2019 at Amity Creek Magnet at Thompson Elementary,  CFA rolled out as a safe, engaging place for youth in Grades K-5 to learn, lead, have fun, and be themselves. Its key assets? 

“From the start and to this day, CFA has strived to offer not just a program but a community through its small-group size, focus on building positive, quality content, and affirming relationships with adult champions and supportive peers alike,” says Mary Bowker, who as Camp Fire Central Oregon’s grants manager has strategically sought funding to help build and develop the CFA program.

That said, the journey hasn’t always been easy. After the pandemic hit in March 2020, CFA staff moved quickly to address new norms during distance learning. It soon pivoted to provide in-person services to youth while continuing to make plans to build greater value for its kids as the program evolved. Through grant funding, CFA strategically onboarded STEM-focused learning in January 2022, with participation in STEM Beyond Schools professional development for leadership and direct services staff.

Meanwhile, as community needs for afterschool care remained significant, Camp Fire leadership decided to respond, expanding CFA—twice—opening a second location at Bend International School in Fall 2023, then at Three Rivers School in Sunriver in Fall 2024.

The growth has not just enabled Camp Fire to support the needs of Central Oregon families; it’s also created jobs for skilled professionals and college students alike, including those interested in gaining valuable experience in the youth development field. Offering living-wage jobs with growth opportunities and flexibility has had a direct impact on its staff members’ abilities to achieve their goals and, at the same time, ensured Camp Fire’s objectives to attract creative, committed and compassionate talent.

“In my time at Camp Fire, I was able to grow my confidence in leading youth through activities, thinking quickly on my feet, and in behavior management, all of which are skills that will help me progress and succeed in my future career,” says Cadance Donlon, who worked three school years at CFA and two summers at SummerKids camp. “Being a teacher has always been my dream, and I am thankful to have had Camp Fire be a stepping-stone in my journey to becoming one.”

Kids and staff member at the farmers' market

As a CFA staff member, Cadance Donlon (far right) helped youth connect with their community.

Thanks to all its quality staff members past and present, its leadership team, research-backed curriculum, grant funding and welcoming environment, Camp Fire Central Oregon is meeting kids where they’re at—and this is at the heart of the organization’s philosophy. Every child is unique, with different interests, strengths and needs, and Camp Fire’s afterschool programs are designed to recognize and celebrate those differences, while giving them empowering life-skills.

As Bowker says, “By creating an inclusive environment that offers individualized attention and support, Camp Fire helps kids grow at their own pace while encouraging them to take on new challenges. Camp Fire Central Oregon invests in afterschool care because we understand the crucial role it plays in a child's development, providing a safe space for learning, social connection, and emotional growth. Their commitment is to help every child find their spark—or passion in life—and develop the skills they need for a bright future.”

Youth with a STEM project in front of him.

STEM-focused projects grow skills and imagination while inspiring innovative thinking and confidence.

To date, over 150 youth are served and supported by this afterschool program, with more expected to sign up come the winter and spring sessions. In addition, Camp Fire offers No School Day camps in Bend and, now, Three Rivers/Sunriver, making it easy for families to find a place for their kids to land, laugh, learn and, of course, light those sparks. In the school year months, CFA—along with No School Day Camps—are all part of keeping the Camp Fire’s 100+-year-old spirit aglow.