Random Acts of Kindness Day is February 17, but at Camp Fire, kindness isn’t a single moment on the calendar. It’s an ingrained way of showing up for ourselves, each other, and our communities. Every single day.

Across the country, our programs create opportunities for youth to practice service in meaningful, real-world ways. Through hands-on leadership, community partnerships, and youth-designed initiatives, young people learn that kindness isn’t passive. It’s active, collaborative, and powerful.

How Camp Fire Encourages Kindness, Friendship, and Inclusion

At its core, Camp Fire is about belonging. When young people feel safe, valued, and included, they are more likely to contribute positively to their communities.

Our programs intentionally cultivate:

· Kindness through service and peer support
· Friendship through shared goals and teamwork
· Inclusion by centering youth voice and choice

Service becomes an extension of these values, creating opportunities for young people to turn empathy into action.

Why Giving Is Good for Young People

Research consistently shows that volunteering benefits young people, not just the communities they serve. Studies on children and adolescents link service participation to:

· Improved mental and emotional health
· Stronger social connections
· Increased sense of purpose and self-worth

When youth feel they matter and contribute meaningfully, it supports healthy development that lasts well beyond childhood.

As one teenager from Camp Fire Sunshine shared, “I’ve really learned to help more, to be a helping hand. It makes me feel better, like I’m more of a happy person when I’m able to provide help.”

Youth Service & Leadership at Camp Fire

Youth leadership is one of Camp Fire’s most impactful areas of work. Across affiliates, kids and teens aren’t just participants; they are planners, decision-makers, and leaders. Here are several examples of how this comes to life:

· WORK HEALTH LOVE AWARD: The Work Health Love Award represents the highest achievement for youth in Camp Fire, recognizing young people who take initiative and create meaningful change. To earn the award, candidates must plan and implement three advocacy projects over one to three years that offer opportunities to lead, teach, serve, and speak out. Meet Amanda, a Camp Fire alumna who completed the Work Health Love Award years ago. She shared that while the process involved a lot of hard work and many different advocacy components, it made it a rewarding experience. Young people across the country continue to earn their awards each year.

· VALENTINES FOR VETS: Every year in Valentines for Vets, several Camp Fire affiliates participate in an initiative where communities send valentines, thank you notes, and gifts to hospitalized veterans all across the country. Camp Fire Central Oregon recruits about 100 volunteers of all ages to make hundreds of heartfelt cards of gratitude for veterans.

· TEENS IN ACTION: Young people identify community needs and design service projects that respond to those needs. From environmental efforts to community care initiatives, teens lead with creativity, empathy, and intention. At Camp Fire Sunshine, teens pull weeds at nature preserves, package meals for seniors, help with animal rescue work, and pitch in at food banks and nonprofits across their region in Lakeland, Florida.

The benefits of the Teens in Action program are just as profound for the participants as they are for the communities they serve. Camp Fire First Texas, based in Fort Worth, Texas, saw 100% of their students advance to the next grade, which is significant in the Dallas and Fort Worth school districts where many struggle with low performance and attendance, contributing to students not advancing to the next grade. Additionally, 18 of Camp Fire First Texas Teens in Action high school graduates received over half a million dollars in college scholarships, a true testament to what’s possible when young people are trusted to lead.

Partnering to Build the Future Through Service

At Camp Fire, partnerships are another powerful form of service, amplifying volunteerism and creating new ways for young people to lead with kindness and purpose

Through an expanded collaboration with AT&T, Camp Fire is deepening our investment in teen leadership, digital inclusion, and youth well-being. This work is closely aligned with Random Acts of Kindness week and the power of service.

One emerging initiative is Teens Teach Tech, an intergenerational program where adolescents teach adults technology skills. Teens design the plan, build the budget, and lead the experience, showcasing youth choice, confidence, and capability. Helping the adults in their community develop new digital skills can be a deeply rewarding experience for teens. It instills a sense of accomplishment and purpose, cultivating positive self-esteem and motivation.

This work reveals a broader truth: supporting young people today means meeting them where they are, both outdoors and in digital spaces, and equipping them with the tools they need to thrive.

A Reflection Activity for Random Acts of Kindness Day

To mark Random Acts of Kindness Day, Camp Fire invites youth, families, and partners to reflect on three guiding questions (these 3 C’s are from our new strategic plan):

1. Contribution: How can I use my time, skills, or voice to make a positive impact?

2. Collaboration: Who can I partner with to strengthen that impact?

3. Connection: How does service help me feel more connected to my community?

We hope these reflections will encourage young people to see kindness as an ongoing practice rather than a one-day event.

How Will You Participate?

Random Acts of Kindness Day is February 17. Whether you volunteer with Camp Fire, support a teen-led initiative, or partner with us to expand youth leadership opportunities, your participation makes a difference.

Learn more about Camp Fire’s volunteer and teen leadership opportunities. We think you’ll be blown away to discover how young people are leading with purpose, compassion, and impact.