Connecting Kids to Sparks: Sam Ward’s Journey to Leadership at Camp Fire Central Oregon  Sam Ward’s (she/her/hers) journey as program manager at Camp Fire Central Oregon has been a story of fostering connections between people, nature, and the spark of… Read More >

“Almost constantly.” That’s how often nearly half of all American teenagers say they’re online. From TikTok to Reels to YouTube to Snapchat, there’s a literal never-ending stream of content, ready and waiting to be consumed at any given moment, by… Read More >

On December 15, 2024, Bend’s Mountain View High School was buzzing with excitement as teams gathered for the highly anticipated FIRST® LEGO® League Qualifying Tournament, a key milestone on the journey to the annual state-level robotics competition in Oregon. Hosted… Read More >

Change is one of the few constants in life, but knowing that doesn’t make it any easier to deal with—especially for young people. Adolescents and young adults come face-to-face with life’s uncertainties on multiple fronts: academic pressures, career choices, evolving… Read More >

National program to tackle common playground struggles while empowering youth to thrive through stronger lifeskills.   BEND, Ore., Jan.8, 2025 – Ask elementary school kids what they love about school, and you’ll likely hear a number of them enthusiastically shout, “Recess!”… Read More >

Teen Connects Group Trots Over to Healing Reins to Support Nonprofit’s Holiday Celebration Last Saturday was giddy-up-and-go time for Teens Connect’s annual Season of Service, a spirited series of community volunteer events Camp Fire Central Oregon is offering to teens… Read More >

Our Incredible “Behind-the-Curtain” Wizard If you’ve been in the merry ole land of “Camp Fire Central Oregon” for a bit, you’ve likely met or at least heard of Melanie Feltmate (she/her), our resident “Wizard” behind Camp Fire’s curtain. Melanie has… Read More >

Sure, It’s Cold Outside. But We’re Reflecting on Hot Data From Summer! With 2024 coming to a close and plans in the works for next summer’s programs, Camp Fire Central Oregon has been reflecting on vital feedback and data from… Read More >

Colder temperatures. Less sunshine. Longer nights. When you add to that the collective holiday stress and anxiety exuded by many of the grown-ups in their lives, young people can feel particularly lost this time of year. We can learn a… Read More >