Our Incredible "Behind-the-Curtain" Wizard

Melanie Feltmate with Camp Fire youth in the background.

A throwback picture to 2018, when Melanie Feltmate led the Outing Club for Camp Fire Central Oregon.

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 not only got a lot of amazing sparks, but she's a true gift to our organization and the participants we serve. Her energy is boundless. Her attitude and positive perspectives are sky-high. And her unwavering commitment to the betterment of program and staff cultures is out of this world. She epitomizes the success that manifests when folks find their "sparks" and align their personal and professional values around those unique skills and talents. Want to know more about our marvelous Melanie

Q: Tell us about your personal and professional background, your role here with us—and what drew you to join Camp Fire?
A: My Pre-Camp Fire background is mostly in environmental education. Straight out of college I moved to the Caribbean island of St. Croix and spent 6 years working as a leatherback sea turtle educator, tropical botanical garden educator, marine park educator, and nature conservancy outreach specialist. I even started my own non-profit, Reef Jam, an annual music festival that fundraised money to support marine education on the island. When I moved back to the states, I traded in my warm turquoise ocean water for cold green river water and continued sharing environmental stewardship values through my work as a professional whitewater rafting guide on wild and scenic rivers in Colorado and Oregon, which brought me to Bend. I'm always seeking opportunities to champion community and the environment, so I was immediately attracted to Camp Fire's missionand values. I started with Camp Fire as a part-time teen programs coordinator hired to create a teen "outing club." My role grew as I took on outreach and then grant writing for the company and then eventually rolled all of that knowledge into the Program Director position.

Melanie Feltmate shows a tiny leatherback sea turtle to youth in the Caribbean.

Q: What is your role as Program Director?
A: As Program Director, I am very much the wizard behind the curtain supporting the coordinators and direct-service staff that really make the magic happen. I work on strategic partnerships with our national office and other community organizations, I coordinate collection and analysis of program quality data and then work with the team to turn that into regular improvement plans. I am constantly dreaming big yet zooming in at the same time to help our progams team identify and stick to goals that sustain and support both our youth and our staff's well-being. I am a strong believer that when staff feel safe and supported, they are able to lead and learn which in turn creates the same thriving environment for our youth.

woman on a paddle board

Melanie Feltmate shares paddleboarding—her spark—with her toddler!

Q: What are your sparks?
A: I'm a passionate yogi, practicing for almost 20 years and teaching for 10. I am also an avid traveler. I spent 6 months traveling solo across the United States, six months studying abroad in Australia, six months traveling and teaching yoga in hostels in Nicaragua, one month backpacking in Peru, and other smaller jaunts in the Philippines, Italy, various Caribbean islands and Bali. I'm a theater kid at heart: I love opportunities to dress up and perform, have an incredibly corny sense of humor, and often break out into song. Water: whitewater rafting, SUP boarding, SUP yoga, SCUBA diving. Reading tarot cards: I started out practicing my reading skills by doing readings at the local pub for anyone who would buy me a beer. Now I'm regularly sought out for yoga retreats! Puzzles: logic puzzles, crosswords, heck strings that are tied in a knot—I love solving complex problems! Oh and bugs, I fancy myself an amateur entomologist.

Q: What are your future goals—professional and personal?
A: Personally, I am working on perfecting my annual Christmas cheesecake recipe and getting my toddler to safely ride on the SUP with me. Professionally, I'm working on unpacking my access to power and privilege, exploring how to create an equitable company culture where all people can show up and participate as their authentic selves.

Before Melanie Feltmate (far right) was Programs Director, she served in a variety of roles, initially heading up teen programs.

Q: What's your favorite part of working with youth (or, in your case, working for an organization that helps youth thrive)?
A: My first summer with Camp Fire, in 2018, I felt comfortable to show my goofy, bubble-loving, bright self and people saw, named and nurtured that for me as an adult by giving me the camp name "Bubbles." I find that story really sums up the camp experience and the atmosphere we try to create every day for both young people and staff. Literally everything we learn about working with kids also applies to fostering adult friendships and relationships. My favorite part of this job is that everything we learn is relatable outside of work, too.

Melanie Feltmate, Program Director, gets ready to serve dozens of birthday cake slices to youth on Absolutely Incredible Kid Day, a national event honoring Camp Fire and all children everywhere!

Q: Why does your job—and Camp Fire—matter?
A: Growth mindset and spark discovery are so powerful. Gosh, I wish I understood these concept when I was young. I think back to all the sports and extracurriculars I tried and quit because I wasn't "the best" no matter how much I enjoyed them. Had just one person told me it was about the effort and not the end result, who knows what passions I would have pursued. Instead I labeled myself a "jack of all trades but master of none" and struggled to pursue hobbies as a kid. I think about that every day when I interact with my toddler now and help her navigate the world. Our words matter, and being a trusted adult who can help young people see things from a different perspective can literally change someone's life trajectory.