Connecting Kids to Sparks: Sam Ward's Journey to Leadership at Camp Fire Central Oregon 

Sam Ward leads a long line of cheerful campers.

Program Manager Sam Ward takes an active leadership role in helping countless youth find their sparks!

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 discovery. A long-time outdoor adventurer, Sam—whose camp name is "RAAAAAAAAAAAA"—is deeply passionate about bringing people together to build meaningful relationships with the natural world and helping kids find their sparks! Want to know more about our sensational, spark-inspiring Sam? Read on!

Q: Tell us about your personal and professional background, your role here with us—and what drew you to join Camp Fire?
A: Eight fateful years ago, a friend invited me to work at a Boy Scout camp in Ohio, and the summer that followed as the Waterfront Director there quickly brought me to the realization that I am very much a “camp person.” I spent several months leading river trips and teaching ecology, which served both to reignite my love of the outdoors and strengthen my ability to inspire this same curiosity in others. This led me to my next role teaching outdoor education here in Central Oregon as a field instructor. For several years, I introduced little hands to bark beetle trails, evidence of wildfires, and exciting macroinvertebrates. In 2021, my career path led me to an interview with Camp Fire Central Oregon to become the Camp Fire Afterschool (CFA) Program Coordinator. I immediately fell in love with our organization’s strong dedication to inclusive programs, the overall commitment and culture of our team here, and the genuine care for connecting kids to their passions. After about a year in this position, I took on the more complex role as the Program Manager overseeing our STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math) and Bend CFA programs. Now, as a program manager, I’m thrilled to continue to foster a love of discovery and inclusion in the next generation—as well as within our staff teams. 

Sam Ward (right) gives Memphis Menser (left), a summer staff member, guidance around a Tumalo Day Camp activity.

Q: What is your role as Program Manager?
A: My role as program manager is to create and support our STEAM and Bend Afterschool programs. Our STEAM programs range from environmental education camps—like ExplORegon and Ecology Engineers—to robotics and coding opportunities, such as our competitive FIRST® LEGO® League teams. Meanwhile, at CFA, you may find youth tinkering with an engineering kit, learning about kinetic energy, recreating the Northern Lights with salt and watercolors, or playing a community themed board game that they designed themselves. In the summer, I am very involved with our amazing Tumalo Day Camp by supporting volunteers and Counselors in Training. I manage pieces such as budgets, training and hiring, along with supporting our incredible program coordinators with their curriculum development and schedule design. In that capacity, I am thrilled to have the privilege of creating and facilitating trainings for our teams that bring people together, encourage the practice of cultivating empathy, and define developmental relationships.

Sam holds Winter, her dog.

Sam Ward has a new spark in her cute puppy, "Winter"!

Q: What are your sparks?
A: I enjoy making art, exploring outside, traveling the world, and making delicious food with friends. I also love to problem-solve, and designing systems that increase efficiency (especially if they are beautifully color-coded) is truly exciting for me. This fits perfectly with my role here at Camp Fire! Oh, and I have new spark—a precious pup named "Winter."

Q: What are your future goals—professional and personal?
A: I am currently working toward a degree in environmental science, and my future goals are to support cities and governments with sustainable practices and to continue to create connections between these practices and the youth that will benefit from them generationally.

Q: What's your favorite part of working with youth?
A: I love listening to youth’s ideas and finding ways to uplift their knowledge and curiosity. They are so willing to talk and connect with anyone willing to listen, and it matters so much to find ways that they can share their ideas and truly be heard!

Program Manager Sam Ward at Tumalo Day Camp, 2024.

Summer 2024 flashback: Program Manager Sam Ward at Tumalo Day Camp.

Q: Why does your job—and Camp Fire—matter?
A: My dedication to working with youth stems from a deep desire to support healthy developmental relationships and to curate spaces for young people where they can learn from and be cared for by safe, responsible grown ups. Once that foundation is established, young minds can begin to learn, grow and find sparks of their own. Our goal is for youth in our programs to find their confidence and begin to form valuable friendships as they participate in fun, engaging activities together. Connecting youth to themselves, each other, and the outdoors is the foundation of this practice, and each day we see kiddos grow and thrive together in our programs. It’s truly a joy to be a part of this magical experience. 

My work matters both for the kiddos who get to experience new, exciting things because of Camp Fire and for the staff who work with us and may find their passion in the process—or be inspired to continue pursuing it. I’m so grateful to get to work with our team that tirelessly dedicates themselves to showing up each day to create these programs for our youth, and being able to support them and work with them towards their career goals is such a privilege!