Local Camp Fire USA offers exciting summer programs By MATT ARMES Staff Writer
Middle and high school students interested in enjoying their upcoming summer vacation should look no further than Camp Fire USA.
As one of the nation's leading nonprofit youth development organizations, Camp Fire USA is offering several summer service and youth leadership programs.
"The Camp Fire USA Patuxent Area Council has a number of great service learning programs that are specifically designed for middle and high school teens," said executive director Rosemary Pezzuto.
"These programs help teens learn skills that will help them to complete their community service hours and prepare them for life," she added.
One of the popular summer programs is the Camp Fire Family Camp Weekend held at Elks Camp Barrett in Crownsville June 13-15, beginning at 6 p.m. Friday and ending at noon Sunday.
Pezzuto said that non-Camp Fire USA families are encouraged to participate in this brief summer option which offers light programming with the intention of helping families build stronger relationships.
Additionally, meals are also provided all day Saturday and breakfast Sunday, along with supervised swimming, arts and crafts projects, nature and hiking activities and evening campfires.
Families interested in attending the program are urged to apply before the May 31 deadline. The cost, which includes meals and lodging, is $45 per person.
For middle school students looking for something longer than a weekend, there's the Middle School Discovery Service Learning Program.
"From June 15 to Sept. 30, sixth- through ninth-graders can engage in formal training on service learning, workshops and create and design service-learning projects," Pezzuto said, adding that the program application deadline is June 10.
She said the 50-hour program could be completed as part of a project group or by participating in a partner agency that collaborates with Camp Fire to deliver the program.
The summer-long Counselor-in-Training Program, with a May 31 application deadline, should appeal to ninth- through 11th-graders. From mid-June to early August, high school students develop life skills through workshops and hands-on learning experiences.
"The camp days will consist of workshops, enrichment and team-building activities as well as the opportunity to participate in camper supervision and activities in an assigned group," Pezzuto said.
"In an atmosphere of fun and friendship, participants can develop as caring, confident youth and future leaders."
Aside from the exciting summer options, Camp Fire USA will offer high school students two more programs this summer that last all year: the Points of Light Youth Leadership Program and the Teen CERT Camp Program.
The Points of Light Leadership Program, which will also be held at the Elks Camp Barrett, will be held June 11-14 and can count for school service requirements.
"This program provides the caliber of leadership training typically available only to corporate executives and government leaders," Pezzuto said, adding that the application deadline is June 1.
She also said the program features a challenging series of lessons and exercises on community-needs analysis, goal setting and team building.
High school students also have the option of applying for the Teen CERT Camp and Program, before the June 1 deadline.
This second year-long program begins training participants June 29-July 3, with two exercise follow-up dates in July and August and involvement for one year as part of a school or community safety team.
Pezzuto said this program "educates students about disaster preparedness for hazards that may affect their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations."
She added that Teen CERT members are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.
For information about these programs, contact Camp Fire at campfirepatuxent@aol.com.
Founded in 1910, Camp Fire USA's outcome-based programs include youth leadership, self-reliance, after-school groups, camping and environmental education and childcare.
