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FIRESIDE NEWS Camp Fire

GULF WIND, INC. October-November-December 2015 PENSACOLA, FL

Merry Christmas &

Happy New Year!

Did you know that Camp Fire will be

106 years old in March 2016?

Founded in 1910, Camp Fire for Girls has endured many of society’s changes, and continues to empower our youth today, including boys. Through the use of youth developmental assets and flexible programs, today’s youth still find Camp Fire to be relevant and fun. Each year Camp Fire participates in a Program Quality Assessment to measure outcomes and look for ways to improve program delivery and maintain the health and safety of our facilities and program delivery. We love our youth and work hard to maintain the best learning environment for them. This trend is what keeps Camp Fire in our hearts and that of our alumni. As Camp Fire moves forward in 2016, we look to expand our role in the community. With the help of civic organizations, staff and parents, we plan to engage children in exciting activities with the Youth Community Club program. Camp Fire encourages families to get involved with their children through fun family activities and group events. As always, each Center has special activities that parents are invited to attend with their children. In 2016, Camp Fire invites kids and their families to participate in the Salute to Veterans Valentine’s Day and Absolutely Incredible Kid Day© in March. Look for new happenings and summer camp programs at Camp Fire. There is always something fun and interesting happening at Camp Fire! For more information about ages, activities, schedules and pricing, please contact each center.

Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Center 850-256-0953 Camp Fire PSC Child Development Center 850-484-1524

Camp Fire Headquarters 850-476-1760

Light the fire within!

Camp Fire Kids & Kazoo sing at the Parade of Trees.

Kazoo and Camp Fire Chorus sing Christmas Carols.

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CALENDAR & EVENTS

Community Youth Club

The Camp Fire Youth Club program is open to children of any age and offers a mix

of fun activities, projects, events and experiences to help develop planning and

decision-making skills. Children will have the opportunity to develop skills related to

their individual interests. Children will work in teams and individually as they get

involved in service projects, which will help them become responsible citizens who

are concerned about their community and society.

Camp Fire Gulf Wind is committed to our promise to help youth lift their voices and shape the world, to light the

fire within, and to help them develop to their fullest potential! To join the Youth Club or for more information,

contact the Pat Madison at 850-476-1760 or email pmadison@cfgulfwind.org.

2016 VPK Enrollment in March!

Camp Fire currently has enrollment available for all ages.

Beginning in March, Camp Fire will have open enrollment for our upcoming

2016-2017 VPK program at Century Youth Learning Center and the Child

Development Center at PSC. To qualify your child must be 4 years old by

Sept 1, 2016. You must show proof of child's age with a birth certificate or

shot record and show proof of address. Camp Fire kids enjoy fun, learning

activities with dedicated teachers.

Upcoming Dates and Reminders

JANUARY

1/1-1/31 National mentoring Month 1/1 New Year’s Day – Camp Fire Closed 1/18 Martin Luther King Day - Holiday 1/26 Camp Fire Gulf Wind Annual Meeting FEBRUARY

2/1-2/28 Black History Month 2/14 Valentine’s Day 2/14 Salute to Veterans – National

Camp Fire Project 2/17 President’s Day - Holiday MARCH

3/1-3/31 National Women’s History Month 3/13 Daylight Saving Time Begins –

Turn clocks ahead 1 hour 3/13 -19 Camp Fire 106th Birthday Week 3/15 National Camp Fire Absolutely Incredible Kid Day 3/20 First Day of Spring 3/27 Easter Sunday

Camp Fire Salute to Veterans!

In 1978, Camp Fire issued a call to citizens to

volunteer at a Veteran’s Administration (VA)

hospital or outpatient clinic, performing a wide

variety of tasks including sending or delivering

cards to veterans at the nearest medical center.

This call to action has become the National Salute

to Veterans, held in conjunction with the

Department of Veteran’s Affairs and observed the

week of Valentine’s Day.

Today, the call continues with Camp Fire youth

locally expressing sentiments of caring and

sharing in order to honor and appreciate our

Country’s Veterans and local Law Enforcement.

Camp Fire youth salute the men and women of

who serve our country by sending valentines to the

local Veteran’s hospital and Law Enforcement.

Should you have any questions, please contact

Pat Madison by at pmadison@cfgulfwind.org.

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In the News for 2015 . . .

Camp Fire Motto: Give Service.

Trike-A-Thon

The children at Century Youth Learning Center recently held their seventh annual Trike-A-Thon in support of St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital last week. The children not only raised money for St. Jude; they also learned about trike safety and the importance of helping others.

Salute to Veterans

In November, the students at Longleaf Elementary After-

School created thank you cards for our local Veterans. The

children share their heartfelt thanks for the sacrifices the

Veterans had given to our country. These cards were

delivered to the Veterans at the local Veteran’s Hospital.

Thanksgiving Celebration

All the centers held a Thanksgiving celebration for children and their parents. At the Child Development Centers, children dressed as Pilgrims or Native Americans, enjoyed a full Thanksgiving meal following special Thanksgiving activities.

Camp Fire – Christmas Parade

Camp Fire kids and families participated in the Pensacola

Christmas Parade on December 12, 2015. They enjoyed the

festive atmosphere and beautiful holiday lights. This year,

Camp Fire had a float for children to ride along the parade

route, while parents threw candy to the crowds. The children

did a fantastic job of sharing the holiday spirit.

For more photos, visit us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Camp-Fire-Gulf-Wind-Inc-

1516028308662287/?ref=hl.

Camp Fire, rising to tomorrow’s challenge!

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In the News for 2015 . . .

Camp Fire 3rd Annual Parade of Trees

The 3nd Annual Camp Fire Parade of Trees, was held on November 18-20, 2015. Pen Air Federal Credit Union graciously provided the space at their downtown branch. Many visitors enjoyed the uniquely decorated Christmas trees and wreaths. The Pearl Peacock created by The Cabaret received Best in Show, Most Unique and People’s Choice Award for 1st Place. Frosted Gold tree, created by Clara Long, was selected as Most Traditional and The Grinch wreath, created by Century Youth Learning Center, received People’s Choice Award for 1st Place. All the trees and wreaths sold went to benefit Camp Fire youth development programs, such as the Youth Club, Teen

in Action, and Baby Think It Over. Thank you to the many gifted designers, generous sponsors, dedicated volunteers and fantastic

staff, who shared their talents during the Parade of Trees, thus, creating a festive atmosphere filled

with joy. We appreciate all the hard work, enthusiasm and support from the community.

For more photos visit us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ParadeOfTreesPensacola?ref=hl.

Thank you to all our generous sponsors!

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LEARNING CENTERS & AFTER-SCHOOL NEWS

Century kids meet Community Helpers.

Longleaf kids enjoy reading.

Camp Fire kids like decorating gingerbread men.

Century Youth Learning Center

The children had a wonderful Thanksgiving Play and dinner after the

play. We performed the play for the residents at the Century

Rehabilitation Center with the children appearing in the Pensacola

News Journal on Thanksgiving Day and on North Escambia .com.

For Christmas, the children made gifts for all their moms and dads.

The children went Christmas Caroling at the Century Rehabilitation

Center on December 15th and on December 18th, the children

enjoyed a Christmas party with a visit from Santa.

In January, we will be learning about winter and doing a lot of science

experiments in class. We will also be doing our AP and VPK Gold

Assessments on all the children during this month. In February, we

will be learning about ground hog day, Presidents Day, and Black

History.

PSC Child Development Center

In October and November, the two-year olds and the VPK children learned about clouds, trees and pumpkins. Also, the children enjoyed the new sand boxes that were put together by volunteers at the United Way Day of Caring. Parents and their children sat down and shared Thanksgiving dinner with the fixings. December was a busy month, with holiday crafts, the Pensacola Christmas Parade and a visit from Santa Claus.

As the New Year begins, the children will be learning about winter,

Martin Luther King Jr. and Black History month. In February, the

children will create their special Valentine cards for the Veterans to

be delivered to the Veteran’s Hospital and Law Enforcement. March

is a great month, because the Camp Fire children celebrate

Absolutely Incredible Kid Day®.

Longleaf After-School Program

During the fall, the children read many books, played board

games and worked on homework. They created wonderful

Halloween crafts and thank you cards to be given to the Veterans

at the VA hospital. In December, the holiday spirit could be felt as

the children created holiday crafts and visited with Santa.

In January, the students will learn about Martin Luther King Jr. and

winter. Come February, they will explore Black History month and

create more cards for the Salute to Veterans and Law

Enforcement. The after-schoolers really enjoy March with

Absolutely Incredible Kid Day® and Spring Break.

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CAMP FIRE CORE VALUES

Children and youth are our most precious

resources.

We believe in an approach to youth development

that builds assets and empowers individuals.

We believe that the best youth development

occurs in small groups where children and youth

are actively involved in creating their own learning.

We are committed to co-education, providing

opportunity for boys, girls, and families together.

We provide caring, trained, mentors to work with

children and youth.

We are inclusive, welcoming children, youth and

adults regardless of age, religion, socioeconomic

status, disability, or other aspects of diversity.

We respect and celebrate Nature.

We foster leadership, engaging children and youth

to give service and make decisions in a democratic

society.

We provide safe, fun, and nurturing environments

for children and youth.

We enrich parents and other adult lives by

expanding their skills and encouraging them to

share their talents and to build relationships with

children and youth.

We respond to community needs with our

programs and expertise.

We advocate on behalf of children, youth and

families.

Developing Youth to Their Full Potential

Camp Fire’s passion and purpose is to develop youth to their

full potential. We are able to accomplish this by providing

programs to youth through our community.

Camp Fire youth engage in a fun, environmental summer

program which introduces the campers to Florida wildlife and

conservation.

Yes, I want to help develop young people to their full

potential and support the environmental summer camp

program.

If you would like to help with the development of youth,

please complete the form below and return it to:

Camp Fire Gulf Wind, Inc.

1814 Creighton Road

Pensacola, Florida 32504-7212

Enclosed is my tax-deductible gift for: ____ $25 _____ $50

_____ $75 ____ Other $_________

This gift is in honor of:_____________________________

Please send an acknowledgement to:

Name_________________________ Phone:________________

Company Name_______________________________________

Address_____________________________________________

City__________________________ State:_____ Zip:_________

Email_______________________________________________

Are you a Camp Fire Alumni? _____ YES _____ NO

New/Increased gift Please list my gift as anonymous Please restrict my gift for: ______________________________(purpose/program) I would like more information about Camp Fire. I would like information about volunteer opportunities with Camp Fire.

Camp Fire Gulf Wind, Inc. thanks you for your support.

Published and produced by:

CAMP FIRE GULF WIND, INC. 1814 Creighton Road

Pensacola, FL 32534-7212 850-476-1760

Fax 850-476-6614

info@cfgulfwind.org

www.campfirekids.com

Have some special news you would like to share with

Camp Fire? Contact Pat Madison at the office at

pmadison@cfgulfwind.org.

Camp Fire Motto: Give Service