Camp Fire Goes to Roosevelt
Posted: February 15th, 2007
Camp Fire USA initiates After-School program at Roosevelt Elementary School thanks to a Grant from the Iowa West Foundation.
February 15, 2007 — Camp Fire USA, Council of the Midlands, will launch After-School at Roosevelt, a nationally-recognized educational program at Roosevelt Elementary School in Southwest Iowa this Spring. Thanks to a gift from the Iowa West Foundation, the Midlands Council will serve 30 children, ages 5 through 12, three afternoons per week at the school.
“At Camp Fire, we address the so-called ‘3-6 challenge’ – those unsupervised hours after school which pose a vulnerable time for many children,” Camp Fire Program Manager Katie Bakhit said. “After-School at Roosevelt will advance our mission of serving kids from all backgrounds through purposeful educational activities.”
According to Roosevelt Principal Terri McClure, one of the toughest parts of the day is marked by the 3:30 p.m. bell when the school must shut its doors to students. “They want nothing more than to stay here,” she said. Through an Iowa West grant of $20,000, Camp Fire will help make this happen.
Camp Fire provides innovative after-school learning opportunities for kids who might otherwise be at home alone or on the streets. Using a results-based curriculum, the agency focuses on academic excellence, community service and civic leadership, peer relations, healthy lifestyles through nutrition and physical activity and prevention education.
“Camp Fire is distinct from other youth-serving organizations in that we take our proven educational programs where the need is greatest,” said Penny Parker, Executive Director at Camp Fire, Midlands Council. “We are deeply grateful to the Iowa West Foundation for making this initiative possible.”
The Iowa West Foundation, which is headquartered in Council Bluffs, announced $3.3 million in grants for the fourth quarter of 2006. The grants will be used to assist 45 non-profit organizations and government programs. The mission of the Iowa West Foundation is to improve lives and strengthen communities for future generations by providing leadership, creating partnerships, leveraging resources and serving as a catalyst in identifying and supporting community needs. For more information about the Foundation, visit www.iowawestfoundation.org.
Camp Fire USA, Council of the Midlands, has advanced to become a national and local leader in co-educational youth development. Beyond beads and badges, the Camp Fire of today serves nearly 20,000 boys and girls from kindergarten through high school across eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa. For more information about Camp Fire USA, visit www.campfireomaha.org.
