Camp Fire Heart of Iowa has been impacting youth development for over a century through groundbreaking work within their camps and programs, creating social change throughout the country through inclusivity and leadership. This is achieved by placing campers—the youth—first, acknowledging that every human comes from a different situation with a different background. Camp Fire has provided equitable opportunities for families and youth to be empowered.
Camp Fire Heart of Iowa has been impacting youth development for over a century through groundbreaking work within their camps and programs, creating social change throughout the country through inclusivity and leadership.
Camp Fire Heart of Iowa dedicates itself to youth empowerment and self-discovery, with its mission being “Growing up is hard, that's why Camp Fire connects young people to the outdoors, to others, and to themselves.” Discovering myself as a Camp Fire alumna from Camp Hantesa, I was able to find my voice and passion for leadership. I learned that I could successfully fail—meaning I could learn from my mistakes, try again, and do better. Nowhere else in the world did I feel as safe as at Camp, nowhere else where I could be authentic and successful without the fear of ultimate failure. Because of Camp and the opportunities it opened for me, I stand as the leader I am today.
Because of Camp and the opportunities it opened for me, I stand as the leader I am today.
As a fellow, one of the things I have been helping Camp Fire Iowa with is to create a Youth Advisory Board that will advise the Board of Directors on youth issues, find causes, and develop change in their communities through service, learning, and leadership. I will guide the teens in learning how to be leaders and how to make change in their communities. My job is to help them discover who they are as leaders and how to be powerful yet empathetic. The participants will make change in their communities not as leaders of tomorrow but as leaders of today, with the help of Camp Fire staff, alumni, and myself, through challenge, growth, and community building.
The youth advisory board will assist teens in creating their own solutions and action plans to impact and improve their community. They will continue to serve throughout the year to ensure that they can make the most impact they can. Camp Fire teens and youth are the future leaders of today. We continue to provide opportunities and encouragement to ensure that they have the resources and ability to succeed.
We understand that being a leader in today’s world is a scary thing because there are so many ways to be a leader. There are so many big questions we ask of our youth to engage them in groundbreaking conversations, such as “What is the biggest problem facing youth today?” This question always gets different answers; however, one thing that I have noticed is that the youth who advocate and talk about youth issues are passionate and willing to make change.
This past summer, I asked a group of teens to challenge themselves by taking a canoe trip with me. They were faced with several obstacles such as little water, thigh-deep mud, and a cliff that separated them from the campsite. They overcame these challenges by thinking together, pushing for a solution, communicating, and persevering through anything that came in their way. They were still invigorated, enthusiastic, and eager for more. These kids are a great example that our youth are willing and ready to take on any challenge, no matter the scale. The Camp Fire youth are overflowing with enthusiasm and a fervent commitment to make a difference.
The Camp Fire youth are overflowing with enthusiasm and a fervent commitment to make a difference.
Understanding that youth want to be a part of a solution to major issues, we see that when youth are provided a safe space and adults that are there to help, they can and will create solutions to problems in their community. In the article “Interweaving Youth Development, Community, and Social Change through Youth Organizing,” there is a lot of understanding that youth need a safe place to talk about issues on different levels—Community, globally, or even personally. “Youth organizing facilitates youth development through social action processes in which youth operate as wielders and challengers of power in their local communities.” By providing that at camp, we are able to generate a safe environment that encourages new thinking, the ability to make mistakes, and lead with passion. The Camp Fire youth are provided these spaces through different programs, including the Youth Advisory Board.