Find your spark with Camp Fire camps

It's business again as usual as Camp Fire Northwest Ohio gears up for summer. Interim executive director Jeff North and Christina Larson, operations director, said both resident camp and day camp sessions will be offered this summer at Camp Glen near Tiffin. Due to COVID-19, the schedule was limited to just day camp last year. Registration is now being accepted for sessions that start the week of June 6. Camp Fire membership is not required to attend camp. Larson said state health guidelines from the Responsible ReStart Ohio plan will be followed. Among these are the use of masks inside buildings, physical distancing by placing campers in smaller groups and limiting the number in sleeping areas, using physical barriers to break up larger buildings, hand washing and respiratory etiquette, and cleaning and maintaining healthy facilities. Despite the changes this year, youth can expect to see the return of traditional camp favorites like canoeing, fishing, aquatic study, archery and crafts. North, who also serves as camp director, said one of his favorite crafts involves finding a stick in the woods and turning it into a hiking stick. "We have wood-burners; they can burn their name on it. And then you've got something to take with you that has a lot of meaning to you. You built this stick. You made this stick," he said. These kinds of activities teach both "hard" and "soft" skills, he noted. "We're teaching them a hard skill. We're teaching how to canoe with someone. We're teaching archery. We're teaching crafts and nature and things like that. Those are the hard skills, we'd say. But then I'd say the purpose behind it is for the kids to be picking up soft skills as well," said North. These include learning how to communicate and negotiate within a group, and learning how to be assertive without being aggressive, he explained. "It's all those communication skills and those social and emotional connections." Ron Martin will serve as summer camp director this year. He and his wife, Bev, previously hosted "Reach for the Stars" camp in the Tiffin area from 2001-07. Two types of camping opportunities are available. Resident camp is for ages 7-12 who come and stay in cabins for six days, while day campers spend the day at Camp Glen and then return home each night. Resident camp is being offered June 6-11, June 20-25 and July 11-16. The cost is $350 per week, which includes a $15 credit to the camp store. Day camp weeks are July 7-11, June 14-18, June 21-25 and June 28-July 2. The cost is $150 per week, and financial assistance is available for those who qualify. Day campers also have the opportunity to spend a night during the week so they get a taste of what resident camp is like. Larson said the camping program is designed to transition. "Our goal is to have a kid who maybe is 5 and 6 attend day camp. If they can handle that overnight, that's great. Then we want them to register for resident camp the next week or the next year," she said. "That Thursday night overnight is to help them get used to what it will be like." North said there's also an opportunity for campers to sleep under the stars. "At some point in time, we lay out tarps and if the weather's great and the mosquitoes aren't too crazy, we will give an opportunity to have a choice. They can stay in the cabin or your group can get out the tarps and lay out on sleeping bags and watch the stars," he said. Once campers age out of the traditional camping program, they have a chance to work as counselors in training, said Larson. "Basically, it's another leadership program and it teaches them all that same stuff in hopes that when they turn 17 we will hire them as staff," she said. Camp Glen was established in 1959 as the summer camp for the No-We-Oh Council of the Camp Fire Girls. It is named for Glenna Donnell, who had donated the land. "So Camp Fire then really was the organization to be part of if you were in that generation," said North. There is an alumni association of women who have had two reunions since North has been involved with the organization. "It is so neat when they all get together, and they have such fond memories of their youth development time," he said. "They are very passionate about something that was so important to them in their youth, and they want to pass it on." Camp Glen and its staff can also be rented by other youth and adult organizations for retreats and camps. 'Resiliency and grit' In addition to summer camp and traditional clubs, Camp Fire offers school programs. These are based on the Thrive program that was developed by the Search Institute, a nonprofit organization that studies and works to strengthen youth success in schools, coalitions, youth and family organizations, and the faith community. North has presented the program to third- and fifth-graders in Tiffin City Schools. He said the third-grade program is called "Caution Without Fear" and helps children develop a positive self-esteem, grit, empathy, coping skills and goal setting, while fifth-graders learn about positive self-esteem and the necessary tools to help manage their behavior. "But the Search Institute's big thing is resiliency and grit, overcoming problems, developing life strategies and finding your spark," he said. Finding your spark, said North, is about finding your passion. "And I share my passion with the kids," he said. "I always talk about Camp Glen and being outdoors and camping and nature. I said, 'That's my passion. I love it and that's been my whole career. So getting you guys outside is my passion. That's my spark. So what's your spark?'" "So we're a youth development organization, not just a summer camp," he added. "We are using validated research to show how we develop this grit in our kids to overcome things, and that's our whole purpose. That's why we exist." Larson said they plan to expand the program into the county schools. "We have a program from kindergarten up until 12th grade. Generally we've been focusing, because of staffing, on older elementary and middle school. But I've taught programs in preschool classes. It's totally adaptable," she said. Camp Fire Northwest Ohio has also facilitated Fostoria's Safety Town for the past 10 years. The event, for children ages 4-6, will be held from 9 a.m. to noon June 14-18 at the Great Lakes Community Action Partnership Early Learning Center, 801 Kirk St., Fostoria. Registration is open now for camp and Safety Town, and can be made at https://campfirenwohio.com/. For financial assistance, call the Camp Fire office at 419-422-5415.