CAMP FIRE USA SURVEYS SHOW POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR KIDS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
October 17, 2005 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT
Vanessa E. Adams
Communications Director
Telephone: 816 756 1950, ext. 206
E-mail: vanessa.adams@campfireusa.org

CAMP FIRE USA SURVEYS SHOW POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR KIDS
Surveys Show that Participation in Camp Fire USA Programs Helps Strengthen Families, Increase Commitment to Service, and Improve Behavior, Academic Readiness and Attitudes Toward Health

(Kansas City, Mo.) – Camp Fire USA is dedicated to its mission to build caring, confident youth and future leaders, and it's working. A survey of the 2004-2005 program year shows that children and families surveyed in Camp Fire USA programs are reaping the benefits—learning new skills, gaining confidence and preparing for adulthood.

Camp Fire USA curricula, whether used in after-school programs, small-group settings or Camp Fire's family strengthening program—Community Family Club—, provide 50 weeks of programming and hundreds of activities to ensure the accumulation of developmental assets and age-appropriate outcomes. Every activity is directly tied to measurable outcomes, which are measured each spring using an Outcome Measurement Tool Kit designed in collaboration with Formative Evaluation Research Associates (FERA), an independent evaluation research group based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Together with FERA, Camp Fire USA has created an overall evaluation framework for Camp Fire programming. This work developed survey instruments specific to the outcomes identified for youth in each program, while creating a comprehensive approach to evaluation.

"Measurable outcomes are one more thing that sets Camp Fire USA apart from the crowd of other youth development organizations," said Jill Pasewalk, Senior VP of Program and Field Services, Camp Fire USA. "This process helps us achieve our mission, determine if our programs are succeeding and see firsthand the impact that our programs have on youth, families and communities."

Highlights of the 2004-2005 surveys include:

Camp Fire USA builds caring youth

• 77% of youth surveyed said that participating in Community Family Club made their families stronger.
• 97% of youth surveyed (in grades K-2) learned the importance of helping people, and 94% surveyed said they can now make their community a better place.
• 89% of teens surveyed (in grades 9-12) said that being a member of Camp Fire USA has taught them to value people who are different from them in both culture and religious faith.

Camp Fire USA builds confident youth

• 82% of youth surveyed (in grades K-2) learned different ways to deal with negative peer pressure.
• 81% of youth surveyed (in grades 3-5) said that at Camp Fire USA, they use their imaginations to create things.

Camp Fire USA builds future leaders

• 90% of youth surveyed (in grades K-2) said that Camp Fire USA taught them to use words, not violence, to resolve conflicts.
• 86% of youth surveyed (in grades 3-5) say that at Camp Fire USA, they treat people with respect.
• 86% of teens surveyed (in grades 9-12) are preparing for adulthood and learning how to balance their health, family, school and community commitments.

"We are very excited about these results," said Pasewalk. "This information confirms that we're doing exactly what we've set out to do-help youth and families succeed."

For more exciting survey results, see the 2005 Camp Fire USA Outcome Measurement Report.

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Camp Fire USA is one of the nation's leading not-for-profit youth development organizations, currently serving nearly 750,000 participants annually. Founded in 1910 as "Camp Fire Girls," the contemporary, coeducational Camp Fire USA provides all-inclusive, outcome-based programs in hundreds of communities across the United States. By design, Camp Fire's programs, including small group experiences, after-school programs, Community Family Club, camping and environmental education, child care and service learning, build confidence in younger children and provide hands-on, youth-driven leadership experiences for older youth. For more information, visit www.campfireusa.org.

Using Camp Fire USA's Community Family Club program, parents and other caregivers are reconnected to their children's and teens' learning and social development. Through Community Family Clubs, children receive positive adult interaction-not only from parents but non-family teens and adults. Moreover, parents and other caregivers develop adult-adult relationships and support networks. As families, they are provided with access and referrals to critical services and resources: English language courses, how to take advantage of the Earned Income Tax Credit and other financial incentives for the working poor, connections to health services and more.