Compass SUMMER 2015
Meet the New President/CEO Absolutely Incredible Kid Luncheon Camper Spotlights
Letter from Ann:
Meet the New President/CEO The first few weeks in a new job can be exciting, scary, and overwhelming – just to name a few of the things I have felt since the first of July. Although I’ve been employed here for thirtyeight years, stepping into the role of President/ CEO has meant seeing this council in a very different way. With that change in perspective, I have had the chance to see many of our programs first hand and to visit with most of the board of directors individually, all of whom have been enthusiastic about where we are headed as an organization. When asked about the opportunities for Camp Fire First Texas in the near future, board members have mentioned a variety of things – expansion of child care quality-related training, growth in after school programming, and opportunities for a multitude of programs at El Tesoro. We have a bright future ahead! This would not have been possible without the long, successful and influential leadership of Zem Neill, who retired at the end of June after having been the President/CEO of Camp Fire First Texas since 1978. During Zem’s tenure, First Texas grew from a council focusing on two programs (club and camp) with twelve staff to a multi-program agency with a hundred staff. Zem’s influence on the youth and families in this area has been far-reaching and her leadership was felt throughout the Camp Fire system as a trainer, conference presenter and national board member. Her accomplishments included leading three major capital campaigns which resulted in outstanding facilities for both the local headquarters and at El Tesoro. She has left us with a legacy of attention to detail and an unrelenting quest for quality in all that we do. Thank you, Zem, for your years of service, for your vision and for guiding the growth and impact of Camp Fire First Texas. You will be missed! Together with outstanding volunteers and a great staff team, we are looking forward to continuing the legacy of innovation and excellence at Camp Fire First Texas. WoHeLo,
Ann Sheets President/CEO 2 Compass Summer 2015
Fare Thee Well One June 2, community members, friends, volunteers and colleagues congratulated Zem Neill on her retirement from Camp Fire
First Texas after 37 years as President/CEO. The event was held at River Crest Country Club, which held special significance, as it was also the location of Zem’s interview for the CEO job in 1978. Lauri Cutis Hadobas, Board Chairman, announced that the headquarters building will be renamed the “Zem Neill Camp Fire Resource Center for Youth Development” in honor of her outstanding contributions during her tenure. Congratulations and best wishes to Zem!
Cathy Tisdale, President and CEO Camp Fire National Headquarters and Zem Neill
Camp Fire Event Planning Committee with Zem
Ribbon Cutting at New Cabins On July 15, Camp El Tesoro welcomed Guy Mabee, from the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation, and David Nolet and Sarah Topham of J.P. Morgan Private Bank representing the Joe & Jesse Crump Foundation, to cut the ribbon on two new cabins their support made possible. From left to right: Guy Mabee, Sarah Topham and David Nolet
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Summer 2015
Summer Highlights Camper Spotlights Below are camper stories that have been featured in the Camp Fire blog. Learn more about each of our Camper Spotlights and what camp means to them by reading more at CampFireFW.org.
Olivia is a thirdyear El Tesoro camper whose love for camp reaches back an entire generation.”
Ramiro lives more than 400 miles away from Camp Fire, but that doesn’t stop him from being an El Tesoro Camper.”
Camp El Tesoro Partners to Create Memories For the third year, Camp Fire partnered with the Presbyterian Night Shelter to offer a unique camp experience for homeless children and youth. Each camper receives a fully stocked camp trunk of items that they picked out packed with what they needed to enjoy camp.
Raising of America Screening Camp Fire, together with the Miles Foundation, Texas Association for Infant Mental Health (TAIMH), Lena Pope, United Way of Tarrant County, Educational Alignment for Young Children, Rainwater Charitable Foundation and Community Foundation of North Texas is helping to facilitate ongoing discussions about early childhood education and quality in our community through the Raising of America film series. Check out theraisingofamerica.org to watch the full series!
AmeriCorps VISTA Joins Camp Fire this Summer
Taylor’s favorite Parker County Day Camp field trip had him feeling like one of the pros.”
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Camp Fire partnered with AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers to help provide an extra helping hand for all of our summer youth. Two VISTA workers, Thomas and Brianna, worked out of Camp Fire Diamond Hill Station. They assisted with activities and programming stemming from Camp Fire’s core values of WoHeLo (work, health, love). Both Brianna and Thomas say they enjoy working with VISTA because it allows them to do what they really love – work with children. As incoming college freshmen,
both volunteers are grateful for the opportunity to develop and refine their skills and appreciate the amount of responsibility the program has instilled in them. Janice, our third VISTA worker, had the opportunity to work with our Step Up youth. A senior at Texas Tech, Janice was excited to partner with Camp Fire because it has given her the opportunity to work with older youth. She has taken to the Camp Fire message of “finding your spark” and enjoys being a spark champion to youth.
From the Cover Sam Teagarden is one of this year’s Absolutely Incredible Kids that will be featured at the luncheon. He may be young, but through his actions he shows that your age does not determine the kind of difference you can make. Learn more about Sam, and the other Absolutely Incredible Kids, at this year’s luncheon. Details are on page 2. Sam is featured on the cover with his older brother, Max.
Fall Activities are Here! Fall Camping on Fall Creek Save the date of October 23-25 for the annual Fall Camping on Fall Creek weekend. Camp favorites such as archery, hiking, canoeing and s’mores are on the agenda along with special programming for the Pre-K set. Plus! With six new cabins added this year, more guests will be able to enjoy the updated facilities. Registration is now available. See you there!
After School Programs Get Ready for Back-to-School Camp Fire is getting ready to go back to school with our after school program. Each of our seven locations provide programs that go beyond being a safe place, but excel at providing nurturing environments that help youth develop life-long skills to connect with one another, identify their goals and map out how to achieve them! Registration opened in August.
Texas Parks and Wildlife – BOW Event Camp El Tesoro was chosen as one of the 2015 host sights for the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program offered by
TDPW. Workshops span a weekend and are divided into four sessions. Class topics are diverse such as: shooting sports, fishing, kayaking, and non-harvest activities like birdwatching and plant identification. As much as possible the classes are taught with the “hands-on” approach. More information and registration details are available on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.
Child Care Locator Support is Only One Call Away Fall is a key time for families to look for early childhood programs, after school options or other child-centered services. One call to Camp Fire Resource & Referral connects them with a specialist who will help identify options for care based on the criteria of the parent/guardian. As an added bonus, they are provided resources to better navigate the sometimes daunting task of selecting safe, quality care for their children. One call to 817831-2111 is all that is needed.
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Your Next Shopping Trip Could Benefit Camp Fire Since 2014 by participating in shopping card donation programs Camp Fire First Texas has received more than $950 and 2015 isn’t even over. Help Camp Fire programs while you shop by taking advantage of these rewards programs Camp Fire First Texas is linked to. I bet you’ll see some retailers YOU know.
Tom Thumb If you have a Tom Thumb rewards card, link the Camp Fire Good Neighbor number (2742) to your card. Just stop by customer service at your local Tom Thumb store to complete! Kroger Add Camp Fire as your Community Rewards organization (number is 84338) at customer service or online at krogercommunityrewards.com.
smile.amazon.com When you shop at AmazonSmile, Amazon
donates 0.5% of the purchase price to Camp Fire First Texas. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same Amazon as you would expect, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to Camp Fire. Type this link into your browser to get started: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/75-0851201.
Step Up Step Up youth had a busy summer full of volunteer projects, educational activities and field trips. Once a week, the group met to discuss Camp Fire Thrive{ology} and learned to apply the theories to their lives as students. They learned about finding their spark, creating a growth mindset, building goal management skills and the importance of reflection. On Fridays, the high school group held true to the WoHeLo values of Camp Fire and visited local Fort Worth hot-spots for volunteer activities. Our group sorted food at the Tarrant Area Food Bank for families in need, planted flowers at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden and received job training from the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. During one of their meetings, Councilman Sal Espino met with the youth and shared his special connection with North Fort Worth and stressed the importance of education. Many participants said they enjoyed coming to Step Up every week because it is their “safe place.”
Special Guests Visit Diamond Hill Station TCU Head Coach, Gary Patterson, made a special visit to the youth at Camp Fire Diamond Hill Station Summer Day Camp. He shared with them the importance of setting a goal and creating a plan to achieve it. He was joined by wife, Kelsey, and two distinguished players and TCU alumni, Coach Joseph Turner and Principal Chad McCarty. The Gary Patterson Foundation also provided the program with a surprise gift of $1,000 to support the needs at Diamond Hill Station.
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Contributors May 1, 2015 through August 7, 2015 INDIVIDUALS Mr. and Mrs. John E. Acker Lisa Austin Kathleen and D.R. Bales Mr. and Mrs. Jim Barber Karen Haun Barlow Ms. Michele Barrow Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Mrs. Carolyn W. Bellah Mr. Turner Bettis Mrs. Jeanne Boatman Ms. Bridget Brewer Brianna Broussard Ms. Blanca Elena Burciaga Mr. and Mrs. Mark Byars Ms. Leticia M. Caraveo Mrs. Judi Chisam Mr. Paul K. Chitwood Skyla Claxton Cindy Clines Mr. Christopher G. Coates Lisa A. Cook Mr. and Mrs. Danny Corbeille Malinda Murphey Cowan Ms. Erin Cox Ms. Peggy Jean Craft Nikki Roe Cropp Mr. and Mrs. Winfield Crumley Mr. and Mrs. Dan Custred Ms. Carlene Dailey Ms. Mecole Darden Mr. and Mrs. Phillip G. Davis Ms. Karol Genovese Del Real Mr. and Mrs. William J. Diehnalt Virginia Clay Dorman Nancy Dozier Lisa and Bruce Epps Mr. and Mrs. AJ Esquivel Mr. and Mrs. S.K. Ferguson Greg French Maren Gibbs John C. Gilbert Mrs. Nancy Romine Gillis Lydia A. Goetz Mr. and Mrs. Harry Goolsby Mr. and Mrs. Steve Guess Mr. and Mrs. Jerry L. Halbert Dorothy and Gary Hames Ms. Lisa Hamilton Mrs. Ellen R. Harris Mr. and Mrs. Chris A. Hinton Ms. Linda Hixon Mrs. Janice Howe Mrs. Lisa Hull Mr. and Mrs. Joe V. Jackson Connie Jackson Mr. and Mrs. Jake Jacobson Diane Lochtrog Johnson Christy R. Jones Mr. Tommy Judsen Ms. Joanie Keays Ms. Jackie Keefer Mrs. Christi Key
Wendy King Mr. Jeremy Klassen Mr. Jim Landon Mr. and Mrs. Tim Landon Mr. and Mrs. Lee Last Mr. and Mrs. Michael Leighty Mr. and Mrs. James J. Leslie Mr. and Mrs. Chris Lokey Lyn and Brad Lucas Mrs. Jeanne Mabey Mr. and Mrs. William Massad Mr. Matt Maxwell Mr. Victor McCall Erin and Jason McDonald Mr. Todd McEvoy Mr. and Mrs. Andrew McGarrahan Pat McLaughlin Mr. and Mrs. William C. Milam Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Mitchell Cheryl Y. Mixon Mr. and Mrs. John Mollison Dr. and Mrs. Willis H. Murphey, Jr. Ludi Navarro Ms. Danielle E. Needham Zem Neill Mrs. Janiece Simmons Nolan Ms. Stephanie Oelkers Mrs. Rita V. O’Farrell Mrs. Nikki Ordonez Sylvia and Donald Otto Jane Parris Shannon L. Pena Becca Pickern Mr. and Mrs. Butch Potvin Mr. Mick Robinson Mrs. Barbara Rogers Dr. and Mrs. Tom Rogers, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Jon Scarborough Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Schroeder Ms. Becky Scoggins Hortencia Serna Ms. Sheryl Sewell Mr. Eric Shearman Ann and Jim Sheets Mr. and Mrs. Scott R. Shelton Mrs. Jackie Shrode Mr. and Mrs. Grady Shropshire Jamie Davis and Cory Simpson Mr. and Mrs. Brooks Smith Ms. Susan Lucky Smith Mr. and Mrs. Steve R. Snow Mr. and Mrs. James Spiller Mr. George E. Steen Mr. and Mrs. Terry Stewart Chris Stillo Mr. Earl L. Stone IV Mrs. Diana Sullivan Mr. and Mrs. John G. Thornhill Lydia Tovar Mr. and Mrs. Richard C. Traylor Ms. Nancy Turner Ms. Traci Uncel Dorothy M. Vaught
Mr. and Mrs. James S. Wallace Kristi Wedge Mr. and Mrs. Mark Welborn DeVonna L. Wicks Dorothy Wing Leah Wingard Drenda and John Witt Ms. Mary C. Wysong CORPORATIONS / ORGANIZATIONS Baylor L. Agerton Trust Albertson’s Community Partners Program Albertsons Safeway AmazonSmile AT&T Bank of Texas Ben E. Keith Foods Bernau Family Foundation BNSF Railway Company C.B. Baird, Jr. Foundation Cotton Patch Cafe Cross Timbers Chapter Texas Master Naturalists, Inc. James A. “Buddy” Davidson Charitable Foundation J.E.S. Edwards Foundation Thelma, Emil and Edmund Fahrenkamp Memorial Trust First Presbyterian Church Fort Worth Art Dealers Association Thomas V. Giddens, Jr. Foundation JPMorgan Chase Bank Junior League of Fort Worth, Inc. Legacy Texas Bank Lockheed Martin AERO Club McAfee Matching Gifts Program The Miles Foundation The Gary Patterson Foundation Pier 1 Imports Rainwater Charitable Foundation The Roach Foundation Thomas M., Helen McKee & John P. Ryan Foundation Sabre Silicon Valley Community Foundation Frances C. and William P. Smallwood Foundation Southside Bank Texas Health Resources Tom Thumb Good Neighbor Program Elizabeth Toon Charities Union Pacific Foundation United Way of Central New Mexico United Way of Hood County United Way of Tri-State Wells Fargo Foundation White Settlement Police Officers Association Williams Trew Real Estate Services Women’s Leadership Council, United Way of Tarrant County
HONORARIUMS Denis Cranford James B. Landon Zem Neill’s retirement Virginia Clay Dorman Jane Parris Dorothy M. Vaught Williams Trew Real Estate Services Drenda and John Witt Ann and Jim Sheets Mr. and Mrs. Richard C. Traylor Ann Sheets, new CEO Drenda and John Witt MEMORIALS Weldon B. Hatch III Cross Timbers Chapter Texas Master Naturalists, Inc. The Drigallas Family The Fisher Family Ms. Sandra Fountain Mr. and Mrs. William C. Milam The Sewel Family Mr. and Mrs. Terry Stewart Mr. and Mrs. James S. Wallace Louisa Wilson Haun Karen Haun Barlow Nancy Dozier Alexis Householder Ms. Lisa Hamilton Adele Klein Mr. Paul K. Chitwood Lynn Klein Judi Chisam Jan Drysdale Zem Neill Ann and Jim Sheets Mary C. Wysong Judith Lokey Ann and Jim Sheets CAPITAL CAMPAIGN Mrs. Jamy Baker BNSF Railway Foundation Jill and Todd Boydston Lisa A. Cook J.E.S. Edwards Foundation Vincent Genovese Memorial Foundation Diane Lochtrog Johnson Mr. Gautam Roy Ann and Jim Sheets Ward Veale Mr. Jeff Williams IN-KIND Global Prairie Home Depot Nell and Herbert Johnson Mr. Gordon Lockhart Mr. James R. Pratz Mr. Jesse Roiz
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Camp Fire First Texas 2700 Meacham Blvd. Fort Worth, Texas 76137-4699 CampFireFW.org
Non-profit org. US Postage PAID Fort Worth, TX Permit 2480
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Our Promise Young people want to shape the world. Camp Fire provides the opportunity to find their spark, lift their voice, and discover who they are. In Camp Fire, it begins now. Light the fire within
SAVE THE DATE
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2015 BOARD MEMBERS Council Board CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD Lauri Curtis Hadobas
31st Annual
Art Auction and Gala
SATURDAY
14
NOVEMBER
2015 At the
FORT WORTH
ZOO Art Auction, Cocktails, Dinner, Live Music, Animal Showcase and so much more!
#AnArtistsChristmas CampFireFW.org | 817.831.2111
VICE CHAIRMAN, ADMINISTRATION Bill McCoy VICE CHAIRMAN, FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT Jerri O. Akers VICE CHAIRMAN, PLANNING Jake Yarbrough TREASURER Jenene Schaffer SECRETARY George W. Bean, Jr. DIRECTORS Monica Balbo Jennifer Black Heidi Coombs Kimberly DeWoody Jennifer Garcia Dolores Garza Marilyn Gilbert Michele Hahnfeld Thomas Hook Nancy Hooper
Edward C. Lange Brant C. Martin Winjie Miao Tod M. Miller Randi Mitchell John Molyneaux Cheryl Moore Brit Phillips Judd Pritchard Evelyn H. Richardson Roland Schafer Chuck Sheridan Linda Springer John Strong Lynda Tiedtke Jared G. Vitemb Kelli Walter Andrew Ward Kay L. West Lori West FOUNDATION BOARD Kevin Garman, Chairman Daly R. Bales, Jr. Nina Hutton Linda Jacobson Adelaide Leavens Drew Springer Patricia Vaughan PRESIDENT/CEO Ann Sheets