Camp Fire First Texas Compass Fall 2015

Compass FALL 2015

Creating Better Adults by Shaping Today’s Children Evolving Leadership Celebrating S’more

Annecdotes

Letter from our CEO Camp Fire First Texas is fortunate to have many assets that we utilize every day: our fiscal and human assets, which are our funding and our employees; our fixed assets, which are our buildings, equipment and technology; and our intellectual and social assets, which are our programs. In reviewing our organizational design, we have opted to align our staff leadership around these assets. Therefore, I am pleased to share with you three new positions of leadership in our council.

Linda Ramoz, formerly the vice president for finance, is our new chief financial officer. As CFO, Linda will be responsible for all finance, accounting and human resources in the council. She will also work closely with the Camp Fire First Texas Foundation, our support organization, which manages all council investments.

Linda Ramoz

Lisa Cook, who has been with First Texas for more than ten years as the outdoor vice president, is now our chief facilities and technology officer. In this role, Lisa will have oversight for the properties, facilities and equipment at the Camp Fire Resource Center, Camp El Tesoro and other council-owned or operated sites. She is also responsible for technology and risk management.

Lisa Cook

Lyn Lucas has been appointed chief program officer. Lyn most recently served as the council’s work/family division vice president, but also has experience as the group services vice president during her first few years with Camp Fire. As the CPO, Lyn will be responsible for all First Texas programming and will work closely with the vice presidents in each division, as well as with program quality and other initiatives.

Lyn Lucas

In addition, to better reflect the purpose of each division, Work/Family has been renamed Early Childhood Education. Succeeding Lyn as the vice president there is Prerna Richards, who has been on our staff for the last year and who has extensive experience in early education programs. Group Services has been renamed Youth Development, which is headed by Ludi Navarro as vice president. The Outdoor Division retains its original name, and we currently have an opening in the position of outdoor vice president.

I am honored to work with all of the individuals named above, as well as with our development vice president, Malinda Cowan; our marketing vice president, Christy Jones; our executive assistant, Becca Pickern and of the outstanding members of the Camp Fire staff in program and support roles. Please join me in congratulating Lyn, Lisa and Linda in their new positions.

WoHeLo,

Ann Sheets President/CEO 2 Compass Fall 2015

All work and (lots of) play!

Donor Spotlight

BNSF Railway Company and Ernst & Young (EY) employees are making a huge impact on our Child Development Center. This year, both organizations chose to take part in the Camp Fire Child Development Center’s playground repainting project.

BNSF volunteers arrived on a Monday to sand and prep the playground for EY to paint that Friday morning. After a few hours of great volunteer work, the children in the CDC had an amazing “new” playground. Thank you EY and BNSF volunteers!

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics For more than 27 years, the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company has been contributing to the success of Camp Fire First Texas through financial contributions and volunteer hours. Lockheed Martin is a staple in the Fort Worth community working toward the goal of strengthening the quality of life for all people.

Lockheed Martin is committed to a program of philanthropy that supports the quality of life in the communities where their employees work and live.

Lockheed truly believes in shaping the lives of children and it shows every year they partner with Camp Fire.

“Camp Fire has taken its initial Early Childhood Development thrust and continues to develop it to the benefit of the community. Its School Readiness project is providing vital support in the most needed parts of our community, and our children/students in those areas are benefiting directly. As a result, students enter their formal education much more able to learn and grow,” Norman B. Robbins, Senior Manager of Community Relations at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics said.

Not only does Lockheed Martin support Camp Fire as a whole, it has also supported the Campaign for Camp El Tesoro.

Because of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Camp Fire can continue to help kids discover their world!

Interested in becoming a volunteer group?

Contact Erin McDonald for details at Erin@CampFireFW.org or 817.831.2111

Compass Fall 2015 3

Celebrating S’more Campaign Wrap-Up Party: left to right Allan Howeth, Susan Bucher, David Bucher • Ann Sheets, Pat Vaughan • Dr. 4 Compass Fall 2015

Celebrating S’more Camp Fire First Texas celebrated the successful conclusion of the Campaign for Camp El Tesoro on September 29 at the Fort Worth Club. The campaign, chaired by Tod Miller, raised more than $10.9 million to provide new cabins, a dining lodge, a high ropes course, an equestrian facility and other updates at the 223-acre camp in Granbury. Campaign Committee and Building Committee members received traditional El Tesoro walking staffs and guests enjoyed watching a wrap-up video while enjoying s’mores. El Tesoro, which has been in existence since 1934, annually serves more than 3,000 youth and adults in overnight camp, day camp, outdoor education, community use, and family camping.

The campaign, which began in 2008, led to many much deserved updates at Camp El Tesoro: n

Challenge Course, built in 2011, featuring a high ropes tower and 13 low elements

n

Multi-Sports Court, built in 2013 for tennis, volleyball, basketball and more

n

Equestrian Center, built in 2012 with a 12,500 sq foot covered riding area

n

New Cabin Construction, ongoing, featuring duplexstyle rooms with full restrooms, heat and attic fans

n

WoHeLo Lodge, built in 2013 is a fully air-conditioned and updated dining facility accommodating up to 300 people

n

Building Renovation, ongoing including updated interior and exteriors for the Louisa Haun Lodge, Horizon Lodge and Discovery Lodge

n

Center of Camp, built in 2013 including the Health House, Camp Office and Camp Store

. Marie Holliday, Reed Pigman • Mack Lawhon, Ginger Lawhon, Laura Miller • Pat Fisher, Sylvia Fisher • Helen Mabee, Guy Mabee, Zem Neill Compass Fall 2015 5

How we’re shaping minds and building strong adults At the Camp Fire Child Development Center, we aren’t just building better kids - we’re creating better adults.

Through a program and curriculum called Conscious Discipline, our Camp Fire youth are learning to become self-regulated, calm and thoughtful. From the time they enter our center to the time they walk out the door, every minute spent with our early childhood professionals is helping to shape their brain. Longgone are the days of “babysitting” and “day care.” At our child care center, we are identifying brain states, finding sparks and helping children thrive.

Conscious Discipline is more than an immediate response to a situation, instead teaching the parent, teacher and the child how to self-regulate their emotions – a tool that is needed well beyond childhood. Children who learn how to control their emotions and self-regulate at an early age are more likely to have more emotionally stable and successful adult lives. Children who are pushed away (aka “go to your room” or “you need to sit in time out”) are less likely to develop the necessary self-regulation and critical thinking skills at an early age.

Early childhood professionals in the Camp Fire Child Development Center are learning to identify a child’s brain state and make needs-based assessments. By being able to recognize which brain state a child is in, instructors are taking a more controlled approach to dealing with challenging behaviors in the classroom.

Conscious Discipline is used to help calm both child and teacher. By using the Brain State Model, instructors can recognize how receptive a child will be to calming tactics and make a plan of action from there.

The three brain states are: ■

The “survival state” relates to the “fight, flight or freeze” theory and is the state when a child is most vulnerable; “There are loud noises, I am tired, therefore I am not safe here.”

■

The “emotional state” deals with the feeling of being loved; “You did not give me the candy I wanted, therefore you do not love me.”

■

The “executive state” is the ideal state of mind for calming a child through teaching and problem solving.

Check out our featured Conscious Discipline blog at Bit.ly/CFCDblog 6 Compass Fall 2015

Conscious Discipline teaches classroom managers how to sooth each individual brain state differently through safety, connection and teaching tactics. Tactics include switching from the ever-popular phrase “Use your words,” to “Are you happy?” If a child is in “emotional state,” they literally cannot use words to describe their emotions. Asking “Are you happy?”, will lead a child to respond “yes” or “no.”

From there, teachers can work towards getting their child to communicate why they are, or are not happy by calmly acknowledging a child’s emotion, “You really want that toy and you are angry because you can’t have it.” Ideally, children will learn to operate in the “executive state” and say “I am angry, and here is why”, before diving into the “emotional state” of a tantrum.

We often focus on the early years of 0-3 because they are the most crucial in brain development. While the brain continues to grow daily, the next major peak in development doesn’t occur until age 10. Conscious Discipline’s approach to teaching self-regulation can be applied to all ages, from toddler to teen. After seeing the successful implementation in our Child Development Center, Camp Fire staff who work directly with our school-age programs participated in Conscious Discipline training facilitated by Certified Conscious Discipline Trainer, Lauren Osborne, who has also trained many of our early childhood teachers. The training built on the existing program management systems and tools Camp Fire implements in its programs to create a space where children can thrive.

Catch Up with Step Up

Our Step Up youth have been busy making a great impression in our Fort Worth community!

Four students participated in the 50th anniversary National Hispanic Heritage Month parade in downtown Fort Worth.

They carried the Camp Fire banner with pride and enjoyed tossing candy to the community. To align with Camp Fire Thrive{ology}, the team is already setting goals, planning and thinking positively about participating next year – including big dreams of having a Camp Fire float!

A group of Step Up participants participated in the Cowtown C.A.L.F.® (Children’s Activities for Life & Fitness), a program to promote and educate children about the importance of creating a healthy lifestyle through physical fitness and nutrition. It was the first time participating in a run for many of our youth!

In only 18 hours on

THANK

YOU!

Did you see Camp Fire on the news?

Check out some of our North Texas Giving Day exposure:

42 donors raised

$9,960

supporting Camp Fire programs where youth find their spark, lift their voices and discover th are who they

KDFW FOX 4 Good Day morning news with Chip Waggoner

WFAA/Channel 8’s Good Morning Texas

Compass Fall 2015 7

The annual Absolutely Incredible Kid Luncheon turned donors into super heroes. Event emcee Deborah Ferguson presented four inspiring individuals with awards to recognize the impact Camp Fire programs, staff and participants have on our community. Check out the Camp Fire Blog at CampFireFW.org/Blog to read more about our Absolutely Incredible award recipients.

8 Compass Fall 2015

El Tesoro Construction Up Next: Projects In Progress: ■

Re-purposing the Louisa Haun Lodge to make it a Welcome and Outdoor Education Center

■

Staff housing renovations

■

Three additional duplex cabins

■

Internal roads

Projects To Come: ■

Pool renovations

■

Creating an Arts Village from existing cabins

■

Low water crossing

The Hoopla Team at Worthington National Bank sponsored a school supply drive focusing their charitable efforts on helping elementary school students with much needed school supplies. The backpacks were donated by Worthington National Bank, and the supplies were donated by the bank branch employees and customers from a Giving Tree posted in their lobbies. They partnered with Camp Fire and provided 50 backpacks stuffed with school supplies to our Diamond Hill Station participants. Check out Facebook.com/CampFireFW for more photos.

Compass Fall 2015 9

An Artists’ Christmas Gala

Save THE Date

November 14

December 5

Breakfast with Santa

December

Winter Break Day Camps

April 2

Early Childhood Conference 10 Compass Fall 2015

March 10

Celebration of Child Care Champions

For more information on these events or to purchase tickets visit CampFireFW.org

Contributors August 8 though October 19, 2015 INDIVIDUALS Mr. and Mrs. John Acker Mr. and Mrs. Charles Akers Ms. Chelsea Alexander Barrie Alguire Ms. Barbara J. Anderson Anonymous Anonymous Ms. Nicole M. Antonini Lisa Austin Karen Haun Barlow Mr. and Mrs. Michael R. Baylor Mr. George Bean Ms. Doris Becker Ms. Sammie R. Bell Ms. Jacqueline Bender Mrs. June Berry Mrs. Elena Berryhill Mr. and Mrs. Brandon K. Black Dr. and Mrs. William F. Bonnell Ms. Joann Boyle Ms. Ann B. Bracey Ms. Pamela Brocato Mrs. Brianna Broussard Mrs. Christie S. Brown Ms. Susanne Brown Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Cain Mr. and Mrs. John B. Campanello Mr. Lloyd Caraway Marie and Brandon Chase Mr. Paul K. Chitwood Ms. Virginia L. Chitwood Mrs. Skyla Claxton Ms. Cindy Clines Ms. Glynda H. Conn Ms. Lara Conn Barbara and King Cook Ms. Lisa A. Cook Mrs. Heidi Coombs Malinda Murphey Cowan Ms. Jenny J. Cox Mr. and Mrs. Robert Crabtree Mrs. Nikki Roe Cropp Ms. Mecole Darden Ms. Diana Davis Mr. and Mrs. John Henry Dean III Mr. and Mrs. Jim DeBacker Ms. Karol Genovese Del Real Carlos de la Torre Mr. and Mrs. Michael Paul DeWoody Dr. and Mrs. Gary L. Douglas Ms. Roberta Dubbs Ms. Alex Dunn Ms. Brenda M. Dyer Donna Elton and Thomas Smith Ms. Leigh Ann Emerson Lisa and Bruce Epps Mr. Salvador Espino Mr. William E. Fairley Mrs. Micheline M. Farhoud Mrs. Carole Findlay Ms. Linda Fisher Sylvia and Pat Fisher Mrs. Alice Frazier Ms. Misty Garrett Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Gibbs Mr. John C. Gilbert Marilyn Gilbert Ms. Lydia A. Goetz Ms. Cherie L. Gordon Ms. Kay Gunn David and Lauri Curtis Hadobas Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Haggerty Ms. Lydia K. Hall Mr. and Mrs. Leo Hanus Mr. Brennen Harris Mrs. Kayren Harter

Ms. Amber Heeter Mr. and Mrs. Steve Heinen Ms. Sheri Hemby The Honorable Maryellen Hicks Ms. Suzi Hill Mrs. Julie A. Hinton Terri and Rich Hollander Mr. Thomas Hook Lauren and Jeff Hooper Ms. Nancy E. Hooper Ms. Andra B. House Ms. Michelle Hughes Mr. and Mrs. Fred B. Hunstable Ms. Connie Jackson Mr. and Mrs. Jake Jacobson Kirby and Angela Jacobson Ms. Lometa F. Jenkins Mr. and Mrs. Urbano Jimenez Diane Lochtrog Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Josh Jones Mr. Nick S. Karanges Mr. and Mrs. John Keany Ms. Jackie Keefer Mrs. Christi Key Mrs. Wendy King Merritt and Alberta Kirk Beth Kisor Mr. and Mrs. Timothy P. Klauck Mrs. Amanda Krupa Ms. Eileen S. Kulda Ms. Harva Kuykendall Mr. and Mrs. Carl W. Langley Mr. and Mrs. Jack Larson Cathy and Michael Lawshe Shirley Little Martin Ms. Debra Lochtrog Lyn and Brad Lucas Pam Lunk Ms. Chelsea Magby The Martinez Family Mr. and Mrs. Tim Mayes Mr. John A. McCauley Erin and Jason McDonald Mr. and Mrs. John Q. Melcher Laura and Tod Miller Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Mitchell Cheryl Y. Mixon Kay L. West and John Molyneaux Mr. John A. Moncrief Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Mooney III Mr. and Mrs. Fred Moore Rebecca Moroneso Mrs. Ann Morris Dr. and Mrs. Willis H. Murphey, Jr. Ludi Navarro Ms. Danielle E. Needham Zem Neill Ms. Noelle Nettles Ms. Monta R. Noe Ms. Julia Nova Mrs. Olga Nowlan Mr. and Mrs. Gary Patterson Karen Pearson Shannon L. Pena Chris Peoples Mrs. Michelle Pettit Becca Pickern Mr. and Mrs. Benedict A. Plotnicki, Jr. Jennifer Price Mr. and Mrs. Judd Pritchard Mr. and Mrs. Russell L. Pulliam Mr. Charles Raines Mary D. Rehfeldt Mr. and Mrs. Alan B. Richards Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Rinn Mr. and Mrs. Jorge A. Robles Ms. Kathy M. Rodriguez

Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Rogers Mr. Tanner Rohne Mr. and Mrs. Brian Rondinaro Jenene and Jeff Schaffer Ms. Amanda Schooler Bonnie Schuler Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Scott Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Senter Hortencia Serna Ann and Jim Sheets Mr. Richard L. Shepherd Lynda and Grady Shropshire Harvey Smith Ms. Charlene Smith Mr. and Mrs. James Spiller Mr. Glenn H. Spoons Mr. David W. Starkey, Jr. Sherry Stevens Mr. and Mrs. Frank Stewart Ms. Karolyn K. Stirewalt Martha Strain Mr. and Mrs. John B. Strong Deborah Sturdivant Mrs. Diana Sullivan Mr. and Mrs. Michael Teagarden Mr. Bryan Thomas Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Thompson Lynda and Eric Tiedtke Mr. Joe Torres Mr. and Mrs. Danny Tovar Reverend Cyndy W. Twedell and Mr. Jack Twedell Patricia A. Vaughan Ms. Lauren Vay Ms. Lydia Ann Villamil Mr. and Mrs. Jared Vitemb Mr. Andrew Ward Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Watson Mr. and Mrs. Steven Wedge Ms. Edwina White Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan M. Whitley Elaine R. Whitney Mr. and Mrs. Warren Wicks Drenda and John Witt Mr. and Mrs. J. Benton Woodward Ms. Mary C. Wysong Jake and Lynita Yarbrough CORPORATIONS / ORGANIZATIONS All-Pro Fasteners, Inc. Allstate Giving Campaign AmazonSmile American Airlines AT&T BNSF Railway Company BRIT, Botanical Research Institute of Texas BSCO, Inc. Business Development Group of Aledo C&N Manufacturing, Inc. Clear Fork Royalty Community Foundation of North Texas, Higginbotham Community Fund Cook Children’s Medical Center Dean, Jacobson Financial Services, LLC Ernst & Young, LLP Fash Foundation Genius House Media Global Prairie Greater Horizons Imagetek Office Systems JPMorgan Chase Foundation Junior League of Fort Worth, Inc. KidKraft, LP The Kroger Co. Lee Financial Corporation Lhoist North America Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin AERO Club Luther King Capital Management Mary Potishman Lard Trust The Miles Foundation Motiva Enterprises LLC, Shell Oil Foundation PepsiCo Foundation Fund, Silicon Valley Community Foundation Pier 1 Imports Raymond James & Associates, Beacon Hill Wealth Services Regent Services Rogers Wealth Group, Inc. Ross & Matthews, P.C. Rotary Club of Fort Worth Rylander, Clay & Opitz, L.L.P. Sid W. Richardson Foundation Amanda J. White-Brown/ SYNC-Results Nonprofit Consultng Group LLC Tarrant County Anonymous Employees Tom Thumb Good Neighbor Program United Cooperative Services United Way of Central New Mexico United Way of Tri-State W.F. Carter Construction WOATS XTO Energy, Inc. HONORARIUMS Kathleen Hicks The Honorable Maryellen Hicks Christy Jones Ms. Alex Dunn Zem Neill Mr. Paul K. Chitwood MEMORIALS Lynn Klein Ms. Ann B. Bracey Mr. Paul K. Chitwood Ms. Virginia L. Chitwood Ms. Lometa F. Jenkins Ms. Mary C. Wysong Dr. John McCoy Ann and Jim Sheets Ann Nicholson, Camp Fire Leader 1970s Carrie, Heidi, Marsha, Cindy, Kelly, Renea, Carol, Jennifer, Kerri, Andrea CAPITAL CAMPAIGN Mr. and Mrs. Todd Boydston Meta Alice Keith Bratten Foundation Ms. Susanne Brown Ms. Lisa A. Cook Joe & Jessie Crump Crippled Children Fund The Virginia Hobbs Charitable Trust Diane Lochtrog Johnson Laura and Tod Miller Ann and Jim Sheets Martha Strain Texas Youth Development Corporation Mr. Ward Veale GIFTS IN KIND BNSF Railway Company Charlie Bublik, CMB Photography Cash America Ernst & Young LLP Fort Worth, Texas Magazine Haltom’s Jewelers Nell and Herbert Johnson Susie Perry Scott Shirley Mr. and Mrs. William Tedesco

Compass Fall 2015 11

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

Change Service Requested

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

When finished with Compass, please pass along or recycle responsibly.

2015 BOARD MEMBERS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD Lauri Curtis Hadobas

What’s your spirit animal?

Follow the Camp Fire blog to read more about a few of our artists.

Artist Name

Spirit Animal

Jeff Cocanour Stormie Parker Jerry Johnston David Blow

Blue Horse Elephant Hummingbird Deer

SATURDAY

November 14, 2015

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 Scot Bennett Jennifer Black Heidi Coombs Kimberly DeWoody 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