Recent Items:
Camp Fire Announces Closure of Fairbanks Programs, June 16, 2010

Archived Items:
Volcanic Ashfall Procedures
National AfterSchool Accreditation


Camp Fire Closes Fairbanks Programs
Posted June 16, 2010

Camp Fire USA Alaska Council announced today that after more than 20 years of serving the youth of the Fairbanks community, the Council will discontinue operating programs in the Fairbanks region effective August 1, 2010.

"Camp Fire came to this difficult decision after years of deliberation and hard work to maintain program services to youth and families," said Barbara Dubovich, Alaska Council CEO.  "The Council has been subsidizing Fairbanks operations for many years and in these challenging economic times, it is no longer feasible to continue to do so."  Decreases in financial support from resources in the Fairbanks region as well as a decline of participants are factors in the closure.
 
"The Council has a long history in Fairbanks and we have greatly appreciated the opportunity to serve youth in the region.  We will miss being a part of the community," said Dubovich.  Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) is considering continuing programs for youth in Birch Park and Spruce Park through another provider. Parents are also encouraged to contact thread childcare referrals at 459-1439 to find out about other child care programs that may be available for their children after school.  Camp Fire summer programs will continue through July 30th as scheduled.
 
 
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Founded in 1961, Camp Fire USA Alaska Council serves more than 5,000 youth annually through four programs: school-age child care, summer camp, community centers and the rural program which serves outlying communities. Camp Fire's mission is to build caring, confident youth and future leaders. For more information about Camp Fire USA youth programs in Alaska call 907 279 3551. Camp Fire was founded in 1910 by Charlotte and Luther Gulick, M.D., as the first nonsectarian organization for girls in the United States. In 1975 membership was expanded to include boys and today, more than 46 percent of national Camp Fire participants are male. Forty two million Americans are Camp Fire alumni. Although the Alaska Council was founded in 1961, Camp Fire first had a presence in Alaska in 1913. 
 

 

 

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Volcanic Ashfall Procedures
Posted January 28th, 2009

In the event that Anchorage experiences ashfall from Mt. Redoubt and the Anchorage School District shuts down school, Camp Fire will plan to close all programs as well. Our response is dependant on when the ash fall is expected and when schools become officially closed. For instance, if ash fall occurs at night and schools are closed the next morning, we will not operate any programs. If schools are in operation and are closing near to or at regular dismissal time, Camp Fire staff will report to programs and provide care until all children can be picked up. We will use the Anchorage School District’s response and additional information (National Weather Service, Alaska Volcano Observatory, etc.) to help guide us in our decision making.

Stay tuned to the radio or TV for announcements. Program updates will be posted on our website and email communications will be sent to all parents for whom we have an email address.

Helpful Links:
Anchorage School District Information
Protecting Children from Volcanic Ash Related Heath Hazards
Driving and Vehicle Maintenance in Heavy Ash
USGS Information on Volcano Hazards

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Camp Fire USA Alaska Council Receives National AfterSchool Accreditation

January 26, 2008

(Anchorage, AK)- Acting Mayor Matt Claman and Anchorage School District Superintendent Carol Comeau will be attending Camp Fire's National AfterSchool Association (NAA) Accreditation Celebration at Chugach Optional Elementary School on Friday, January 30, 2009 at 3:30 p.m.

The National AfterSchool Association awarded accreditation status to Camp Fire's School Age Child Care (SACC) Program at Chugach Optional Elementary School, after completion of an intensive program improvement plan that included:

  • Meeting and exceeding the NAA Standards for Quality School-Age Care (36 keys with 144 standards in six categories).

    Conducting surveys and observations with parents, staff, and community members.

    Creating and utilizing a quality improvement team.

    Hosting national Endorsers during a two-day evaluation visit to demonstrate program quality in curriculum; environment; health, safety and nutrition; administration, and human relationships.

    Completion of a self-assessment and lengthy application process.

    Ensuring ongoing program improvement and compliance with national standards.
"National Accreditation is not an easy designation to achieve," according to Peter Howe, NAA Chief Operating Officer. "The staff, parents, and children must all work together to meet the 144 standards included in the NAA Standards for Quality School-Age Care. Accreditation indicates a long-term commitment to quality, a professionally managed program that is safe and effective, along with a genuine dedication to children and their families," said Howe.

NAA Board President Judy Nee explained, "Accreditation is the trend in many areas of children's programming and education-childcare, schools, camps, and special interest activities. NAA has been promoting quality since its inception in 1987, but the Accreditation process (launched in 1998) gives programs a way to show, in measurable terms, they are a cut above the rest."

" This accreditation is a milestone event for the organization. Many staff and families have contributed a tremendous amount of hard work towards getting our agency to this point. I am extremely proud and look forward to the day when all of Camp Fire's afterschool programs are accredited," said Barbara Dubovich, Alaska Council CEO.

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Founded in 1961, Camp Fire USA Alaska Council serves more than 5,000 youth annually through four programs: school-age child care, summer camp, community centers and the rural program which serves outlying communities. Camp Fire's mission is to build caring, confident youth and future leaders. For more information about Camp Fire USA youth programs in Alaska call 907 279 3551. Camp Fire was founded in 1910 by Charlotte and Luther Gulick, M.D., as the first nonsectarian organization for girls in the United States. In 1975 membership was expanded to include boys and today, more than 46 percent of national Camp Fire participants are male. Forty two million Americans are Camp Fire alumni. Although the Alaska Council was founded in 1961, Camp Fire first had a presence in the state in 1913.

The National AfterSchool Association, formerly the National School-Age Care Alliance, was founded in 1987. NAA is a professional association with a membership component, which includes more than 10,000 practitioners, policy makers, and administrators representing all public, private, and community-based sectors of afterschool programs, as well as school-age and afterschool programs on military bases, both domestic and international. As the leading voice of the afterschool profession, NAA is dedicated to the development, education, and care of children and youth during their out-of-school hours.

More information about the NAA can be found at www.naaweb.org.

For further information contact:
Jo Lamson
Marketing and Annual Giving Director
Camp Fire USA Alaska Council
(907) 257-8820
jlamson@campfireak.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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