Reach
out to a child in Rural Alaska... |
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Camp Fire USA's Rural Alaska Program teaches swimming and cold-water survival skills to children and teens who live in communities along coasts and large rivers. Alaska consistently has the highest rate of drownings in the country; more than ten times the national average.The program came to life more than 35 years ago as a way of addressing the drowning rate, and has evolved to include teaching boating safety and healthy life skills, providing recreational activities such as crafts, games, hikes, camp-outs, special teen activities and youth community service projects. In some communities, local village leaders collaborate with Camp Fire and conduct workshops on native culture and customs. The programs are always well-received, with an average attendance of 40 youth per community. Typically,
a program is two-weeks long and is facilitated by a team of two
or three Camp Fire staff. Over the summer, each team travels
to three rural communities to facilitate the program. In 2008,
11 communities hosted teams, providing the Rural Alaska Program
to over 500 youth. |
| 2008 Camp Fire Rural Program Locations |
Ambler, Beaver, Chistochina, Hughes, Kalskag, Koyokuk, McGrath,
Stebbins, St. Mary's, Tatitlek, White Mountain. |
| Staff Testimonials from past years |
| Ambler My favorite story is from a one-on-one moment. I gave an intriguing 9-year old an origami sheet and some paper and we sat outside our cabin on a piece of plywood. I played my guitar while he did origami for over an hour a little after midnight. We were both completely absorbed in our own worlds. Yet appreciated the company. |
| Port
Graham Port Graham, you mean the beautiful ocean community that rests in Kodiak Bay where seals, sea otters, and killer whales can be seen from your living room window? Truly amazing. The 20 kids loved to swim in freezing water that chills you to the bone and they squeal for you to pop out the s’mores. It's a place where you will sleep in because you can't run the program any earlier than when the kids get up (1 pm) Kayaking in the bay, hiking in the mountains, beautiful and serene- would we ever go back? For sure!! |
| Noorvik At the spirit camp we were not allowed to sit at the elders' table. It was the rule that counselors sit with the kids. But one day we gained the respect of the Inupiat elders. The respect of our elders. We were kindly asked to sit with them at their table where they would ramble on in a language that sounded so beautiful and so foreign. I believe it was our dedication to the children of that area that gained that respect. It came unexpectedly and brought tears to my eyes. But my tears were quickly dried when I found out the menu at the elder’s table….fish head stew and walrus flipper! |
| Chaneega
Bay Chaneega Chaneega! Because it was my second year here I found a trust very deep and also a respect not there the first time I came. I learned more and more about their community. My special moment this year came with an older adult. Richard is in his 30’s. He is very elusive and I only saw him out once in awhile. He was working one day driving a crane and tearing up the forest. They were moving gas and oil to and fro. I came up to him and told him to save a few trees for me. He asked why and I told him it was because they create O2-Oxygen. He pondered it and smiled and then went back to work. I thought I had just been taken very unseriously until later that night when I found 2 trees-one Sitka spruce and one hemlock in my driveway. The kids helped me move it so we could replant them. |
| Kiana Once we got permission for use of the gym the oldest kids came out of the woodwork. Roughly 30 teens and young adults came out for basketball and gym games. It was phenomenal. Not only were the oldest kids nice, but they brought the youngest of the group into the games and made the teamwork concept very apparent and fun. Like I say “it is all about the mini lessons and so many positive bonds were made with this group through this part of programming. |
Nikolski |
| Related Links |
| Alaska Native Heritage Center |
| Alaskool.org: online Alaska Native history, education, languages and cultures |
| First Alaskans Institute |
