Community Building Clubs (CBC)

Camp Fire's Community Building Clubs (CBCs) provide club programming aimed at children, youth and families in low-income areas. By providing low or no-cost programming through paid leadership, we offer Pre-K through 8th grade clubs, Community Family Club and Teens in Action in a variety of sites, such as schools, apartment communities, churches, and childcare centers.  Age-level clubs and Teens in Action groups meet weekly during the school year and occasionally for special projects or get-togethers during the summer.  Community Family Clubs meet year-round, three to four times a month.  The one common feature of these programs is that they serve children, youth and families in vulnerable populations where few quality youth development opportunities exist.

More than a decade ago, Camp Fire committed itself to developing its Community Building Club program in underserved areas. With support from a variety of individual, foundation, and governmental gifts and grants, and through a partnership with the Tulsa Area Community Schools Initiative (TACSI), Camp Fire has been able to expand its Community Building Club program over time. Each year this program provides more children in pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade with opportunities for leadership development, exposure to visual and performing arts, service-giving projects, and fun, creative activities. 

The Council considers it a privilege to support and strengthen families by helping young people in the Tulsa area attain the measurable outcomes associated with Camp Fire programs:

Youth are more self-confident;

• Youth are more effective leaders;
• Youth have improved interpersonal relationships;
• Youth value inclusiveness;
• Youth have a greater sense of community responsibility; and
• Youth appreciate and understand nature and the environment.

Most of the children and families who participate in Camp Fire programs have limited access to extracurricular activities because of their cost, but Community Building Club programming is provided at minimal or no cost to families.  Adults who provide leadership for these Camp Fire clubs participate in extensive training in youth development, family strengthening and Camp Fire programming.  They are paid a stipend for the work of planning and delivering high quality services to the children and families served.  Camp Fire's board and staff leadership work diligently to assure that every gift we receive is used prudently to extend our mission of building caring, confident youth and future leaders.  Thus, your investment in children facing unfair challenges because of poverty ensures that no youngster is denied the benefits of quality out-of-school time programming.

Teens in Action

For 9th -12th graders, Teens in Action youth focus on service learning opportunities in their community. This process includes planning the service, completing the project then reflection and celebrating what they have accomplished. Some focus areas include mentoring younger clubs and disaster preparedness. Teens in Action youth have the ability to earn the Wohelo Award through alternate requirements than the traditional Horizon program.