Community Family Clubs

Community Family Club is a small group model that offers quality coeducational youth development programs for parents and children. Utilizing Camp Fire USA curriculum, the concept involves the entire family in Camp Fire USA’s small group, asset-building activities and experiences.

The model is designed to increase opportunities for parents and other caring community adults to volunteer in activities that allow them to interact positively with children and teens. It also asset-based with well- defined, measurable outcomes for both youth and adult volunteers, and will create a strong partnership with corporations, schools, churches, child care settings and other community organizations to advance the needs of children, youth and families across the country.

Community Family clubs The program is designed for the whole family, regardless of the make-up of that family. The goal is to include at least one adult family member or a supporting adult from the community with every child who attends. Siblings of all ages, infants through teens, are included. Developmental outcomes are identified for every age level, including the adults.

The Community Family Club offers parents an unique opportunity to find a community support group for raising their children and provides for positive family interaction, built around experiences and activities that are structured, educational and fun.

Families come together once a month to share a meal and participate in a recognition ceremony designed to recognize both individual and group accomplishments. The club then breaks into age-level groups for an activity session led by a team of parents who volunteer for the short-term assignment for that month. Once a month the group takes part in a field trip on a topic related to the curriculum work, or takes part in a council- wide event like a family campout. Once a month they are encouraged to meet for an informal activity night to work on the curriculum projects to gain recognition items. For the fourth week of the month they are given take- home family activities which enhance the large group experience.

Community Family Clubs are flexible and designed to be delivered in four primary venues: schools, churches, corporations and child care settings. These community partners work with Camp Fire USA to set specific goals and measurable objectives, provide sites, and recruit volunteers to help run the program.

If your organization would be interested in starting a Community Family Club, please contact us atinfo@campfireusa-emass.org or 617.591.0300 x100.