Camp Fire C. Oregon plans after-school program expansion to Sunriver-Three Rivers, now ‘urgently hiring’ staff

(Update: Adding video comments from program director, parent)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) --  An after-school program is looking to expand into Sunriver, but is in need of staff. The nonprofit Camp Fire Central Oregon recently announced a tentative plan to expand its after-school program at Three Rivers School in Sunriver.

Camp Fire Central Oregon Program Director Melanie Feltmate said she's excited to expand into Three Rivers. But they need staff first. 

"The more robust applicant pool, the better," she said. "It's hard work, working with kids, and we want to make sure that we have a good, solid team, and then we have subs so that folks can take a day off when they need to."

The nonprofit is urgently hiring for one full-time job and a handful of part-time positions. 

"We're looking to hire a coordinator who would manage the entire program, as well as work closely with the school and the community down there, and then also part-time after-school staff," Feltmate said.

For parents like, Miranda Wells, the Camp Fire Central Oregon after school program is a dire need to the community.

"We just want to get the same opportunities from a lot of these nonprofits that Bend and La Pine are getting," she said,

The program will provide care for 30 youth in grades K-5. 

Wells added, "We all kind of agree that there's a need out here, but how does that happen, we don't know. So I just said, 'Well, I like Camp Fire. Alright, I'll write them an email.'"

The nonprofit currently has after-school programs at Amity Creek and Bend International School. 

For Three Rivers School, it will model its offerings on the Bend after-school programs, connecting kids to nature, themselves and to the community. 

Feltmate added, "When the Three Rivers community asked us to bring our programs down there, it was really a moment of pride, because Camp Fire is a place where not just the kids, but the adults thrive and build community together."

Here is the Camp Fire Central Oregon press release:

Inclusive youth development organization Camp Fire Central Oregon just announced a tentative plan to expand its after-school program to the Sunriver and Three Rivers community, bringing its proven model of enriching, supportive and fun-filled activities to more children and families in the region. 

The after-school program is slated to take place at Three Rivers School in Sunriver and will provide care for up to 30 youth in grades K-5.

Modeled after Camp Fire’s current Bend-based programs, the new Three Rivers offering will support youth in exploring their “sparks”—or their passions—practicing social skills, creating connections and gaining confidence.

Whether exploring art, science, community or culture, each day of the week features a unique and engaging theme focused on Camp Fire’s mission to connect youth to the outdoors, to each other, and to themselves. The program also plans to offer No School Day Camps for when classes are out during teacher conference days in October and April.

“Quality after-school programs are an essential need, particularly for today’s working families, and we are very excited to meet this demand in another Central Oregon community,” says Melanie Feltmate, Camp Fire Central Oregon’s Program Director. “The Three Rivers community directly invited us to bring this program to their youth, which is such an honor as it speaks to the quality of our work, the people behind it, and the impact it has on kids. That said, for this program to get off the ground at Three Rivers School, we need to staff it. We’re urgently hiring for one full-time job and a handful of part-time positions."

In particular, Camp Fire Central Oregon is advertising the following positions:

• Camp Fire Afterschool Program Coordinator: a full-time (35 hours), year-round position that will work closely with the program manager to plan and run Camp Fire Afterschool — Three Rivers.
• Camp Fire Afterschool Day Camp/No School Day Camp Staff — Three Rivers: part-time, flexible positions that can be scheduled for as little as five hours a week (e.g., one afternoon) to 25 hours a week.

Feltmate says the ideal candidates for these positions would live in or near the Sunriver community. Camp Fire Central Oregon supports a welcoming, inclusive work culture, flexible schedules, generous vacation/personal/sick leave, and great perks, such as dependents of staff get to attend Camp Fire programs for free!

In addition to hiring needs for the new Camp Fire Afterschool—Three Rivers program, Camp Fire is also hiring for school-year programs, located primarily but not exclusively in Bend. All positions and hiring details can be found on Camp Fire’s job webpage: https://campfireco.org/jobs/.