Camp Fire Central Oregon launches hiring initiative to staff south Deschutes County after-school programs

 Camp Fire Central Oregon has just launched a major hiring initiative to staff its newest and expanding arm of after-school programming: Camp Fire Afterschool (CFA) in South County. With the recent closure of the La Pine Parks and Rec District, which directly impacted the HUB program in South County and left families scrambling to find after-school care, Camp Fire is stepping in to ensure afterschool programming at the request of the Bend-La Pine School District.

According to Logan Betts (pictured above, far right), program manager for Camp Fire After-school-South County, Camp Fire is actively recruiting up to eight staff members to support the after-school needs in La Pine and Sunriver/Three Rivers. This goal will help maintain the inclusive youth development nonprofit’s low participant-to-staff ratio of 10:1.

“With the possibility of needing to provide care for up to 75 kids across three schools—that’s a lot of new staff, but this goal is directly tied to delivering an enriching after-school experience for our youth,” Betts says. “In addition, we’re looking to hire people who have a passion for working with kids in their community and can ideally start ASAP since we're hoping to start programming at the new sites following Thanksgiving break.”

Anyone interested in learning about and applying to these CFA positions is encouraged to visit the jobs landing page on Camp Fire’s website: campfireco.org/jobs. Of note, the CFA staff positions are flexible jobs, offering the opportunity to work between five and 25 hours a week, starting at $18.50 per hour. Dependents of Camp Fire staff get to attend Camp Fire programs for free—a great perk for many families.

“During Camp Fire’s hiring and onboarding process, we try to offer an experience specific to what you're looking for in a new job, whether that is something that fits in with your busy schedule or can further your professional career in youth development,” Betts says.

Camp Fire representatives have been visiting the impacted schools to meet with administrators, distribute information to families, and answer questions they may have about transitioning to Camp Fire Afterschool programs.

Due to the high number of families in need of financial assistance, Camp Fire cannot independently fund the South County programs. Support from the community and partnerships will be vital to ensuring the sustainability of these services, not just this upcoming year but in the years to come, according to Kecia Kubota, Camp Fire Central Oregon’s executive director.

“Within the past couple of weeks, we launched a massive fundraising effort to bring vital dollars to our quickly expanding, high-quality after-school program,” Kubota states. “We have had some very positive, exciting responses to this funding need. Thanks to our generous community partners, we will be able to offer after-school programs in South County at prices equivalent to what families were paying for HUB. However, the request to raise funds to expand our offerings in South County remains open and ongoing.” 

Individuals or organizations that can provide financial assistance are encouraged to contact Camp Fire Central Oregon immediately or donate directly through the nonprofit’s website. Kubota invites interested funders to contact her for further conversation, reaching out via email or scheduling a phone/video conference with her at their earliest convenience. 

Camp Fire Central Oregon remains committed to supporting families and youth in South County during this transition. As the rollout quickly progresses, information for families is available on a dedicated Camp Fire webpage for South County and will also be provided through e-newsletters, social media and other communication channels. 

About Camp Fire Central Oregon

Founded in 1910, Camp Fire is a national organization that actively engages youth and teens in building essential skills for life. Camp Fire Central Oregon has been a local leader in youth development since 1916. The organization provides out-of-school time, teen service and leadership, camp and environmental programs. Young people want to shape the world. Camp Fire provides the opportunity to help them find their spark, lift their voice, and discover who they are.