Camp Fire Central Oregon says it will use grant to build character, study expanding summer day camp to La Pine

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Camp Fire Central Oregon announced Thursday it has been awarded a national grant of nearly $50,000 to strengthen character development and explore expanding its summer programs to La Pine.

The funding is part of the American Camp Association's Character at Camp Grant Program, which is supported by Lilly Endowment Inc.

The competitive grant program is designed to highlight camps as impactful environments for youth growth. Camp Fire said it will use the funds to support initiatives that promote belonging, leadership and personal growth for both campers and staff.

The grant will support a feasibility study for a sustainable, community-driven expansion of the SummerKids Day Camp to a satellite site in La Pine. This initiative aims to provide rural youth with specific opportunities to develop character strengths.

The organization will also use the funds to build the relationships, systems and shared understanding required for long-term success in the region.

Beyond physical expansion, the funding provides staff capacity to formalize and articulate how current Camp Fire practices build character. The organization intends to combine community engagement with internal reflection and strategic analysis to ensure character development remains central to its decision-making processes.

Kecia Kubota, executive director of Camp Fire Central Oregon, said the organization previously expanded its after-school program into South County following a community request.

"All of us at Camp Fire Central Oregon are beyond thrilled to have applied for this highly competitive grant and been selected because of our commitment to character development and youth growth," Kubota said. "Now that we have this grant, we can explore the possibility of bringing to La Pine yet another one of our time-tested, beloved programs: SummerKids Day Camp."

Program Director Morgan Schaening explained that the staff identified three specific traits to prioritize across all programming, including the potential expansion.

"The strengths we selected to develop in our youth — and our staff — include curiosity, confidence and compassion," Schaening said. She noted that these traits represent the foundation of thriving for youth and align with the mission of connecting young people to the outdoors and themselves.

The Character at Camp initiative recognizes camps as uniquely positioned to provide research-informed programs and inclusive communities. By joining this national network, the Central Oregon nonprofit will work with the American Camp Association to advance best practices and share the impact of camp settings on youth learning and growth.

Camp Fire Central Oregon will use the grant to explore the possibilities for the La Pine satellite site. The organization will focus on community engagement and strategic analysis as it evaluates new growth in the Central Oregon community.

For more information about Camp Fire Central Oregon, visit campfireco.org.
To learn more about the Character at Camp initiative, visit ACAcamps.org.