Camp Fire Central Oregon is stepping in to save after-school programs in South County, saying it needs community support

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – With the recent closure of the La Pine Parks and Rec District, which recently ceased operations and laid off employees, Camp Fire Central Oregon says it is stepping in to support local families and youth. The closure directly impacted the HUB program, which provided critical after-school child care services to families at Three Rivers School, La Pine Elementary and Rosland Elementary.

In response, Bend-La Pine Schools has formally requested that inclusive youth development organization Camp Fire Central Oregon take over operation of these after-school programs at least through the end of the current school year. This gives LPPR the opportunity to assess its financial situation and prioritize its efforts.

Camp Fire said Wednesday it is “optimistic that the 501(c)3 nonprofit organization can become a long-term partner working with LPPR to ensure continued support for the community.”

To keep families updated, the district sent out an email last week outlining the transition and upcoming plans. This week, Camp Fire said its representatives would visit affected schools to meet with administration, distribute information to families and answer any questions.

Due to the large number of families in need of financial assistance, Camp Fire is unable to independently fund South County programs, according to Camp Fire. According to Kecia Kubota, executive director of Camp Fire Central Oregon, community support and partnerships will be critical to ensuring the sustainability of these services.

“We are deeply honored to be called upon to support these youth and families in their time of need, both now and in the years to come,” says Kubota. “However, we can only make this important service possible through emergency funding and youth scholarships. We urge the community – any individual or organization who can provide financial support – to contact us immediately or donate directly through our website. The future of these children depends on quick action and secure financial resources.”

Given the uncertainty surrounding the number of youth who will enroll and the number of days of care each will require, Camp Fire has calculated cost estimates based on maximum possible demand. This assumes that all youth sign up for five days a week and we only charge what families have paid for HUB. Notable: Over 66% of families in La Pine schools receive some form of assistance from social services (SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, McKenny Vento, Foster Care, etc.). Total community support needed for the 2024-25 school year is estimated at $150,000.

Kubota invites interested donors to contact her for further discussions, contact her by email or arrange a telephone/video conference with her as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, planning for the new after-school program is already in the works and Camp Fire has developed a phased approach to the transition. Since Camp Fire already operates the Camp Fire Afterschool at Three Rivers School, the focus will initially be on expanding capacity at that location, then at La Pine Elementary and Rosland Elementary.

According to Avara Roberts (pictured left, helping youth), CFA program coordinator at the Sunriver site, registration at Three Rivers School is open and families can now access services. Camp Fire is also embarking on a major hiring campaign to ensure each program is fully staffed. Job details can be found at campfireco.org/jobs.

“As a Three Rivers resident and mother of two school-aged children, I am grateful that Camp Fire can help meet the needs of our community here in Three Rivers and La Pine,” said Roberts. “Our goal is to provide high quality, affordable afterschool care, and Camp Fire is working to secure funding to make this possible. As South County Program Coordinator, it has been my pleasure to build relationships with the children and families at Three Rivers Elementary as part of our CFA program, and I look forward to doing the same as we open both La Pine Elementary and the Serve Rosland Elementary. ”

Camp Fire Central Oregon remains committed to supporting families and youth in South County during this transition. As the rollout progresses quickly, information for families will be available on a dedicated South County Camp Fire webpage 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 supports youth and teens in learning vital life skills. Camp Fire Central Oregon has been a local leader in youth development since 1916. The organization offers after-school time, mentoring and leadership for youth, as well as camp and environmental programs. Young people want to shape the world. Camp Fire offers an opportunity to help them find their spark, raise their voice, and discover who they are.