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The Prairie Post
45 W. Roosevelt Road, Lombard, IL 60148
(630) 629-5160
Winter 2015
Up For a Challenge?
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Board President’s Message
2
Message from the CEO
3
Donor Event
3
YPA
3
Amazon Smile
3
Club News and Events
4
Programs
5
CFIP Wish List
6
CF Angel
6
Our Generous Donors
7
Calendar of Events
8
2015 kicks off a multi-year campaign for Illinois Prairie. We're
asking ourselves, the kids and families that participate in our
programs, and our supporters, "Are You Up For a Challenge?"
We will be offering new, improved and enhanced programming
that will challenge kids to make better choices, be healthier and
further develop skills and interests - in essence, to find their spark!
We are participating in nationally recognized initiatives to do stronger evaluations of those
programs and capitalize on all of the things we are doing so well and to find ways to be even
better.
We are challenging our supporters to help in new and different ways - to connect us to new
resources, spread the word about our long history of great service, and to contribute their
ideas about how we can get stronger and bring needed programs to the communities that
can benefit from them.
You'll be hearing much more about this campaign.
If you're Up For a Challenge - let us know!
There is a Challenge in Your Future!
By Annette Freund
Postage and Paper
cost Camp Fire Illinois Prairie
a lot of money!
If you switch, we’ll have more
to invest in kids!
Please consider
EMAIL
delivery of
The Prairie Post
rather than your
traditional mail box!
Send your email
address to:
[email protected]
to switch today!
Thank you for
supporting
Camp Fire Illinois Prairie!
On Friday, April 10, we will hold our annual Spring Event at Cantigny Golf in Wheaton,
Illinois. This year’s theme will be “Up for a Challenge?” We are challenging ourselves to
reach even more of the youth in our area and help them find their spark, and we are
challenging you, as our partners, to join us.
The Spring Event brings us together to learn about what’s going on today in Illinois Prairie–
–which this year will include introductions of new and updated programs, new tools to help
us evaluate the success of those programs and more details about the Illinois Prairie
Challenge. And of course, there will be young Camp Fire members present to remind us all
of why we stay committed to this organization!
Held from 7 to 10 p.m., the Event will reconnect you with Camp Fire friends while enjoying
delicious food and drink, delightful music, and both silent and live auctions. The live auction will be great fun once again, since Mike Carpanzano is repeating his lively performance
as auctioneer. Our popular “Wine ‘n Dine” packages, combining a bottle of wine with a
restaurant gift card, will also return.
Tickets for the event will be $50 in advance and $60 at the door. For information about
sponsorship packages for the Event, placing ads in the program booklet, to donate an
auction item, or to purchase tickets, please call the office at (630) 629-5160 or e-mail
[email protected].
Light The Fire Within
Camp Fire Illinois Prairie
The Prairie Post
Camp Fire Board: President’s Message
Winter, 2015
Camp Fire
Illinois Prairie
Board of Directors
Looking Toward Spring
2014-2015
President
Bill Makely
1st Vice President
Sandra Vitellaro
2nd Vice President
One of the poems I read as a boy said, “If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?” An encouraging thought to help us through an Illinois Prairie winter!
For Camp Fire Illinois Prairie, Spring means our annual Spring Event––this year with the
theme, “Are You Up for a Challenge?” It will be held once again at Cantigny Golf in Wheaton,
on April 10, and we look forward to having a rousing good time.
Steve Marr
Treasurer
Kathleen Sichrovsky
Secretary
Lauren Searle
Board Members At Large
Jeannie Claycomb
Annette Freund
Jenifer Walsworth
We chose the theme title because, beginning in 2015 and going forward, our board of directors, staff and council are challenging ourselves to reach more youths and families in our area,
bringing them new and upgraded programs, and finding the support that will enable us to do
that.
In 2015 we will begin offering Wise Kids, a new program that teaches children to make smart
decisions about nutrition and exercise, and InterAction, a revised, updated version of our Self
Reliance program. InterAction focuses on teaching youth how to resist peer pressure but also
on communicating more effectively with their peers and adults and building skills in conflict
resolution.
Viola Thornton
Christine Vitagliano
Newsletter Staff
Bill Makely
Pam Osbourne
Stephanie Schiszik
Elaine Wallinder
Canp Fire
Illinois Prairie
Camping and Clubs
Traditional Club
Community Family Club
Camp Kata Kani Summer
Day Camp
Outdoor & Environmental
Education
In-School Programs
Self-Reliance
I’m Safe and Sure
I’m Peer Proof
I’m TakingCare
Kids on the Block
After-School Programs
R.E.A.C.H.
After School Clubs
Community Empowerment
Challenge Course
Salute to Vets
Absolutely Incredible
Kid Day
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We also know that without hard evidence, we have no way of knowing how effective our
Camp Fire programs are. In 2015, we will be using two new assessment tools. One is Youth
Program Quality Assessment, a tool we applied to last year’s Summer Day Camp Program
that has already enabled us to improve our Counselor in Training and Adventure Camp
curriculums. This year, we will be receiving training in applying the other, Thrive Initiative for
Youth Development, that will let us evaluate our other programs in four steps––Sparks,
Growth, Goals, Reflect--––to give us a true assessment of how effective they are.
Meeting our new challenge will involve changes: expanding our staff and our board of directors to have the capability to meet these new challenges, and strengthening our channels of
communication with you, our youth members and our other supporters, through both traditional channels like this newsletter and the 21st Century Social Media channel that speaks
more directly to our youth.
Supporting these changes will require raising money, through an integrated effort of applying
for foundation grants, attracting corporate sponsors for specific programs, and encouraging
donations from our loyal individual supporters. To facilitate those individual gifts, we have
already established a convenient automatic donation program with U.S. Bank, through which
regular donations can be made from a credit card throughout the year. We are also planning
to present estate planning seminars this year that will provide information on the benefits of
adding Camp Fire Illinois Prairie to your will.
Without a doubt, there is a BIG challenge ahead! I hope you are prepared, like us, to say,
“Challenge Accepted!”
Bill Makely
Board President
Camp Fire Illinois Prairie
The Prairie Post
Camp Fire Donors are Thanked
Not even lousy weather
can deter people who
support Camp Fire, as was
apparent at the
Appreciation Event held
at Ashbury’s in Bolingbrook. Over 30 people
came out (some taking
three and four times longHearty Camp Fire supporters!
er than it would normally
take to travel to the event) to hear about the new and exciting things happening at Illinois Prairie!
There were two very short presentations. Bill Makely outlined our new “Up For a Challenge?” initiative and gave an
overview of new programs and evaluations tools that we
are employing. Chris Cholewa, a Camp Fire alumna, talked
about how Camp Fire has impacted her life, both as a
youth member and board member and has helped her to
achieve professional success.
We were grateful that we had an opportunity to say
“Thanks!” and look forward to telling our supporters more
about how you make a difference for kids and families!
The YPA Does it Again!
When the Young Professional Association of the Bolingbrook Area Chamber of Commerce (YPA) wanted to have
a philanthropic event in January to benefit Camp Fire Illinois Prairie, their creativity really showed.
On January 29, they hosted a “Re-Gifting for
Camp Fire”, aka “Re-Gifting Without
Guilt” gathering at Ashbury’s in Bolingbrook. Gift Cards and bottles of wine
were donated to Camp Fire, to be used at
the Spring Event in April. Thanks to them
for over 25 donations!
United Way-Living United!
As you know, we are a proud partner of the United
Way. But, did you know that if your company participates in a United Way Giving campaign, you may be able to designate that your gift be directed to Camp Fire Illinois Prairie? For
more information, contact your campaign coordinator!
Letter from the CEO
I am starting 2015 with a grateful heart.
Not only do I have countless blessings in
my personal life, I continue to be in awe of
the people that I meet through Camp Fire!
The launch of our Challenge initiative is a
great example of the dedication and commitment of our volunteers and staff. We have spent countless hours looking at our opportunities and challenges, our
strengths and our weaknesses. Some may call it Strategic
Planning; I have called it Soul Searching. But through the
process, there has been an energy and drive on the part of
everyone involved that has been unbelievable!
I am happy to say, "Challenge Accepted!" I know we are
on a great path and can't wait to report the progress that
we make!
WoHeLo,
Stephanie R. Schiszik
Help Support Camp Fire While
Shopping on Amazon Smile!
It’s easy! It costs you nothing!
By Annette Freund
Amazon Smile is a simple and automatic way for you to
support Camp Fire every time you shop, at no cost to you.
When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus
that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price
to Camp Fire.
Simply register on Amazon Smile by going
to http://smile.amazon.com and following
the easy instructions. To select Camp Fire,
enter “Camp Fire Illinois Prairie” in the
search box. Once you’re registered, simply go to
smile.amazon.com anytime you want to shop at Amazon.
Amazon will then donate 0.5% of all eligible purchases to
the charity you’ve selected. You’ll be able to use your existing Amazon.com account, and your shopping cart,
Wish List, wedding or baby registry, and other account
settings are also the same.
WOHELO — Work, Health, Love
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Camp Fire Illinois Prairie
The Prairie Post
Club News and Events
Shooting Stars Club
By Julie Ames
Our club has been busy working on two national projects, In Pursuit of Peace and Many
Cultures. We have practiced active listening and peaceful resolutions to conflicts and
learned about Nobel Peace prize winners. We have learned the Italian version of This Little Piggy Went to Market;
played the Indonesian version of Rock, Paper, Scissors; played a fun game from Australia called Down, Down,
Down; tried the Philippine national dance – tinikling; and made a Roman game from clay – working in the national
art competition too!
We are currently working on skits for the VA Talent Show and are making hundreds of valentines for the veterans.
Next up is designing and building cars for the Grand Prix in March!
Congratulations to our 2015
Holiday Card Contest Winner!
It’s…..Kaylee
Member of the Shooting Stars Club.
Thank you to all of the club
members who submitted entries!
Holiday Craft Workshop
By Julie Ames
On November 22 members of the
Lombard-Villa Park club attended
the annual craft workshop to make
ornaments for trees at Marklund
Children’s Home in Bloomingdale.
Camp Fire kids have provided ornaments to Marklund for over thirty
years!
Special thanks to Sandy Vitellaro,
Muriel Schneider, and Eileen Olsen
for preparing all of the crafts!
Salute to Vets
By Julie Ames
Our annual talent show and visit to the Jesse Brown Veterans Hospital in Chicago will be
Sunday, Feb 8, 1:30 pm. We will be celebrating Salute to Vets as part of a national service
project and honoring the veterans for the sacrifices they made to provide us with the
freedoms we enjoy. We are asking all Camp Fire clubs to provide Valentines to bring to
the VA. This is a great event that the vets and youth look forward to every year.
Camp Kata Kani is available for group rentals!
Contact the Camp Fire office if you would like to reserve Kata Kani for your event or group.
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Providing young people the opportunity to find their spark, lift their voice, and discover who they are
Camp Fire Illinois Prairie
The Prairie Post
Program News
Camp Kata Kani Day Camp...right around the corner
Wouldn't you like your child to spend time outside, learning to
shoot a bow and arrow, fishing, making new friends, and participating in "traditional" camp activities - crafts, skits, silly songs?
You can (if you have a child from 5-15 years old) when you sign
up for Camp Fire Illinois Prairie's day camp! And, you can get a
head start on the summer season by signing up for
Spring Break Camp!
Open Houses:
Wednesday, March 25. 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 16. 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Summer Day Camp:
Spring Break Day Camp:
Monday, April 6 - Friday, April 10;
Choose five (M-F) or three (W-F) days!
Before and After care is available!
Online Registration begins Monday, February 23 for
Spring Break Camp!
Returning campers can simply log in and update any
information, then register!
Ten Weekly sessions from Mon, June 8 - Fri, August 14
 Base camp
 Adventure camp
 Leadership Academy;
 Week 10 - Preschool Preview Week
 Before and after care
Online registration begins in March!
Camp Details will be posted on our website soon! www.campfireusa-illinois.org
Give it a try! Here’s Why! Parents talk about Camp Kata Kani...
“This is a CAMP-camp...This is a camp for fun, for the love of outdoors, for traditional camp activities, and group fun, for
improvement of who we are…”
“The counselors really connect with the children and make themselves so “accessible.” The field trips were a huge highlight
for the week. And themes are very clever to tie all the week’s activities together.”
“It’s tons of fun, my daughter loved it!!”
Camp Fire Adult Friends
Share Time Together
By Sandy Vitellaro
Our annual outing to Camp Tuckabatchee was January 10th and 11th. Due to
illnesses several friends were missing. The diehard group pictured here had a
wonderful time catching up on the events of 2014. Food was plentiful as was
camaraderie. The weather was cold but that didn't stop Rachel, Chris or Sandy
from taking a two hour hike. Our craft project this year, was making notebooks
to take to the VA hospital for our annual Salute to Vets project.
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Camp Fire Illinois Prairie
The Prairie Post
Camp Fire Angel
“Make new friends, but keep the old…”
Our Camp Fire angel is Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar. Mayor Claar has a long history with Camp Fire and we are grateful
for the many ways in which he has supported us. Just in the past three years, some of the ways he has helped include making personal donations, being an invaluable resource when Camp Kata Kani was vandalized, purchasing a commemorative
brick for the campground patio, and speaking to day camp participants about his role as the Mayor. Most recently, he has
helped us make some valuable connections to other community leaders and named Illinois Prairie as one of the charitable
recipients of funds raised at his annual State of the Village address.
Thank you, Mayor Claar for being one of Camp Fire’s angels! We are so appreciative of your friendship and look forward to
working with you for many years to come!
Changes in Fundraising Strategies for Camp Fire Illinois Prairie!
Automatic Monthly Donation.
You don’t even have to think twice about showing your support for Camp Fire Illinois Prairie, literally! You can sign up for a recurring monthly donation by filling out the form on Page 7 or giving us a call and your credit card will be charged every month,
without you having to do a thing!
Consider Camp Fire in your Estate Planning.
A number of our generous friends have included Camp Fire Illinois Prairie in their estate plans to ensure that their charitable
support will have a lasting impact. If you have included Camp Fire Illinois Prairie in your will (or another planned gift arrangement), please contact us at (630) 629-5160 so that we can acknowledge your generosity and encourage others to recognize
their own potential to make a similar lasting difference.
Recycling program comes to an end.
Camp Fire Illinois Prairie will no longer participate in the recycling program. The number of eligible devices has dwindled and
the amount of effort needed to prepare and decipher eligibility has made the return to Camp Fire negligible. Thank you to all
who have donated devices and cartridges in the past. We appreciate your support in this effort.
Do You “Like” Us?
Our Promise
Young people
want to shape the world.
Camp Fire provides the
opportunity to find their sparks,
lift their voices,
and discover who they are.
In Camp Fire, it begins now.
Light the fire within.
Missed out on any of our Newsletters?
See our website at
Camp Fire Illinois Prairie wants you to like us on
Facebook! Our page is available at:
https://www.facebook.com/CampFireIllinoisPrairie.
Not only will you find interesting posts and be able to
connect with others who are part of the Camp Fire family, you will have opportunities throughout the year to win
Camp Fire merchandise! We are very likeable – check us
out now!
We’re just a click away!
www.campfireusa-illinois.org
for past editions
If anyone has a story to tell…
past or present, let us know!
6
And, follow us on Twitter
Camp Fire Illinois Prairie
Wish List
for 2015 and beyond
Volunteers for events
Board Members
Committee Members
Copy Machine
Roofing materials for Camp Kata Kani
Alumni involvement for all our
celebrations!
Website Design
Your email address, to help us
save money on printing and
mailing our publications
Office Supplies
Camp Fire Illinois Prairie
The Prairie Post
Contributors - November 2014—January 2015
Ms. Julie Ames
Mr. & Mrs. V. Robert Baird
Mr. & Mrs. G. Burge
Ms. Rachel Cairo
Mr. Michael Carpanzano
Mayor Roger Claar
Ms. Jeannie Claycomb
Mr. & Mrs. W. Cohrs
Mr. & Mrs. R. Conners
Ms. Laurie Culbert
Mr. Anthony Deato
Mr. Nick Dispensa
Ms. Nadia Esmail
Mr. & Mrs. W. Farrell
Mr. & Mrs. G. Finch
Mr. & Mrs. R. Freund
Ms. Lettie Heer
Mr. & Mrs. C. Ide
Mr. Rob Jensen
Mr. Shawn Johnson
Mr. Jerry Jones
Ms. Barb Koch
Mr. & Mrs. J. Kuhnline
Ms. June Lincoln
Ms. Joyce Lohrentz
Ms. Gerri Long
Mr. Bill Makely*
Mr. & Mrs. C. Maltese
Mr. Steven Marr
Ms. Dorthea Martin
Ms. Donna Nietzel
Mr. & Mrs. W. Nosek
Mr. & Mrs. K. Novak
Ms. Ione Piche
Mr.& Mrs. M. Reihsmann
Ms. Erna Reihsmann
Ms. Barb Reszke
Mr. & Mrs. J. Rhine
Mr. & Mrs. R. Schiszik
Ms. Lillian Schroeder
Ms. Lauren Searle
Ms. Kathy Sichrovsky
Mr. & Mrs. T. Stark
Ms. Viola Thornton
Mr. & Mrs. B. Truchan
Mr. Richard Vitellaro
Ms. Sandy Vitellaro
Mr. Joseph Vitti
Ms. Elaine Wallinder
Ms. Peg Wendell
Ms. Barbara Yeager
Ms. Patricia Zapinski
Ashbury’s
BMO Harris Bank
Bolingbrook Chamber of
Commerce
Buona Beef
YPA of Bolingbrook
United Way—Fox Valley
United Way—Will County
Ms. Barb Baker
In memory of
Mary Ann Matysik
Ms. Anita Lutkus
In honor of
Janet Williams
Ms. Jo Booty
In honor of
Annette Freund
Mr. Todd Prellberg
In honor of
Julie Ames
Chris Buik
In memory of
Betty J. Buik
Ms. Muriel Schneider
In honor of
Sandy Vitellaro
Ms. Pam Hoffman
In Honor of
Faith LaVelle
Ms. Stephanie Schiszik
In memory of
Jerry Anderson
Mr. & Mrs. A. LaVelle
In memory of
Mary Ann Matysik
Ms. Stephanie Schiszik
In memory of
Mary Ann Matysik
Mr. & Mrs. W. Lockett
In memory of
Susan Heinke
Ms. Chris Taylor
In memory of
Danny Taylor
*Recurring Donor
Be part of Camp Fire’s Legacy!!
Our legacy patio at Camp Kata Kani became reality in the Fall of 2012 and you can still be part of it!
Click here for an order form, or contact the Camp Fire office for information. Join your Camp Fire
friends and family today!
Camp Fire is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization. Gifts are tax deductible to the extent provided by the law.
Payment Method:
___Check (payable to:
Camp Fire Illinois Prairie)
Name (print)____________________________________________________
___Mastercard
$250
City, State, Zip__________________________________________________
___Visa
Phone__________________________Email__________________________
$100
___Debit Card
$1000
$500
$50
$25
___Automatic monthly
Deduction via credit card
__________Monthly Amount
Your gift in any amount is appreciated!
Address_______________________________________________________
Credit Card Information:
Card Holder Name (print)_________________________________________
Card Number__________________________________________________
Expiration Date______________________ 3 digit code on back__________
Signature_____________________________________________________
$________________Enclosed
Please contact me! I’m interested in more information about:___________________________________________________
Camp Fire Illinois Prairie respects the privacy of our contributors.
We do not sell or give away contact information of our donors to other organizations.
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Providing young people the
opportunity to find their spark,
lift their voice,
and discover who they are
Camp Fire
Illinois Prairie
45 W. Roosevelt Road
Lombard, IL 60148
(630) 629-5160 office
(630) 629-6324 fax
Email
[email protected]
Camp Fire Illinois Prairie
The Prairie Post
of Events
Winter 2015
Calendar of EventsCalendar
~ Spring and
Summer~2010
February 2015
March 2015
April 2015
8
Salute to Vets
1:30 @ Hines VA
11
Development Committee
7:00 pm @ office
1
Development Committee
7:00 pm @ office
11
Development Committee
7:00 pm @ office
17
St. Patrick’s Day
3
Good Friday
Office Closed
11
Veteran’s Day
24
Financial Management
5:30 pm @ office
14
Valentine’s Day
24
16
President’s Day
Office closed
Board Meeting
7:00 pm @ office
25
Camp Kata Kani Open House
5:30-7:00 pm at Kata Kani
20-21 CF Nat’l Workshop
Kansas City, MO
24
Financial Management
5:30 pm @ office
24
Board Meeting
7:00 pm @ office
6-10 Spring Break Camp
At Camp Kata Kani
10
Spring Event-Up for a
Challenge
7-10 pm at Cantigny Golf
28
Financial Management
5:30 pm @ office
28
Board Meeting
7:00 pm @ office
Meeting Dates/Times are subject to change!