Camp Fire offers fun beyond the summer
FREMONT - When people think about Camp Fire, they often envision summer activities like fishing, swimming or canoeing. But Camp Fire Sandusky County is just as fun in the winter, and camp staff have planned several weekly programs from now through spring.
“We kicked off the winter programs with Art Camp,” said Program Director Micah Zinna.
Art Camp is offered to kids in grades kindergarten through sixth and runs through Feb. 14. The program is built around this year’s recycle theme, so kids will engage in art projects like Plastic Bottle Fairy Houses and Newspaper Owls.
Fashion Camp, for kids in grades third to sixth, runs through March 1. No experience is needed for this class, which teaches kids how to upcycle clothing and use sewing machines to create new fashion. Campers will wear their creations on a runway during the annual Uncork the Fun fundraiser on March 11.
“It’s all about upscaling anything,” Zinna said. “They’ll take items from their wardrobe or thrift store finds and make it their own.”
At Teen Art Experience, St. Joseph art teacher Lisa Abdoo will help teens in grades seven through 12 to create an upcycled fashion project to submit to the Camp Fire National Art Experience. The projects will be judged at Uncork the Fun, and the winners will be highlighted nationally by Camp Fire. Teen Art Experience runs Jan. 19 through Feb. 23.
“The theme is upcycled fashion, and they can interpret that anyway they want,” Zinna said.
Spring programs kick off with the Sparks Discovery Lab for grades 3-9 on March 6. This NASA-affiliated program will teach students how astronauts use solar power on the International Space Station. Some of the Sparks Discovery Lab classes will be held at Camp Fire, and some will be held at Lutz and Croghan elementary schools.
Spring classes include Independent Living Skills program
On March 8 through April 19, area teens can learn practical, everyday skills in the Independent Living Skills program.
“There’s no target population for this, but we’re finding a lot of kids with special needs attend this,” Zinna said. “We partner with the Sandusky County Board of Developmental Disabilities, and the kids love it.”
Participants share a meal during the program to practice manners and social skills, and they learn about life skills from visitors from the Sandusky County Health Department and Ohio Means Jobs.
“The program progresses based on the kids that are here,” Zinna said. “One kids’ success can look different than another kids’ success.”
Kids in grades K-6 are invited to attend Cooking Camp on March 16 through April 27.
“This has been really successful for us,” Zinna said. “They learn things like kitchen safety and how to make sauces and different kinds of chicken. They’ll do a Facebook live at the end to show what they learned.”
Camp Fire to offer activities on days that schools close
When schools are closed on March 1 and April 3 to 6, Camp Fire will offer the School’s Out, Camp’s In program. The program offers curriculum-based, fun activities, and gives parents a safe place to drop off their kids.
On the third Saturday of every month, moms and dads can have time to themselves when they drop their kindergartners through fifth grade kids off at Camp Fire for Parents’ Night Out. Kids enjoy a meal and fun activities.
“Parents can have a break or take time for themselves,” Zinna said.
All of the Camp Fire events look a little brighter thanks to new windows and doors that were installed this year thanks to a Sandusky County Community Foundation Grant.
“We want to give a huge thank you to them,” Zinna said. “We are so excited to have these new windows and doors.”
For more information on Camp Fire Sandusky County programs, including costs, visit campfiresc.org or call 419-332-8641.
Contact correspondent Sheri Trusty at sheritrusty4@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Camp Fire offers winter variety of indoor fun
