Camp Fire USA Delivers Water to the Mustang Fire Department

On Thursday, April 30th, some of our Mustang Camp Fire USA members and a few of our Council staff helped deliver 25 cases of bottled water to the Mustang Fire Department. The firemen were very pleased with our donation, and told us how much they appreciate what we are doing to help our local fire departments who were involved in the recent wild fires.

We will be making yet another delivery to the Jones Fire Department, a completely volunteer run department, on Monday, May 4th. Everyone is welcome to join us in showing our support for the brave men and women who save so many lives. Let's show them Camp Fire cares!

To find out more about this important project, or to make a monetary donation, please call Michaelanne Stilwell at the Camp Fire USA Heart of Oklahoma Council office at (405) 478-5646. Any donations of bottled water can be dropped off at our office located at 3309 E. Hefner Road in Oklahoma City.

Teens in Action Update!

Teens have the opportunity to raise money for their scholarship account by working at the Annual Chuck Wagon Festival at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum on May 23rd and May 24th. You will be selling sodas at a Coca-Cola booth. Space is limited so sign up ASAP.

Camp Fire USA youth in grades 6-12 have a chance to participate in a high ropes course on June 13th. The cost is $10 per person and you must bring a sack a lunch. Space is limited, RSVP by June 10th.

The Heart of Oklahoma Council is holding the first ever Laff-O-Lympics on July 25th from 3 pm – 7pm at Camp DaKaNi. This is our wild version of the Olympics. You should wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty, sticky, wet, or stained. The cost is $5 per person and dinner will be served. RSVP by July 10th.

RSVP for all events to Dace, London, or Michaelanne @ (405) 478-5646.

If you have something you want Teens in Action to do; email Dace@campfireusa-ok.org

First Shipment of Bottled Water Delivered to the Nicoma Park Fire Department

On Thursday, April 23rd, our first shipment of bottled water was delivered to the Nicoma Park Fire Department.

My daughter and I met up with Carolyn Herman's club to unload our delivery of 13 cases of water (that's 38 gallons!) at the fire station.

The firemen were so grateful, and they even pulled one of the fire trucks out of the station and let the kids climb on board and blow the air horn. Naturally, this was a huge hit with the kids!

The firemen were surprised by the amount of water we had collected for them, and told us that bottled water is something they use to flush their eyes, quench their thirst, and cool off while fighting fires.

We had a great time, and I can't wait to make next week's delivery to the Mustang Fire Department. I hope to see everyone there!

WAY TO GO CAMP FIRE USA!!!

Camp Fire USA Heart of Oklahoma Grand Council Fire

CAMP FIRE USA HEART OF OKLAHOMA COUNCIL ACKNOWLEDGE YOUTH AT GRAND COUNCIL FIRE

Youth & Adults Honored At Year End Ceremony

Camp Fire USA Heart of Oklahoma Council will hold its annual Grand Council Fire to recognize the efforts of its members on Sunday, April 26, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Quail Springs United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City.

At the ceremony, several Camp Fire USA members will be presented with the President’s Volunteer Service Award and WoHeLo Award. Also, trophies will be awarded to those members who sold more than 249 boxes of candy in the annual candy sale.

“In 1955, Grand Council Fire was held at Lincoln Park Amphitheatre and was attended by hundreds of people,” remembers Vianna Foree, former Executive Director of Heart of Oklahoma Council and long-time Camp Fire USA member. “I was in the 11th grade, and I led the Firemaker’s Desire that year. I was thrilled, and that experience helped me know the value of the Camp Fire organization.”

The President's Volunteer Service Award recognizes individual members, families, and groups that have achieved the national Camp Fire USA honor based on the number of hours served over a 12-month period. This year the Council will hand out nearly 40 President’s Volunteer Service Awards to its youth and adult members.

The WoHeLo Award, Camp Fire USA’s highest honor, will be awarded to 10 graduating seniors from the Heart of Oklahoma Council this year. Those who undertake the rigorous task of completing the WoHeLo Award typically start working on the requirements when they are in 9th grade. Each youth demonstrates their commitment to advocacy through the work they do on 3 different issues, such as giving service to the deaf, or helping at an animal shelter. Earning the WoHeLo Award puts these young people into an elite group of current and former Camp Fire USA members who have taken on this task of leadership and personal growth.

“I earned my WoHeLo Award as a senior in 1979, and my daughter earned hers in 2007,” said Susan Williams, Senior Program Director for Camp Fire USA Heart of Oklahoma Council. “Now we share common memories of going through the process of earning the award and what we learned from the experience.”

All past Camp Fire USA WoHeLo recipients, lifetime members, current members, and volunteers are invited to attend the annual recognition ceremony.

For more information on the many programs Camp Fire USA offers youth in Central Oklahoma, please call the Council office at (405) 478-5646.

Bottled Water for Local Fire Deparments

CAMP FIRE USA COLLECTS BOTTLED WATER TO MEET NEEDS OF LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS

Bottled Water Shortage Reported at Rural Fire Departments

Camp Fire USA Heart of Oklahoma Council is collecting cases of bottled water to be donated to several rural fire departments that were involved in fighting the recent wild fires that ultimately destroyed hundreds of homes, businesses and acres of land in central Oklahoma.

This week’s donations of water are being accepted at the Camp Fire USA Heart of Oklahoma Council offices located at 3309 E. Hefner Road until Thursday, April 30, and will be delivered to the Mustang Fire Department that same evening at 6 p.m. Deliveries will be organized each week in this ongoing project, and donations will be accepted by Thursday of each week through May 21st.

The water, which is kept on board the fire trucks, is used in the line of duty to wash out the firemen’s eyes, quench their thirst, and cool off.

The Heart of Oklahoma Council’s goal is to collect and distribute 250 cases of bottled water to help offset the financial strain the wild fires created for the smaller, mostly volunteer-driven fire departments.

“Firemen are such heroes in our communities, and we want to do something to show how much we appreciate their courage and the critical service they provide,” said Michaelanne Stilwell, Director of Marketing, Communications & Special Events for Camp Fire USA Heart of Oklahoma Council. “We recognized the need, and now we are doing what we can to satisfy it.”

Camp Fire USA Heart of Oklahoma Council will continue taking donations in the weeks to come until the Council has helped as many fire departments as possible.

“I think this is great,” said Jim Shonts, Fire Chief for the Nicoma Park Fire Department. “If we don’t get these kinds of things donated, it ends up coming out of our pockets.”

To make a donation, please bring bottled water to the Camp Fire USA Heart of Oklahoma Council office, Monday through Thursday, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., or call the Council at (405) 478-5646 if you would like to make a monetary donation in support of this important project.

Media:
For more information about the many programs offered by Camp Fire USA Heart of Oklahoma Council or to arrange interviews with staff or members, please contact Michaelanne Stilwell at (405) 201-0227.

Price Changes in Camp Fire Store

Camp Fire USA's National Office raised prices on their merchandise effective March 16, 2009. For a copy of the new price list, please e-mail London at london@campfireusa-ok.org.

April and May 2009 Calender

April 2009
4 Annual Meeting
4 Area 1 Camp Out
17 Area 3 Camp Out
18 Earth Day Event at Camp DaKaNi 18 Fast Fair Share Camp Out
25 Guthrie 89'er
25 Parade 26 Grand Council Fire
26 Grand Council Fire

May 2009

2 Camp DaKaNi Counselor Training
16 Camp DaKaNi Counselor Aide Training
23 Chuck Wagon Festival at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum
24 Chuck Wagon Festival at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum
25 Memorial Day (office closed)
30 Camp DaKaNi make up training for counselors and aides

A.S.C.E.N.T. High Ropes Course

Camp Fire USA youth in grades 6-12 are invited to the A.S.C.E.N.T. High Ropes Course which is located at Danforth and Midwest Blvd. on June 13th. Youth should arrive at the course by 8:30 am and must be picked up by 4:00 pm. Cost is $10 per person. All participants need to bring a sack lunch. Space is limited, so RSVP to London at (405)478-5646 soon!

DON'T FORGET TO EAT AT JOHNNIE'S

The first Sunday of each month is Camp Fire USA day at all Johnnie's Charcoal Broiler locations. When placing your order, let them know that you would like 10% of your meal's cost to go to Camp Fire USA, and they will send us a check each month.

Johnnie's Charcoal Broiler locations:

Oklahoma City:
2652 W. Britton Rd.
6629 N.W. Exp.
421 S.W. 74th

Edmond:

33 E. 33rd St

620 W. Danforth

Grand Council Fire

When: Sunday, April 26, 2009, 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Where: Quail Springs United Methodist Church, 14617 N. Pennsylvania Ave, Oklahoma City, OK (Just 1 mile north of the Kilpatrick Turnpike on Pennsylvania Ave.)

Grand Council Fire is a special celebration for the whole family. We would like for everyone to come and bring parents, grandparents and friends for an afternoon of Camp Fire USA fun! Youth members who donate $1.00 to the Camp Fire USA Birthday Fund will receive a historic Camp Fire USA bead. This donation helps the council pay expenses for renting the auditorium and counts as one of the requirements in the "Celebrate Camp Fire USA" project.

Grand Council Fire Emblems will be on sale in the church lobby for $1.00 each.

Grand Council Fire rehearsal will start at 2:30 p.m. on April 26th for EVERYONE. This includes Perry Drill Team, Klowns, processional participants, flag ceremony participants, WoHeLo recipients and their families and friends. Any group not ready by 2:30 p.m., will not be allowed to perform.