2022 was a year of growth for us here at Camp Fire Iowa! Hear from Kelly Peterson, Executive Director for Camp Fire Heart of Iowa.
“This has been quite the year! We started out 2022 with many transitions in our professional staff. In February, we welcomed Lauren Slinker as our DSM Program Director, Anna Schaber as our Marketing and Communications Director, and Lacey Adamson as our Administrative and (new) Hiring Manager. These new additions and with the hiring of Drew Demery as our new Camp Hantesa Director in May completed our leadership team as we headed into our busy season.
We expanded our non-summer season with a partnership with DSM Public Schools. As a part of the 21st Century funding program, we were able to provide after-school environmental education and outdoor activities to local elementary school students. Along with our School Days’ Off program and our Winter and Spring Day and Overnight camps, while planning for the summer, we were quite busy during the months leading up to summer camp season.
This summer, we offered some familiar, returning, as well as new and exciting programs! We held our six traditional overnight camp sessions, two mini overnight camp sessions, our Apprentice Programs, and day camps at Hantesa, Canwita, and DSM. In addition, Outpost was back! We had a two-week session which included a week of skill-building and a second week on the lakes and rivers. We also added Skate Camp with a partnership with Skate DSM, and Leadership Challenge, a new pre-teen/teen program where campers began exploring and developing their leadership skills. All in all, it was an awesome summer!
These programs are made possible by the generosity of our supporters. People who are willing to invest in the young people and families of our community with their time, talent, and financial support! You, along with all of us at Camp Fire Heart of Iowa, know the impact quality opportunities and programs have on a young person’s development. Not just today, but in the years to come as they grow to connect with themselves, their community, and nature. Thank you!
Our team continues to seek out and meet the needs of our community by pursuing new partnerships, programs, and opportunities. This would not be possible without the dedication, innovation, and continued flexibility of this entire team. I continued to have the privilege of working along side this talented team to create the future and to live into the mission of our organization. Again, thank you for your continued support, I’m excited to see what lies ahead in the coming year for Camp Fire Heart of Iowa.”
Work-Health-Love,
Kelly Peterson
See the full 2022 Annual Report, here.
