Camp Fire National Friendship Fund

Camp Fire National Friendship Fund

Program Type: Financial and community resource assistance program

Purpose

Fills in funding gaps throughout the national Camp Fire network, extends existing scholarship programs, and supports projects that remove barriers to accessibility and participation in camp and outdoor programs.

Focus Areas

• Financial assistance/scholarships for campers with limited incomes
• Accessibility improvements to camp facilities
• Outdoor gear and equipment for campers with financial need
• Gender-inclusive and gender-neutral facilities and policies
• Programs serving Indigenous youth and other marginalized communities
• Workforce skills training and stipends

Historical Context

The modern Friendship Fund re-launched in 2022 with $20,000 from a seed donor. It has historical precedent as Camp Fire's emergency relief source from the 1950s-1970s, notably supporting recovery efforts in Prince William Sound, Alaska after the 1964 earthquake.

Geographic Scope

National network of Camp Fire affiliate camps

Recent Project Examples (2022)

• Tuition coverage for families with limited incomes
• Purchasing outdoor gear (hiking boots, sleeping bags, water bottles, jackets)
• Installing automatic door-openers at dining halls and community centers
• Buying gender-inclusive swim shirts
• Upgrading water systems and bathrooms
• Supporting Leader-in-Training programs for Indigenous youth (free tuition, stipends, workforce skills training)

Camp Tuition Range

$400 to $1,800 depending on location, session length, and activities offered

Contact Information

Shawna Rosenzweig, Camp Fire's Chief Strategy Officer Ben Matthews, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Specialist Email: ben.matthews@campfire.org