Camp Fire leaders celebrate service

Celebrating their Wohelo award: (L.-R.) Rikki Glick, Jackie Grittman, Crystal Metcalf, Teresse MacKenzie, Amber Craigg, Josh Simone. photo by Conrad Weiler Celebrating many years of friendship and service through Camp Fire USA, six local students received their Wohelo (Work, Help, Love) awards at Sisters High School on Sunday evening.

A large group of family, friends, and officials applauded the efforts and accomplishments of Amber Craigg, Rikki Glick, Jackie Grittman, Teresse MacKenzie, Crystal Metcalf and Josh Simone in the thoroughly decorated meeting room.

"This is the end of a journey and the beginning of life for these young people," said advisor Cindy Glick. "I'm not their leader but only their advisor. Once they reach high school, that's about the best you can do."

She presented Pendleton blankets to each of the youths "to wrap around themselves and remember the friendship and home they'll always have."

Each recipient has been with Camp Fire from six to 12 years and through their high school years they have participated in varying service projects to the community, fulfilling their Wohelo goals.

These included offering baby sitting classes; a canned food drive benefiting COBRA (Central Oregon Battering and Rape Alliance); displaying the gift of giving to elementary school students; supporting the Bethlehem Inn shelter; working as day camp counselors; a juvenile empowerment team and benefit car washes by different members.

The activities add up to 1,500 to 2,500 community service hours for each Wohelo recipient.

Nationwide, about 200 young people have earned the Wohelo Medallion this year. Six (3 percent) of these young people are from the Sisters area.

Executive Director Sue Hamilton of Camp Fire USA offered praise for Cindy Glick:

"It takes a very special person to lead a group of young people successfully and Cindy always has such energy that she is a winner."

Glick also remembered and thanked the parents who over the years "always stepped up to the plate and helped so much in making the program a success."

A buffet dinner was followed by a PowerPoint presentation in which the six young people listed their goals, memories and project accomplishments in the program.

Camp Fire started in 1910 for girls, added boys to the program in 1975 and now is known as Camp Fire USA.

For more information about Camp Fire USA call 382-4682.

The program is open to students from kindergarten through 12th grade.