From coast to coast and all points in between, teens across the country are improving their communities through Camp Fire USA's Teens in Action program. It's an awesome way to make new friends and have fun, build leadership skills and make a difference in the world.

Teens in Action, Camp Fire USA's teen service-learning program, is based on the idea that teens, like you, are the key to the future and are making a difference in communities nationwide. Teens in Action empowers teens to speak out and stand up in their communities.

Through the national youth campaign, Teens in Action members are bettering their communities through such activities as:

• Peer mediation
• Legislative involvement
• Mentoring and tutoring programs
• Community education
• Special events and
• Service-learning projects

What is Service-Learning?

Service-learning is a teaching method that engages young people in solving problems within their schools and communities as part of an intentional learning activity. Service-learning also helps young people develop a range of service skills, from acts of kindness and caring, to community stewardship, to civic action. The service-learning philosophy is learning by doing through meaningful experiences. Service-learning is different from community service or a service project.

Teens in Action Service-Learning:

• serves as a vehicle for achieving community, group and individual goals and objectives;
• is based on a reciprocal relationship in which the service reinforces and strengthens learning and learning reinforces and strengthens service;
• enhances learning by joining theory with experience and thought with action and may help fulfill graduation requirements;
• exposes youth to societal inadequacies and injustices and empowers youth to remedy them;
• fosters the development of empathy, personal values, beliefs, awareness, self-esteem, self-confidence, social responsibility and helps to foster a sense of caring for others;  
• fills unmet needs in the community through direct, meaningful service;
• enables students to give of themselves and to enter into caring relationships with others;
• provides structured time for youth to reflect on their service and learning experiences through a mix of writing, reading, speaking, listening and creating in small and large groups and individual work; and
• offers youth an opportunity for leadership in their communities and prepares them for future careers.

Be a Teen in Action

Ready to get involved?!

To get more information about Camp Fire USA's Teens in Action and other cool teen leadership programs, contact your nearest Camp Fire USA council or e-mail info@campfireusa.org.