Tell Kids How Absolutely Incredible They Are; Write It In A Letter And Help Celebrate Camp Fire USA's 6th Annual Absolutely Incredible Kid Day®

Camp Fire Boys and Girls
Tuesday, 1 January 2002

"You make me smile because..."

"Your laughter brightens my day."

"Your greatest strengths are your courage, honesty and straightforward nature. These are characteristics that will help you grow into a loving, kind adult."

Just a few words become a few sentences. Soon, these words create a touching letter, telling a child how much he or she is loved, and offering words of encouragement that can last a lifetime. This is the cornerstone of Camp Fire USA's Absolutely Incredible Kid Day®: communicating to America's most precious resource - our youth - how valuable and absolutely incredible they are.

Absolutely Incredible Kid Day®, celebrated annually on the third Thursday in March - March 21, 2002 - is Camp Fire USA's national call to action asking adults to write letters of love and support to youth - sons and daughters, nieces and nephews, neighbors, even kids they don't know. This national campaign to honor children has been recognized by child care experts, educators, celebrities, leaders, parents, and kids everywhere as an event to inspire adult-to-child interaction.

Research shows that simple words of encouragement and compassion can make a difference in a child's life. Putting those words into a letter allows the recipient to keep and cherish those encouraging words, and return to them for inspiration and guidance, often for years to come.

"Personally, I know so many people who have been touched by this day," said Stewart J. Smith, Camp Fire USA national chief executive officer. "A letter can be so powerful and such a positive force in a child's life - and it's an extremely rewarding and emotional experience for the letter writer as well."

Absolutely Incredible Kid Day® has touched more than 600 million people nationwide in the five years since its inception. Its supporters include national figures such as celebrities Oprah Winfrey and Jim Carrey; politicians George W. Bush and "Kit" Bond; family authorities, Stephen Covey and Sylvia Rimm, Ph.D.; and sports heroes Jerry Rice and Jeff Gordon.

Throughout the country, Camp Fire USA councils will celebrate Absolutely Incredible Kid Day® locally with a variety of unique events, including the Adopt-a-School project, fundraisers and delivering bibs to newborns. To contact a council in your community to find out what they're doing, go to the council locator.

Help Camp Fire USA celebrate America's children by writing a letter to the kids in your life. It's a simple gesture whose impact can last a lifetime.

Camp Fire USA is one of the nation's leading not-for-profit youth development organizations, serving over 650,000 participants annually. Camp Fire, with national headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri, since 1977, provides all-inclusive, coeducational programs in hundreds of communities across the United States. Camp Fire USA's mission is to build caring, confident youth and future leaders. By design, Camp Fire's programs, including small group experiences, after school programs, camping and environmental education, child care and service learning, build confidence in younger children and provide hands-on, youth-driven leadership experiences for older youth.

For more information, or to contact Camp Fire Boys and Girls, see their website at: www.campfire.org