Campfire

Campfire is a virtual exchange program challenging and inspiring students to investigate the question, “How do we, as youth, engage our communities to create positive social change?” Leveraging technology, Campfire connects students globally on project-based activities emphasizing global citizenship and 21st-century skills including critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and digital literacy.

Young people, in the US and around the world, lack the opportunities to meaningfully and productively engage with difference in a world that is undergoing vast social, cultural, technological, and economic transformation. This particularly affects students in underserved geographies and populations who may not have the opportunities to engage with difference. The ability to engage with others who may come from vastly different backgrounds is necessary in the 21st century workplace. We believe in a generation of global citizens who are empathetic, aware, and taking action to solve some of the world's most pressing issues during these transformative times.

If we use technology and innovative pedagogy to connect and guide young people to engage in meaningful dialogue, they will make new discoveries: not only about each other, but also about themselves, their communities, and their ability to take action on the issues—local, national, and international––that affect their lives. 

Ultimately, these connections will result in a network of global citizens who have the skills and disposition to change the world for the better.

Campfire will impact 500 classrooms (approximately 10,000 students) in the US (Kentucky, New York, California, Texas), and abroad (Jordan, Tunisia, and Morocco) by 2021. This will give students the opportunity to engage with those that are different from them while developing 21st century workplace skills such as critical thinking, communication, and collaboration. With the help of our field partners, GNG will use its video conferencing technology, digital platform, virtual reality application, and the Internet to provide access to Campfire for not only urban and suburban students, but also unserved geographies and communities.

Track enrollment data collected by GNG staff, field partners, and participating educators. - Scale participants from 150 classrooms (3,000 students) during the 2017-18 academic year to 500 classrooms (10,000 students) during the 2020-21 academic year.

Measure the curricular learning outcomes using GNG's evaluation tools; evaluate student projects. - Improve participants' 21st century skills of critical thinking, communication, and collaboration.

Evaluate data collected from pre- and post-program surveys, focus group discussions, and interviews on students' ability to explore and understand other perspectives. - Develop participants' level of empathy and understanding of their partner classroom from a different country.

Campfire is a unique solution because it is a peer-to-peer program that allows students to directly engage with their international counterparts. By incorporating virtual exchange technology such as interactive video conferencing and virtual reality students not only build 21st century skills, but also develop empathy and awareness across difference—skills they need to prepare them for the workforce of the future and thrive in the 21st century. The digital nature of Campfire makes it innovative because it gives access to communities who may not otherwise have access to communicate or collaborate across difference through traditional avenues.

GNG uses a human-centered design approach to Campfire’s curriculum. Like Solve, GNG is committed to underserved communities. Every time we design and refine the curriculum, GNG brings together educators, experts, students, and other key users to ensure that the Campfire curriculum is constantly meeting the needs of those it serves. The very essence of Campfire is collaborative learning—from the designing of the curriculum to the interactions our student participants have during the implementation of the program. 

Campfire’s digital nature allows anyone with Internet access to participate in the program. GNG uses our various field partners, who have an intimate knowledge and expertise of their particular geography, to help ensure that Campfire can be accessed by even the most underserved communities. GNG subsidizes the cost of Campfire by seeking out grants from foundations, individuals, and the US government to ensure that it can be accessed by our participants. This is especially important for rural and poorer communities, who typically may not have opportunities to learn about and collaborate with international peers. 

GNG has an ambitious fundraising plan over the next 4 years to grow our revenue. GNG has outlined a development strategy that diversifies income and emphasizes increasing networks of contacts and supporters so that GNG can grow unrestricted support. Additionally, GNG is going to implement a fee-for-service model for Campfire for the schools, districts, and communities that can afford the cost. Increasing GNG’s earned income and unrestricted support will allow GNG and Campfire to sustain, grow, and innovate. 

Campfire’s barriers to success are primarily environmental and technical. GNG works across various education systems to introduce global citizenship and competencies into the classroom. Although Campfire aligns with standards such as the Common Core in the US, public school curricula and educational bureaucracy prevent seamless integration in the Middle East North Africa region. Technology problems have arisen due to a lack of hardware or Internet connectivity, primarily outside of the US. GNG relies on our field partners to help alleviate said problems. 

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Over the last two years GNG has implemented Campfire in hundreds of classrooms across the United States and the Middle East-North Africa region, connecting students who may not otherwise have the opportunity to engage with difference. Campfire is a proven program that has been iterated and reiterated several times. Indeed, Campfire is at a fertile juncture for rapid expansion. By becoming a Solver, GNG will able to capitalize on the resources, partnerships, and expertise Solve can gather to scale Campfire to more communities (especially those which are underserved) across the US and MENA. 

GNG’s partners are the Bezos Family Foundation, The Aspen Institute: Stevens Initiative, the US Department of State, the PhotoWings Foundation, and the Bader Charitable Foundation. GNG additionally works with Madrasati, a Queen Rania Initiative, the Moroccan Association of Teachers of English, and the Kentucky Educational Development Corporation in the field. 

GNG’s competitors are iEarn and Pen Pal Schools.