Category: News and Events

The FYRE Foundation will provide FREE STEM robotics classes once a week on Monday evenings from 7:30pm-8:30pm at the Redeemer Church’s Student Resource Center located at 12404 Boyette Rd, Riverview, FL.  Classes will begin on April 2^nd and go through May 21^st. 

FYRE will provide all materials necessary. 

Students will learn about: 1) Raspberry Pi programming, 2) Python scripting, 3) microelectronics, 4) electric motors and actuators, 5) bread board configuration, and 6) robotics.  The first week will be introductions and team formation followed by six weeks of classes.  The last week will be a robotics competition.  All classes will be recorded on Facebook live and YouTube to help students who cannot attend each week.  Families will need to sign a hold-harmless agreement and permission to be recorded. 

An adult 18 or older must accompany the student and be present in the class each week.  The STEM classes will be taught by a nuclear engineer with a graduate certificate in robotics from MIT. 

The target of this class is for boys and girls ages 8-13. Special consideration will be given to youth in underrepresented minority communities.  Applications will be accepted through March 17, 2023.  A panel will select the first round of students and make notifications on March 19, 2023.  Incomplete applications may not be fully competitive. The student essay will be judged on a merit-based grading scale.

There are 18 total student slots which will form 6 teams of 3 students each.  Six slots are for ages 8-10 years old and 6 slots for ages 11-13 years old.  Scouts from Cub Scout Pack 481(Family) and Scouts BSA Troops 482(Boy) and Troop 483(Girl) will make up the remaining 6 slots. 

Those interested in joining Scouting can continue on and complete the BSA Robotics Merit Badge following the eight-week STEM class and become eligible to participate in a FREE BSA Nuclear Engineering Merit Badge being taught at a local university in late summer 2023.

DEADLINE TO APPLY:  17 MARCH 2023

ELIGIBILITY:

• All youth, boys and girls, between the ages of 8 and 13 years old may apply.
• Priority for this class will be given to students from one of the following underrepresented minority communities:  Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, American Indians or Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders.

HOW TO APPLY:  Complete the attached form.  You can scan completed (signed/dated) form and email it to info@TheFYRE.org or mail it to 13194 US Hwy 301 S Suite 320, Riverview, FL 33578.

HOW YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED:  Parents of accepted students will be notified by email on March 18, 2023.

For more information on FYRE Foundation’s Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics programs, click here.

On Saturday, February 4, 2023, youth and adults from FYRE’s Scouting units participated in BSA Greater Tampa Bay Area Council’s (GTBAC) Scouting for Food event.  To raise awareness for the annual BSA food drive, Scouts hiked 40 miles from the GTBAC Office to Lakeland, FL. 

The hike began at 6am in Tampa.  Scouts who participated completed one of several hiking merit badge requirements and earned community service hours.    

The FYRE Foundation participates in this Scouting for Food drive and provides collected food to the Redeemer Church in Riverview, FL who hosts FYRE Scouting activities. If you would like to help with food drive, find more details here.

The Family and Youth Research and Education (FYRE) Foundation, a local Riverview, FL based 501(c)(3) focused on families and youth, invites Girls and Boys Kindergarten-5^th Grade and their family to join us for a FREE, FUN, ACTION-packed afternoon at YMCA Camp Cristina, 9840 Balm Riverview Rd, Riverview, FL, on Saturday, January 21, 2023, from 1-3pm.  FYRE’s Cub Scout Pack 481 is hosting a community adventure day featuring a rappelling tower, human foosball, gaga ball, snacks, and much, much more!  Please RSVP a Pack481F@TheFYRE.org or call FYRE officers at 813-360-1414.

If you cannot make Saturday, come to one of our weekly Cub Scout Pack meetings held every Thursday from 6:30pm-7:30pm at the Redeemer Church’s Student Resource Center at 12404 Boyette Rd, Riverview, FL.  Pack 481 is a “Family” unit meaning it is co-ed.  The pack meets every week during the school year and conducts one big fun event each month during the summer.  You can find more information about our Cub Scout program at https://www.fyrefoundation.org/pack481/.

Here are fun pictures from past pack events at Camp Cristina.

LITHIA, FL: FYRE’s Scouts BSA Troop 482 (Boy) and Troop 483 (Girl) trained youth ranging from 10-17 years old, boys and girls, on Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops (ILST). ILST teaches basic team building principles, how to plan and communicate, and the duties and responsibilities of each youth troop position.

The Scout Troops camped Friday through Sunday at Alderman’s Ford Conservation Park. Temperatures dropped below freezing and remained cold and windy all weekend. Scouts were prepared in advance for the conditions and earned hard to accomplish “Frost Points” for enduring the rare conditions while in South Florida. To keep them “FYRE’d up” and warm, Scoutmasters prepared “Trashcan Turkey” with sides of Habanero Mac-n-Cheese, veggies and bacon, and a chocolate cherry cobbler while the Scouts taught classes.

Additionally, Scouts conducted a preparation five-mile hike with full gear ahead of a long hike in the spring for Hiking Merit Badge and Camping Merit Badges. They also learned how to find directions in the day and night without the aid of a compass or electronics as a continuation of Orienteering Merit Badge and rank requirements.

The ILST training was conducted by youth Eagle Scouts and senior Scouts who had previously graduated from the National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) training course. The youth Scout trainers back-briefed their training plan weeks prior to the campout to the Scoutmasters who also oversaw all the safety and training during the event. Lots of prior proper planning occurred.

Troop 482 (Boy) had 5 boy NYLT and 2 National Advance Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE) course graduates from Summit Bechtel Scout Reservation in West Virginia. Troop 483 (Girl) had 2 girl NYLT graduates. In July 2023, FYRE is sending 5 Scouts to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico to NAYLE’s advance youth training.

If you have a son or daughter in the Riverview, FL area interested in becoming a well-rounded and mature leader and have lots of fun doing it, contact the FYRE Foundation.

• For boys in 6-12th grade email Troop482B@TheFYRE.org.
• For girls 6-12th grade email Troop483G@TheFYRE.org.
• For elementary aged boys and girls email Pack481F@TheFYRE.org.
• FYRE Foundation Office: 813-360-1414.
• Meetings are on Thursday evenings at the Redeemer Church at 12404 Boyette Rd, Riverview, FL 33569.

RIVERVIEW, FL: Hannah Hewett (16) was awarded BSA’s highest rank, Eagle Scout, on Saturday, January 7, 2023. Hannah was recognized as a leader and trailblazer being one of the first girls in the USA to join Cub Scouts in 2017 and then crossing over into a Scouts BSA Troop in February 2019. Hannah was honored by several distinguished visitors at her ceremony including the Greater Tampa Bay Area Council Chief Executive Officer, Mike Butler, and representatives from the American Legion, VFW, Marine Corps League, and Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce. In addition to Eagle Scout, Hannah was awarded several good citizenship awards and several certificates from the President of the United States, Governors, US Department Secretaries, US Senators and Congressmen.

Hannah was preceded in earning Eagle Scout by her brothers Nathan and Asher in 2020, her sister Lexi in 2022, and her dad Rick in 1991. In 2022, the Greater Tampa Bay Area Council boasted 216 Eagle Scouts of which 5 were females. Of those five females, two where FYRE’s Hannah and Alexis Hewett.

Hannah’s story was featured in the local paper (click here).

Give thanks for your blessings by donating to the FYRE Foundation on “Giving Tuesday”.  It is simple.  Follow the link.  Donate through our PayPal button or scan the QR Code and it will take you directly to the pay site. https://www.fyrefoundation.org/tax-deductible-charitable-gift/.

The Family and Youth Research and Education (FYRE) Foundation, Inc is a federal 501(c)(3) charitable organization.  Any donation you make is completely tax-deductible and will go towards helping children and families.  FYRE fortifies families, stops the cycle of broken homes, and provides training to parents and children.  FYRE helps families to adopt, foster, and advocate for abused, abandoned, and neglected children.  It provides a wide variety of life skills to make the youth stronger and prepares them for the future making them more successful citizens.

Shopping for the holidays? Consider using AmazonSmiles and selecting FYRE as your preferred charity. Amazon will donate a portion of their proceeds direct to FYRE and it does not change the price you pay for your items. Every little bit helps and there is a lot of need. Find out more information here: https://www.fyrefoundation.org/shop-with-amazonsmile/

Check out FYRE’s list of programs, events, and press releases to see the flurry of activity happening in Hillsborough County this year.  FYRE is at ground zero in the trenches with kids and families making a difference every week.  Your donation will sustain FYRE’s programs.  We believe 2023 will be even more impactful with your support!  

On November 1, 2022, the FYRE BOD unanimously voted to bring Gabe Wilson onto the board and appoint him as the FYRE Treasurer. He will begin serving in January 2023.

Gabe Wilson has been a servant leader his entire life. Growing up in rural Colorado on a ranch he learned the meaning of responsibility, hard work, and serving. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps to become a Combat Engineer where he served the next twenty years and continued to volunteer numerous times to serve others in various charitable organizations including his church, Cub Scouts, and Boy Scouts.

His leadership skills were honed through three combat deployments to Iraq and Kuwait, Cuba, France, and Japan where he led Marine Corps operational elements. Gabe’s military awards include the Bronze Star Medal (with Combat ‘V’ for Valor), Purple Heart Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with four gold stars in lieu of the fifth award), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (with two gold stars in lieu of the third award), Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation-Navy, Navy Unit Commendation (with three bronze stars in lieu of the fourth award), and the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (with one silver star and one bronze star in lieu of the sixth award).

After retiring from the Marine Corps with 20 years of service in 2015, Gabe transitioned into a position with Banamax USA as an Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Analyst supporting Citigroup Bank. Earning the Florida Community Association Manager (CAM) license, he started his own company, Neighborly Community Management where he manages multiple Home Owner Associations (HOA) in the Brandon, Valrico, Plant City, Ruskin, Chapel Chase, and Riverview, Florida areas.

Gabe married the former Ms. Courtney Renee Johnson in 2003. They have two children, Colby and Chloe. They are active in their children’s lives, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and with their church. He is a graduate of Ashford University with a BA majoring in Organizational Management and minoring in Business.

The FYRE is excited to have Gabe on-board and looks forward to serving with him.

Please help FYRE raise funds by purchasing a plate of delicious BBQ for $15 on Friday, November 4th from 5-8pm. FYRE will have their smoker setup at the Lake Lucaya Clubhouse at 11305 Lake Lucaya Drive, Riverview, FL. This also happens to be Lake Lucaya’s community Bunco Night! Play cards with your neighbors, enjoy BBQ, and support a good cause!

Proceeds will support FYRE’s Adoption, Foster Care, and Guardian ad Litem program. November is National Adoption Month. FYRE will sponsor a luncheon to promote fostering and adopting from Hillsborough County this month. Guest speakers will consist of: Children’s Network of Hillsborough County to provide information on how to become an adoptive or foster parent and financial programs to assist families, the Heart Gallery of Tampa to share the story of children currently in the system, and the Guardian ad Litem of Tampa Bay to inform people how they can become an advocate for needy children in the system. FYRE fortifies families and youth by providing training and education in life skills, leadership, finances, emergency preparedness, and other programs such as Scouting.

The BBQ meal consists of your choice of pulled pork or chicken thigh, potato salad, corn, roll, cookie, and a bottled water.

Donations are always welcome and appreciated.

Have a youth in K-12? Want a single event the entire family can participate in during the week-same place/time? We have a program for you and your family! FYRE’s Scouting program meets every Thursday at the Redeemer Church at 12404 Boyette Rd, Riverview, FL. Cub Scout Pack 481 (Co-Ed K-5) meets 6:30pm-7:30pm and the Scouts BSA Troop 482 (Boy) and Troop 483 (Girl) both meet at 7:30pm-8:30pm.