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FYRE is excited to partner with the Riverview Chamber of Commerce and fellow businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations to better the lives of local families and solve local problems.

Over a 24 hour period, youth learned how to form highly effective teams, to plan, resource, and execute activities, how to assess individual strengths and weaknesses, to communicate effectively, and how to delegate with SMART objectives. Then boys and girls in middle and high school planned near-term activities for the next six months and medium range activities over the next year. Additionally, they learned cost estimation skills. With those skills they factored-in purchases of new high adventure equipment, the cost of maintaining existing equipment, and how much was required to pay for an ambitious and fun program year.

The training followed BSA’s Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops (ILST) curriculum. The modules were taught by senior Scouts who had graduated from National Youth Leadership Training and were guided and enabled by adults who were graduates from BSA’s Wood Badge Course.

If you are interested in your youth learning these skills to get ahead in life, check out FYRE Foundation’s Scouting programs. There are opportunities for the entire family to participate.

Comic Book legend, Bob Layton, and film screenwriter Hawk Ostby, were honored at a nonprofit event at the Tampa Theater on Thursday, August 4th. FYRE provides opportunities and resources to enrich Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM). FYRE transported families in Southern Hillsborough County to the event where Mr. Layton and Mr. Ostby autographed posters, showed the movie “Iron Man”, and gave a question and answer session to the audience about art, print and film media, the business, and their beginnings. Youth were inspired to explore their own creative talents which could help them or others prosper in the future.

Bob Layton is an American comics writer, artist, designer, and editor with over 6,400 comic books credited to his name – a creative yardstick rivaled only by the late Stan Lee. He is most noted for his work on Marvel Comics titles such as Iron Man and Ant-Man, and for co-founding Valiant Comics.

Hawk Ostby is a Norwegian – American screenwriter and television producer , by films like Children of Men , Iron Man or Cowboys & Aliens became internationally known. With his colleague Mark Fergus , he developed the series The Expanse for television in 2015 .

Instructor Sara Curtis (13) and TJ Hewett (13) taught classes to five Scouts ages 12-16 on Saturday, July 23, 2022, leading to the five Scouts being awarded the BSA Snorkeling Award and BSA Standup Paddleboard Award.  Both Sara and TJ recently returned from a week-long summer camp at BSA Camp La–No-Che in Central Florida in June 2022 where they earned those awards themselves.  Within weeks they were both giving classes to others in their respective troops. Everyone had a blast.

One of the great things about the Scouting program is the opportunity for youth to learn how to lead.  First, they follow the youth Scouts elected over them using the “Patrol Method.”  Then they receive a wide variety of skills and leadership training.  Next they have opportunities to train other Scouts using the “EDGE Method”.  EDGE stands for Explain, Demonstrate, Guide, and Enable.  Teaching the youth how to plan and prepare to give classes, communicate, and effectively teach others no matter their age is a valuable life skill.

Parents were involved spending quality time with their kids and making memories while providing trained and qualified supervision.  If this is something you, your family, or a youth might be interested in please contact FYRE for more information about FYRE’s Scouting program for the entire family.

Come support FYRE in its community mission to fortify families by purchasing a delicious BBQ meal for $15. Pre-purchase your meal ticket for $15 online through the QR code below. You get a choice of pulled pork or chicken leg quarter, potato salad, green beans, desert and a drink. Pickup times are between 11am and 4pm at the Redeemer Church at 12404 Boyette Rd, Riverview, FL 33569 on Saturday, August 20th.

Scouts from both FYRE’s chartered Troops 482(Boy) and 483(Girl) obtained their Advanced Open Water SCUBA Diving Certification off the coast of Jupiter, FL while staying at BSA Camp Tanah Keeta. FYRE’s Scouting program is led by volunteers who encourage the youth to set high goals and achieve them. This certification follow’s the Scout’s earning their PADI Basic SCUBA Diver certification in summer of 2018.

Alexis Hewett, 16, Scouts BSA Troop 483 (all-girl troop), was awarded the BSA’s highest rank of Eagle Scout among her troop, friends, and family at the Redeemer Church in Riverview, FL.  She was the first female Eagle Scout within her Troop that began on February 1, 2019, when females were afforded the opportunity to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout in Boy Scouts of America.  Lexi is a trailblazer.  She attends Riverview High School, is a returning Varsity Cheerleader, is in Navy Junior ROTC, works as a lifeguard, is PADI Open Water Advanced SCUBA Diver certified, and will continue to serve in leadership roles in her troop.  Alexis joins her two brothers, Nathan and Asher Hewett, and Father, Rick Hewett in obtaining the rank of Eagle Scout. 

Family from across the country came to participate in the Eagle Scout Court of Honor.  Alexis was presented awards from U.S. Congressman Vern Buchanan, Florida Representative Michael Beltran, the VFW, American Legion, Marine Corp League, Veterans Council of Hillsborough County, Riverview Chamber of Commerce, and BSA’s Timucua District.  Alexis was presented with numerous congratulatory letters from former U.S. Presidents and First Ladies, U.S. Senators and Representatives, U.S. Department Secretaries, the Governors of Florida and Texas, the Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners, University Presidents, and corporation CEOs.

The Osprey Observer reported the prestigious event.

Since 2018, the Family and Youth Researcg and Education (FYRE) Foundation, a local 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization and charter organization of Troop 483, has served Southern Hillsborough County families.  FYRE fortifies families by providing family-focused programs, resources, and education.  FYRE charters Cub Scout Pack 481 (co-ed elementary school aged family program), Scouts BSA Troop 482 (all boy troop), and Scouts BSA Troop 483 (all girl troop).  The units all meet on Thursday evenings at Redeemer Church on 12404 Boyette Road in Riverview so the entire family can participate, reduce the amount of weeknight meetings, and make life simpler for families.  FYRE volunteers have mentored six Eagle Scout future leaders to date.  For more information, visit www.TheFYRE.org.

After several years of operating as a state nonprofit serving youth and family, the federal government granted 501(c)(3) charitable tax-exempt organization status to FYRE. FYRE serves an important role in the community to fortify families and assist abused and neglected children. FYRE also charters Scouting units to teach life skills, create servant leaders, and American values.

Now FYRE can accept cash, land and vehicle titles, and estate donations and provide receipts that are fully tax-deductible for individuals and corporations. In years past, volunteers were making it all happen out of their own pockets.

Please consider supporting FYRE’s mission today by providing a fully tax-deductible donation. You can contact FYRE to volunteer or make a donation by clicking on the links or use the QR code below.

FYRE helped send six high school female athletes to the Nike Cross Country National Meet, Southeast Regional Meet in North Carolina. FYRE encourages youth to set goals, work hard, be physically active, and be part of a team. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important to being resilient.