From tornadoes to zombies, youth at summer camps across the Nation are learning how to prepare for a wide range of disasters. Several camps have built programs to get kids excited and engaged in resilience efforts. 

One such camp is held at Texas State University in San Marcos and organized by the Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) in mid-June. This annual Youth Preparedness Camp groups teams of 8th–12th grade students together to complete a 20-hour basic Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training, engage in community action planning, and hone skills to lead their schools and communities in discussions about preparing for potential hazards.

In Wisconsin, two camps provide a wide range of skills. Sponsored by University of Wisconsin-Extension 4-H, the Zombie Survival Day Camp in mid-June hosts 6th–8th graders. Through simulation games, zombie make-up, scavenger hunts, and other hands-on activities, campers learn about emergency preparedness. At the end of June, campers aged 13–18 in Lodi, WI, attend the five-day “Responding to Emergencies And Disasters with Youth” (READY) camp. READY camp inspires youth to help their schools, neighborhoods, and communities be more resilient by participating in volunteer activities and community service learning projects. Visit the READY Camp Facebook page to keep up with camp activities.

Wisconsin is not the only state offering zombie-themed camps to get youth thinking about resilience. The west coast’s offerings are plentiful. From the San Francisco Bay Area to Portland, OR, the organization Trackers Earth offers day camps. In Washington, Wolf College offers a week-long overnight camp called Wolf Camp that culminates in an Ultimate Zombie Apocalypse Survival Challenge.

To reach fans of The Hunger Games, Oregon’s Wasco County 4-H Youth Development program sponsors a day camp called “Hungrier Games.” During camp, youth work in teams to survive a disaster situation, including hurricanes, snow storms, heat waves, and the ever-popular zombies. Call 541-296-5494 for more information, or register online.

In partnership with Save the Children, a global leader in disaster preparation and relief, Youth Service America (YSA) is supporting youth organizations to help their communities get ready for disasters. Apply for the We Stand Strong program to access training and project grants that help youth leaders organize disaster preparedness awareness events and service projects on September 11th, National Day of Service and Remembrance. 

This year, the program is focused on the following regions: the Mid-Atlantic (DC, MD, VA), the South (OK, TX, AR, LA, MS), California, and the Northeast Tri-State Area (NY, NJ, CT). Applications are due June 10, 2016.

To apply, visit www.ysa.org/grants/organization-grants/westandstrong. Check out www.savethechildren.org/GetReady for information about other preparedness opportunities.

The Koshland Science Museum of the National Academy of Sciences recently published the Extreme Event Webquest. The three-part webquest is designed to teach critical-thinking skills and inspire youth from middle school through college to help their neighbors be more resilient. Students use a variety of online resources including videos, games, and reference materials to gather information as they complete a series of activities. The webquest's key messages are based on expert reports of the National Research Council, including Disaster Resilience: A National Imperative.

Teachers can also use the Extreme Event Game in conjunction with the Extreme Event Webquest. During the game, players learn how important it is to build coalitions and invest in resources to make their city more resilient. The game lasts about one hour and requires a minimum of 12 participants. Visit Koshland Science Museum for more information.

The thought of a natural or man-made disaster can be especially stressful for families with children who have disabilities or special health care needs. To assist these families, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center at the University of Massachusetts Medical School developed a curriculum designed to enable successful preparedness planning.

The curriculum includes an Emergency Readiness Toolkit, tip sheets, and useful planning tools, such as a Family Emergency Plan Template to help participants develop personalized emergency plans. Resources focus on sharing "need to know" information about a child's unique needs with first responders. To check out the resources, click here.

On April 28, Hailey Starr, a Region X member of FEMA’s Youth Preparedness Council, hosted a Native Youth Emergency Preparedness Fair during the Muckleshoot Tribal Nation’s Culture Night. Starr used the event to share her preparedness knowledge with tribe members. She recruited fellow Teen CERT members, along with school staff, to help with the fair. Starr received a $2,000 donation from the school for the event.

The fair included practicing basic first aid, sampling foods that could be used in an emergency kit, and participating in emergency pack giveaways. Through the fair and planning upcoming events, Starr is making a lasting impact on her tribe’s preparedness.

To reach Hailey about her efforts, please contact her Region X mentor, Bryant Harrison, at Bryant.Harrison@fema.dhs.gov.

1) What percent of Americans have a family emergency communication plan that all family members know about?

A. 26%

B. 34%

C. 41%

D. 50%

2) What percent of Americans aren’t familiar with their child’s school evacuation and emergency plans?

A. 10%

B. 25%

C. 15%

D. 35%

3) What percent of Americans don’t know the location their children would be evacuated to during a disaster?

A. 51%

B. 41%

C. 31%

D. 21%

4) Approximately what percentage of Americans are confident in their community’s ability to meet the unique needs of children in disasters?

A. 2%

B. 32%

C. 62%

D. 92%