As the Youth Specialist at the San Diego/Imperial Counties Red Cross, I was inspired by the work of Lucas Matze and Gabriela Pierre at the Silicon Valley Chapter to integrate our youth volunteers more fully into Disaster Services. On June 27th, we hosted the first-ever Youth Disaster Camp at Mira Mesa High School – a school that has been a real, live Red Cross shelter in both the 2003 and 2007 Wildfires.
With wildfire season in full force here in southern California, the response from local youth was overwhelming! Sixty students from 23 different local high schools and colleges gave up a Saturday of their summer break to learn how to be Red Cross shelter workers. We trained the youth in: Red Cross Orientation, Fulfilling our Mission, Mass Care, Shelter Operations, Shelter Simulation – complete with cots, blankets, comfort kits, heater meals and teddy bears. If any youth leaders out there would like more info on putting together a Youth Disaster Camp, feel free to give me a call at 858-309-1475 or email: Amanda.Cropper@sdarc.org. Please check out pictures from our big day at: www.sdarc.org/camp
Happy Summer!
- Amanda Cropper J
Youth Volunteers at the Youth Disaster Camp
Youth Packing up Cots in San Diego
Filed under: Disaster Tagged: | San Diego, Youth Disaster Camp
